Health Requirements
Mount Carmel College of Nursing stipulates very specific health requirements. New students must upload the completed health information form and verification of current TB skin test results to their Certified Profile (CastleBranch) prior to the posted deadline. Students are highly encouraged to keep a personal file of health information. It is the student’s responsibility to know when health requirements and required immunizations are due.
Students not meeting this deadline will have:
- a health record “hold” placed on their account
- a $50 weekly late fee added to their student account until the required documents are uploaded and the hold is removed
Any student with a health record “hold” is prevented from registering for classes. This may result in the student being closed out of a specific course or section.
- Health History– a recent history must be completed and signed.
- Immunization History – the required immunizations must be completed prior to enrollment in a clinical course (a student may continue in a course while in the process of receiving the Hepatitis B vaccine series of three or provide a waiver)
Required Immunizations
- MMR – Rubeola (Regular Measles) and Rubella (German measles) most often given as a combination MMR (measles, mumps, and Rubella). Most individuals receive one as an infant and a second one upon entering 7th grade or as an adult. Students who may not have already had the second immunization must get one. Dates for the first and second MMR must be indicated. A blood titer for Rubella is also required.
- Hepatitis B vaccine – is required. The Hepatitis B immunization is a series of three injections that take a total of six months to complete (available at the Main Campus Student Health Office at the current pharmacy list price. A blood titer is also required after finishing the series. If not immune, the student will be required to repeat the series of three vaccines and repeat the blood titer.
- Varicella (chicken pox) – A blood titer is required. If the blood titer is negative, the student must arrange to receive the immunization (Varivax – two injections, one month apart).
- Tetanus/pertussis vaccine is required. Indicate on the health form the date of last booster (if more than 10 years, a booster is required).
- Meningitis – the meningitis vaccine (Menomune-A/C/Y/W-135) is a voluntary immunization (available at the Main Campus Student Health Office at the current pharmacy list price). Apartment residents are required to have the meningitis vaccine or sign a waiver.
Influenza Vaccine
An annual influenza vaccine is required, except for those who are:
- allergic to eggs,
- allergic to the preservative in the vaccine, or
- have a medical condition that prohibits the student from receiving the vaccine.
Influenza vaccines are available free of charge to students (based on the availability of the vaccine) during the Fall Semester. If the student cannot receive the flu vaccine, a signed release from the student’s physician must be submitted to the Student Health Nurse. Results of the required influenza vaccine must be uploaded to CastleBranch.
Tuberculin (TB) Skin Testing
New students are required to upload their most recent TB skin test results to CastleBranch. Subsequent annual testing is required, depending on the student’s program track and clinical placement to screen for signs/symptoms of active TB infection. Students for whom annual testing is not required must complete a screening questionnaire annually in August. Expiration is one year from the documented date of the skin test or date on the questionnaire. Annual results must be uploaded to CastleBranch.
Students previously testing positive must provide the results of a chest x-ray and any treatment given. Those students are also required to complete an annual questionnaire (provided by the Student Health Nurse).
A student who does not complete the annual TB testing or questionnaire, or if the test expires before the end of the semester in which the student is seeking enrollment, he/she will not be permitted to enroll for that semester.
- A student who does not complete the annual TB testing/questionnaire will have a health record “hold” placed on his/her account.
- Any student with a health record “hold” cannot register for classes.
- If a student’s documentation expires before the end of the semester in which the student is seeking enrollment, he/she must have current documentation on file before the beginning of that semester.
- There is no grace period.
- There are no exceptions to the TB policy.
If a student is exposed to a client/patient with active TB, a baseline skin test will be done at the time of exposure and again six months later. Students previously testing positive must provide the results of a chest x-ray and any treatment received.
Health Services
It is highly recommended that all students have their own personal family physician and health insurance coverage. The College does not offer health insurance coverage.
