Health Requirements
Mount Carmel College of Nursing stipulates very specific health requirements that must be met as a condition for enrollment. 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.
- New students entering Mount Carmel College of Nursing must create a Profile Account and upload the completed health information forms and verification to CastleBranch prior to the posted deadline. This account is designed to enhance the overall academic experience for each student. It is used for ordering drug tests, uploading immunization records, ordering and storing your required background check information, other documents, and simply staying organized.
- To create a Castlebranch Account and place your order, go to https://portal.castlebranch.com/mp92. Personal information will be entered and the order placed and processed to complete requirements. The complimentary phone app assists students to take advantage of everything CastleBranch has to offer.
- Student questions about uploading documents to CastleBranch should be addressed to their customer service desk (customerservice@castlebranch.com , or by phone at 1-888-723-4263).
- Questions regarding specific health requirements should be addressed to Dr. Christine Salem (csalem@mccn.edu, 614-234-3973).
Students who do not meet health record requirements will be prohibited from attending class and/or clinical.
Student Health Requirements
- History and Physical - a recent (within one year of enrollment) history and physical must be completed and signed by a physician or APRN.
- Immunization History – required immunizations must be completed prior to enrollment in a clinical course (students may continue in a course while in the process of receiving the Hepatitis B vaccine series of three).
- Current TB skin screening.
Required Immunizations
- MMR vaccines – Mumps, Rubeola (Regular Measles) and Rubella (German measles) most often given as a combination MMR (measles, mumps, and Rubella). Dates for the first and second MMR must be indicated. Laboratory evidence (blood titer) is required without documented evidence of two immunizations.
- Hepatitis B vaccine – A series of three Hepatitis B vaccines is required. Laboratory evidence (Hepatitis B Surface Antibody blood titer) is also required in addition to documented dates of administration. If not immune, the student will be required to repeat the series of three vaccines and repeat the blood titer.
- Varicella (chicken pox) – Written documentation of two doses of the vaccine, or laboratory evidence of immunity (blood titer). If the blood titer is negative, the student must arrange to receive the immunization (Varivax - two injections, one month apart).
- Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis (T-Dap) vaccine - Documented date of last booster. (Date must be within 10 years of admission to the college or booster required).
- Meningitis vaccine – The meningitis vaccine (Menomune-A/C/Y/W-135) is a voluntary immunization. Apartment residents are required to have the meningitis vaccine or sign a waiver.
Influenza Vaccine
An annual influenza vaccine is required for all students. Influenza vaccines are available free of charge to onsite students (based on the availability of the vaccine) during the Fall Semester. If the student cannot receive the flu vaccine, the student must contact Dr. Christine Salem, Coordinator, Graduate Program Practice Experiences, (csalem@mccn.edu, 614-234-3973).
Tuberculin (TB) Screening
New onsite students are required to complete a two-step tuberculin (TB) screening (two skin tests, one to two weeks apart), or a Quantiferon Gold Blood Test.
In August of each subsequent year, every student will be required to complete an annual TB screening or TB questionnaire to screen for signs/symptoms of active TB infection. Annual TB testing is required, depending on the student’s program track and clinical placement. Expiration is one year from the documented date of the skin screening or date on the questionnaire. The student is responsible for the cost of any follow up testing if needed.
Students with a previous positive TB screening must provide the results of a chest x-ray and any treatment given. Those students are also required to complete an annual questionnaire.
With the exception of the annual renewal month of August, if the expiration date for the annual TB screening occurs prior to the beginning of a clinical nursing course in which the student is enrolled, the student will be administratively withdrawn. There is no grace period and no exceptions to the policy. If a student is exposed to a client/patient with active TB, a baseline skin screening will be done at the time of exposure and again 8-10 weeks later.
Health Services
Students requiring emergency care may utilize any of the emergency departments (ED) of the Mount Carmel Health System or Fairfield Medical Center. 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).
Questions regarding health requirements or any other health concerns should be directed to Dr. Christine Salem (csalem@mccn.edu, 614-234-3973).
Counseling Services
Mount Carmel College of Nursing is aware of the many pressures students face every day. To assist with these challenges, MCCN offers free and confidential on-campus professional counseling services to students provided by a dedicated counselor. The MCCN Student Counseling Office’s mission is to provide professional, short-term, mental health counseling services. These services further enhance MCCN’s community of caring by providing a level of professional treatment that promotes emotional well-being, growth, academic success, multicultural diversity, and healthy interpersonal relationships. To schedule an appointment, please call 614-234-4752 or email: counselor@mccn.edu. The counseling services office is located in Marian Hall, room 4C69.
