All Nursing Students – Clinical Health Clearance

Requirements

The inability to meet any of the following requirements will jeopardize your ability to attend clinical courses. (See below for details on requirements 1-7.)

1. Immunizations
2. TB Test
3. Physical Exam
4. Drug Screen
5. Influenza Vaccinations
6. CPR Certification
7. Criminal Background Check

The Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies recommends that its students review this entire Web page closely.

All nursing students must receive health clearance in order to meet both the university and clinical health care agency requirements. Students will also be responsible to meet any additional site-specific requirements.

All requirements must be current at all times in order for you to participate in your clinical course(s). Each requirement is valid for a year from the date of completion.

After one year, the requirement expires and you must renew it.

• The exceptions to this rule are the Immunization requirement, which needs to be completed only once, and some CPR certifications, which are valid for two years.

Graduate Nursing Students

Graduate nursing students must meet the same general clearance requirements as undergraduate students, unless otherwise instructed, in addition to their program’s specific requirements. Please see Additional Requirements for a list of all requirements by program. There are also health screening forms designated for each program. You must make copies for yourself of all documents including the health screening form.

Requirements for Clinical Clearance (Numbers 1-7 listed below)

1. Immunizations
• See the appropriate Health Screening Form for complete details. Tetanus/Diphtheria/Acellular Pertussis (Tdap): One dose of Tdap vaccine is required within the last ten years. However, if a Td booster has been given within the past 2 years documentation of that vaccine is acceptable. If you are unable to receive the Tdap vaccine, documentation of the reason and of a recent Td vaccine must be submitted.
• Varicella (Chicken Pox): Two doses of Varicella vaccine or a positive antibody titer is required. To have had the chicken pox as a child may not be sufficient protection against the disease and a titer is therefore necessary to prove immunity.
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella: Two doses of MMR vaccine or a positive antibody titer is required.
• Hepatitis B: Three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine over period of 6 months or positive antibody titer is required. If not already completed, the Health Screening Form should reflect that you have begun this process by the time it is returned.
• Meningococcus: One dose of vaccine given within the past five years is required of all freshman undergraduate students living in residence halls. This requirement may be waived (please see Health Screening Form).

The Immunization requirement needs to be completed only once.

2. TB Test
• For all new undergraduate student nurses, a 2-Step PPD-Mantoux test must be placed and interpreted by a health care provider within 12 months of registration.
• For graduate and returning undergraduate student nurses, one PPD-Mantoux test is required annually.
• If PPD is positive, or student has previous history of a positive tuberculin skin test, a normal chest X-ray is required within 12 months, unless history of INH therapy is documented. Repeat chest X-rays are not needed unless student displays symptoms or signs of TB or a clinician recommends a repeat chest X-ray. The health care provider performing the annual physical should screen for signs and symptoms of TB.
• This is an annual requirement for all student nurses.
3. Physical Exam
• Your health care provider must verify that you are in good health and can participate in the clinical setting.
• This is an annual requirement for all student nurses.
4. Drug Screen
• All student nurses must provide documentation of a negative urine drug test.
• If a student tests positive due a prescribed medication, documentation from a health care provider must be submitted.
• Please note that some clinical sites may require a drug screening within 30 days of your first clinical. Therefore, you may need multiple drug screens throughout the year. Your clinical instructor will notify you of this extra requirement and it must be completed in order to achieve clinical clearance.
• You should receive the drug screen from your normal health care provider.
5. Influenza Vaccinations
• All student nurses must be vaccinated against the seasonal influenza virus.
• The new flu vaccine is released each fall and should be received once available. More information about specific deadlines will be provided as the vaccine becomes available.
• Students who cannot receive the flu vaccination due to an egg allergy or other health issue most provide documentation of this from a health care provider.
• This is an annual requirement for all student nurses.
6. CPR Certification
• A Basic Life Support (BLS) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course specifically for health care providers (not lay people) is required, and must be kept up-to-date at all times.
• This is an annual requirement for all student nurses, unless certification is good for 2 years. In that case, you must be recertified upon expiration.
• The American Heart Association (AHA) offers a 2-year certification course, which we strongly recommend. American Heart Association courses are offered at Georgetown throughout the semester.
• Students are required to submit a copy of their CPR certification.
7. Criminal Background Check
• All nursing majors must secure a criminal background check every year.
• NHS only accepts background checks completed through the vendor
  CertifiedBackground.com.
• All you need to do is go to CertifiedBackground.com and click on “Students.”
• In the package code box, enter the package code EO14 (it is a capital “O” and not a zero).
• Select a payment. CertifiedBackground.com accepts Visa, MasterCard, and money orders.
• Once your background check is finished processing, you will be asked to send the appropriate program an alert that the results are in.
• This is an annual requirement for all student nurses.