Students requiring emergency care may utilize any of the emergency departments (ED) of the Mount Carmel Health System. Students are responsible for the cost of emergency care and all charges incurred during an ED visit (e.g., medications, treatments, laboratory tests, and x-rays).
The Student Health Nurse is available during weekdays either by phone (614-234-5408) or in person (Marian Hall lower level, Rm BC08). The student health program is coordinated by a Registered Nurse and includes health guidance. The Student Health Nurse will carry out any specific physician’s orders for dispensing medications and appropriate treatments.
TB skin testing, Hepatitis B vaccines, and Meningitis vaccines are available in the Student Health Office. The routine TB skin testing is provided free of charge. Hepatitis B and Meningitis vaccines are charged in accordance with the pharmacy list price.
Students also have access to primary care services provided by the Nursing Center.
Nursing Center
Mount Carmel College of Nursing offers an option for primary care services to students through collaboration with Lower Lights Christian Health Center (www.llchc.org). The Nursing Center (the site at which the care is offered) is located on the MCCN campus (777 W. State St., Suite 201). Call 614-274-1455 to schedule an appointment.
The Nursing Center offers full service for nursing students’ medical needs. They accept any type of insurance and have a sliding fee for uninsured patients. Services include:
- Well-female / well-male exams
- Sick visits
- Chronic disease care
- Immunization / labs
- Prenatal care
- Spiritual care
- Behavioral health
- Nutritional counseling
Counseling Services
Students are entitled to participate in the Mount Carmel Health System Employee Assistance Program; services are provided through Carebridge Corporation (click here for additional information). This program helps individuals resolve personal problems relating to stress, anxiety, depression, marital and family issues, financial and legal concerns, emotional problems, or addiction. The program includes up to ten sessions with a counselor at no charge to the student. Students with questions regarding this service should contact the Student Health Nurse or Director of Student Life (for additional information, refer to the College website.
The victim of a sexual assault may choose for the investigation to be pursued through the criminal justice system and College Title IX procedures, or only the latter. The Compliance Officer will guide the victim through the available options and support the victim in his or her decision. Assistance and counseling are available through the Mount Carmel Crime and Trauma Assistance Program (614-234-5900), and from the Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio (SARNCO) that maintains a 245 hour rape crisis helpline at 614-267-7020. The SARNCO website is located at www.ohiohealth.com/sexualassaultresponsenetwork/.
Drug-Free Policy
Unlawful possession, use, production, distribution, or sale of alcohol or other drugs by any faculty, staff, or student is prohibited on college property or as any part of college activities.
Mount Carmel’s policy is created to comply with the Drug-Free School and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 (Public Law 101-226), which requires that the college show it has adopted and implemented a program to prevent the illicit use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol by faculty, staff, and students, and to set forth the standards to provide a community setting that is safe, healthy, and productive for all faculty, staff, and students of Mount Carmel College of Nursing. The college distributes this policy annually throughout the college community and this includes information about referral and treatment, applicable laws and sanctions, and current assessments of possible health risks. For a complete copy of the Mount Carmel Drug Free policy, click here.
To provide a safe working environment, area hospitals and other institutions require individuals who provide care to patients to undergo drug testing. For this reason, students entering Mount Carmel College of Nursing will undergo similar drug testing to meet the criteria of clinical agencies. All entering students in the pre-licensure BSN, Second Degree Accelerated Program, and graduate nursing programs will undergo drug testing as a condition of clinical affiliation experiences. Students will use CastleBranch to obtain drug screenings. Drug screening results will be reported to the appropriate Associate Dean and to the Academic Dean at Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
A student’s ability to enter into a clinical affiliation experience is contingent upon a drug screening that indicates no evidence of drug use (negative for drug use). The student is responsible for the cost of the drug screening and any repeat drug screenings. An initial drug screening result that indicates dilution of the sample, or is positive for drug use, will require a repeat urine drug screen and repeat payment.