Students are also entitled to participate in the Mount Carmel College of Nursing Employee Assistance Program; services are provided through Carebridge Corporation (click here for additional information). This program assists individuals in resolving a wide variety of personal problems related to stress, anxiety, depression, marital and family issues, financial and legal concerns, emotional problems, addiction, etc. The program includes up to six sessions with a counselor at no charge to the student. Students with questions regarding this service should contact the Student Behavioral Health Counselor (for additional information, refer to the College website).
The MCCN counselor is a confidential resource for students who may have been the victim of a sexual assault, or other sexual violence related offenses. Additional sexual violence 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 24 hour rape crisis helpline at 614-267-7020. The SARNCO website is located at www.ohiohealth.com/sexualassaultresponsenetwork/.
Drug-Free Policy
In complying with the federal law, MCCN is concerned about the welfare of its students and employees and wishes to demonstrate commitment to a drug and alcohol free environment. A drug and alcohol free environment will also serve to maintain quality services, reduce accidents, and increase productivity.
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 part of college activities, whether on or off campus; and/or in any way that impacts student or employee performance in the classroom or clinical setting.
The purpose of this policy is to comply with the Drug-Free School and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 (Public Law 101-226), which requires MCCN to 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 MCCN. MCCN distributes this policy annually throughout the MCCN community. The distribution includes information about standards of conduct, referral and treatment, applicable laws and sanctions, and current assessments of possible health risks.
MCCN recognizes drug and/or alcohol dependency as health problems and it will be of assistance to an individual seeking treatment for such a dependency provided such treatment is sought prior to violation(s) of this policy or other MCCN policies. MCCN offers free and confidential help to students and employees who suffer from alcohol and/or drug abuse. Students have access to MCCN Student Behavioral Health Services, and employees and students have access to Mount Carmel Health System (“MCHS”) Employee Assistance Program. It is the responsibility of the student or employee to seek assistance before alcohol and/or drug problems lead to disciplinary action. Please note that treatment is not a refuge from disciplinary action and that dependency problems not resolved through treatment may ultimately result in disciplinary problems not resolved through treatment may ultimately result in disciplinary action, up to and including disciplinary dismissal or termination. In situations involving a threat or danger to the health or safety of any individual, students and employees are encouraged and expected to seek appropriate medical attention for themselves and others as soon as possible.
For a complete copy of the Mount Carmel Drug and Alcohol Policy, click here
Exposure to Communicable Disease
A student who experiences an accidental exposure to a communicable disease during a clinical experience must notify their 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 their 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 HIV/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 HIV/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 HIV/AIDS or an HIV/AIDS related condition. Students, faculty, and staff with suspected or confirmed HIV/AIDS related conditions are entitled to equal access to College facilities and curricular and extra-curricular activities as long as their medical condition permits.
HIV/AIDS Testing
There is no pre-admission or routine HIV/AIDS testing of prospective or current students, faculty, or staff. Any HIV/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 HIV/AIDS: Rights and Responsibilities
Persons with HIV/AIDS may be considered by law to have handicapping conditions, therefore, the individual with HIV/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 HIV/AIDS are encouraged to report this information to the Associate Dean of the program and to the College President. Students are encouraged to report this information to the Director of Compliance and Safety 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 HIV/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 they are 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 HIV/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 HIV/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 Associate 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 HIV/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. In addition, any student who receives written documentation from a healthcare provider (even if the student was not hospitalized or seen as an inpatient in a hospital Emergency Department) stating that they have any restrictions related to class or clinical participation must submit a signed release to return to class and/or clinical. This signed release must be submitted to the Director of Compliance and Safety via email compliance@mccn.edu prior to the student’s returning to class and/or clinical. The student should always email the Director of Compliance and Safety (compliance@mccn.edu) notification of their circumstances prior to returning to the clinical and/or class setting. The release must clearly identify all restrictions. Additionally, the length of time the restrictions apply must be clearly stated. If the documentation provided by the student indicates that they are not safe to return to the class and/or clinical setting, or the stated restrictions may require the student to request reasonable accommodations. This policy applies to student in both on campus and online platforms.
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