Communicable Disease Policy
Infectious/communicable diseases are common in health care
settings and students of Rutgers School of Nursing may have contact with patients
with various infections such a blood-borne transmitted diseases, droplet
transmitted diseases, and contact transmitted diseases. This contact may result
in the student transmitting an infectious disease and may affect the health and
safety of others.
To protect the health and safety of its students, as well as
that of patients, the School of Nursing requires:
Initial infectious disease screenings and
pre-exposure immunizations against specified infectious/communicable diseases.
Post-exposure follow-up/treatment following
exposure to specified infectious/communicable diseases.
Compliance with the infectious/communicable
disease policy and protocols of the agency or facility to which they are assigned for clinical practice as well as the guidelines specified by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
Compliance with the use of standard precautions
is all patient care situations.
Any exposure incidence such as an accidental
needle stick must follow the clinical agency's protocol and/or the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. All needle sticks in the learning lab must be
reported to the Office of Student Services.
Students who are exposed to a reportable
communicable/infectious disease are required to have their communicable disease
risk status assessed by the student's health care provider or the student
health services on their respective campus. A decision about the risk the
student poses to the health and safety of others on campus or while at an
affiliated institution will be the responsibility of the health care provider
or the Rutgers Student Health Center.
Students requiring accommodations will be
based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Restrictions
or accommodations that are requested should be directed to the Office of
Student Services without giving specific medical information unless the student
permits release of this information. A final determination of any accommodation
that can be reasonably made to allow the student to participate to their
fullest potential and complete their educational requirements without compromising the health and safety of others
on campus or a clinical affiliate will be made.
A
student with a communicable/infectious disease pursuing academic study that
requires clinical rotations should be aware that the School of Nursing
cannot guarantee placement at affiliate clinical sites for clinical rotations.
Students participating in clinical rotations are subject to the requirements
and approval of the clinical site.
The student is responsible for any costs associated with the
evaluation of his or her condition if not covered by health insurance.
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Academic Policies and Procedures 
