Memo 22: Student Health Policy
Every student enrolled in the UW School of Nursing program (BSN, ABSN, DNP, PhD, GCPAPN) must meet School of Nursing immunization requirements prior to the start of the program and throughout enrollment. DNP and GCPAPN students must also meet School of Nursing immunization requirements prior to matriculation and throughout enrollment.
Immunizations
Nursing students are often at risk for exposure to and possible transmission of vaccine-preventable communicable diseases because of their contact with patients or infective material from patients. Maintenance of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases through the Health Sciences Immunization Program (HSIP) is, therefore, an essential requirement of all students. HSIP follows recommendations for healthcare workers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and OSHA/DOSH occupational health mandates.
Nursing students will not be permitted to enter a clinical site without documentation of all school and clinical site compliance requirements, including, but not limited to, tuberculosis screening, influenza vaccination, and COVID vaccination. All compliance items must be confirmed by HSIP and the School of Nursing before a student may be cleared to onboard with a clinical site.
Nursing students must comply with requirements for the following: measles (rubeola), mumps, rubella, Hepatitis B, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), influenza vaccination, COVID vaccination, and tuberculosis screening (PPD skin testing, or symptom review for those not being tested). A summary of HSIP requirements is available here and is subject to change.
- Measles immunity requirement
Two doses of the MMR 3-component vaccine are required (other vaccine types are not accepted), OR positive measles, mumps, and rubella IgG antibody titers (Note: IgM titer is not acceptable). - Tuberculosis requirement
Students must complete an initial Tuberculosis screening and annual Tuberculosis risk assessments. Additional Tuberculosis screening may be required throughout the student’s program of study, depending on clinical site placement. Students must fulfill this requirement by the assigned deadline when notified by UW Compliance. Failure to do so will result in ineligibility for clinical placement. - Influenza requirement
Students must get the influenza vaccine and COVID vaccine annually throughout the student’s program of study. - The information contained in this document is subject to change. For the most up-to-date information on immunizations, TB testing requirements, and details about how to satisfy each requirement, please visit the HSPI website.
Student account holds
Students who do not meet the immunization prerequisites and who do not meet ongoing compliance requirements will have a hold placed on their student account by the Office of Student and Academic Affairs (OSAA) and HSIP.
Health fee
School of Nursing students (except MS) pay a standard annual Health Fee that will appear on tuition billing statements during the first or second quarter of enrollment and will recur each year as you are enrolled in the program. There are NO EXCEPTIONS or refunds for this fee.
The Health Fee covers the following services provided by HSIP as listed below:
- Follow-up and counseling (but not treatment) for positive PPD conversion.
- Coverage for counseling, testing, and treatment for any course-related Blood Borne Pathogen (BBP) exposure after your insurance is billed.
The Health Fee does not cover immunizations and proof of immunity required by individual clinical sites or for entry into the program, including but not limited to:
- TB screening
- Flu and COVID vaccination
- MMR
- Tetanus/polio
- Varicella titer
- Hepatitis B titer
Students have to meet these requirements and secure documentation thereof at their own expense. A student may choose to obtain any of the required immunizations from their current healthcare provider. In this case, students must provide all documentation to the HSIP, obtain clearance through the HSIP program staff, and pay the health fee.
Health Insurance
Some clinical sites require students to have health insurance. Students without health insurance will not be placed at such sites. All Health Sciences students are STRONGLY ADVISED to have personal health insurance or to join a health care plan to cover the expenses of their health care, treatments in case of an injury, and/or care for a catastrophic illness or serious chronic condition within or outside the clinical setting.
Clinical Informatics (CIPCT) Students
Since the CIPCT program is strictly online, students in this program are exempted from the annual health fee and immunization requirements EXCEPT for the measles immunity requirement. CIPCT students must comply with the University measles requirement.
Revised October 2024 – Office of Student and Academic Affairs