To decrease the possibility of a urine specimen that is dilute, students are encouraged to limit fluid and/or caffeine intake the day before and prior to arriving at the testing center for specimen collection. Another tip to prevent a dilute specimen is to arrive at the testing center early in the day, before the student consumes any liquids. Urine is concentrated overnight when sleeping.
Any student who refuses testing is considered to have a positive drug test and will be required to follow the substance abuse procedure as outlined in the Catalog-Handbook. A second refusal will be considered a second positive drug test, and the student will be dismissed from Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
Accidental Exposure to Communicable Disease
A student who experiences an accidental exposure to a communicable disease during a clinical experience must notify his/her clinical instructor immediately. The instructor will advise the student on the procedure to follow. The student is responsible for the cost of any treatment/medications/lab tests incurred. If the infectious disease physician on call deems lab testing and medication necessary, treatment will be initiated and the student will be billed at a later date. Mount Carmel Health will cover the cost of any patient testing necessary if the incident occurred at a Mount Carmel Health System facility.
If the incident occurred at an agency/facility other than Mount Carmel Health System entities, the student should report the incident to his/her instructor immediately and the instructor will initiate the procedure as indicated by the facility/agency’s infection control policy and contractual agreement with the College.
Statement on AIDS
Mount Carmel College of Nursing is committed to providing a healthy and caring environment. This commitment, as well as a College philosophy that respects the personal worth and dignity of each individual, undergirds the AIDS policy of the College.
It is the policy of MCCN that no one within the College community shall be discriminated against, based on the perception that an individual has AIDS or an AIDS related condition. Students, faculty, and staff with suspected or confirmed AIDS related conditions are entitled to equal access to College facilities and curricular and extra-curricular activities as long as their medical condition permits.
AIDS Testing
There is no pre-admission or routine AIDS testing of prospective or current students, faculty, or staff. Any AIDS testing is self-initiated and done on a voluntary basis.
In the event that a student is exposed to the blood or body fluids of a patient or associate in the clinical setting, and is in need of serologic testing for the HIV antibody, the Mount Carmel Health Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing Policy and Procedure will be followed.
Students, Faculty, or Staff who have Contracted AIDS: Rights and Responsibilities
Persons with AIDS may be considered by law to have handicapping conditions, therefore, the individual with AIDS has a legal right to remain enrolled in coursework or employed as long as their medical condition permits and they are able to meet acceptable performance standards. Individuals are also entitled to confidentiality of their medical condition and records.
Faculty and staff who know or suspect they have AIDS are encouraged to report this information to the Dean of the program and to the College President. Students are encouraged to report this information to the Student Health Nurse who can assist the student in securing proper medical supervision, counseling, and health teaching, as well as informing the student of the presence of infectious diseases on campus that could compromise the individual’s health.
It is also the responsibility of the student to seek counseling and education regarding the modes of transmission of AIDS. Additionally, if a student requests job or educational accommodation based on his/her medical condition, it is the responsibility of the student to obtain a written medical opinion that she/he is medically able to work and needs reasonable job or educational accommodation in order to maintain employment or association with the College. Students and faculty who have contracted AIDS and have patient care contact must remain cognizant of the client needs. The student or faculty member’s medical condition must not jeopardize client safety.
Confidentiality
The confidentiality of the student with AIDS is protected. No specific information concerning diagnosis shall be provided to any persons, including College administrators, faculty, professional, or support staff (other than the College President and appropriate Dean) without the expressed written consent of the student. No information can be released to another person, agency, insurer, or institution without the prior written consent of the student involved. The College will observe the public health reporting requirements for AIDS.
Medical Release to Return to MCCN
It is the policy of Mount Carmel College of Nursing that students must submit a signed release to return to class and/or the clinical unit if they are admitted as an inpatient to a hospital or are seen for treatment in a hospital Emergency Department. This signed release must be submitted to the Student Health Nurse prior to the student’s returning to class and/or clinical. The release must clearly identify all restrictions. Additionally, the length of time the restrictions apply must be clearly stated.
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