Oct 15, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog-Handbook 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog-Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Student Health & Wellness



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 are provided information on how to upload information to Project Concert 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, and simply staying organized.
  • Questions regarding Project Concert or 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

  1. History and Physical - a recent (within one year of enrollment) history and physical must be completed and signed by a physician or APRN.
  2. 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).
  3. Current TB skin screening.

Required Immunizations 

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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).
  4. 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).
  5. 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.
  6. COVID-19 vaccine

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).

COVID-19 Vaccine

In accordance with Mount Carmel Health System and Trinity Health policy, all students, faculty, and staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including all required booster shots. Students who believe they have a ligitimate medical or religious need for an exemption must contat Mitch Joseph Kemplin, Director of Compliance and Safety, at mjoseph-kemplin@mccn.edu.

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).

Students are provided free virtual wellness and urgent care services through the Virtual Care Group. Visit www.thevirtualcaregrop.com/mccn to register and access services.

Counseling Services

Mount Carmel College of Nursing is aware of the many pressures students face every day. To assist with these challenges, MCCN Student Life offers free and confidential counseling services to students provided by a dedicated, independently licensed professional. The MCCN Student Counseling Office’s mission is to provide short-term and solution focused, mental health counseling services. When appropriate, referrals to community resources will be made and encouraged.  These services further enhance MCCN’s community of caring by providing a level of professional treatment that promotes emotional well-being, growth, academic success, 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, first floor.

Students are also entitled to have 24/7/365 access to counseling and urgent medical services provided through our partnership with Virtual Care Group (VCG).   VCG will allow students to have access to counseling, personal coaching sessions, and medical care with simple convenience – and most services are provided at no cost. Students with questions regarding this service should contact the Student Behavioral Health Clinician. For additional information, visit www.thevirtualcaregroup.com/mccn

The MCCN clinician 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/.

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.

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.