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Health Require for Students Enrolled in Clinicals

After being accepted into a clinical program, new clinical students will be directed to an electronic health packet detailing all health and safety requirements that must be met prior to the first clinical course. Failure to maintain compliance with the health and safety requirements each semester will result in the student's inability to attend the clinical portion of their program. The following is a summary of the requirements that are explained in more detail in the student health packets. The health packets also provide required forms and more contact information for the affiliates mentioned below. Also the Student Handbook contains more policy information regarding these requirements including, but not limited to:

  1. Every full-time student enrolled in clinical courses must have a physical examination performed by his/her personal health care provider at the time of enrollment.
  2. Proof of immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and proof of tetanus and diphtheria vaccination within ten years prior to enrollment are mandatory for clinical students. In addition to the MMR, TD, and meningitis immunizations required when you first enroll at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, some clinical sites require lab tests to prove immunity. Rubeola (measles), mumps, rubella (German measles), and varicella (chicken pox) titers are mandatory for the FNP, PA, RADT, RESP, MLS and MSNS programs.
  3. Meningitis vaccine is mandatory for students in the PA and MLS programs.
  4. All students enrolled in clinical courses must provide evidence varicella (chicken pox) immunity. Acceptable evidence of varicella immunity includes either of the following: documentation of two doses of varicella vaccine; or serologic evidence (blood test) showing positive antibodies (immunity) to varicella. History of the disease is not acceptable.
  5. Drug screening is required for all students prior to entering clinical degree/certification programs. Some clinical sites may require this to be completed within one week prior to the clinical assignment. Additionally, students enrolled in clinical programs are subject to random urine drug screening for the duration of the clinical program. Random drug screening will be done at the University's expense. Pre-enrollment drug screening costs will be included in the student's fees. All students, as a condition of enrollment in a clinical program, must abide by the University's Drug and Alcohol policies and consent, when asked, to submit to urine drug testing to determine compliance with the policy. Disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the program or the University, may result when a student either 1) refuses to consent or cooperate in the administration of such testing or 2) is confirmed to have positive results for illegal drug usage or misuse of prescription drugs. *See policy below for “Students who fail a University mandated drug screen or criminal background check”.
  6. Annually, all clinical students must submit to the Office of Health and Wellness the results of appropriate screening for tuberculosis. Some clinical sites may require this to be completed within six weeks prior to the clinical assignment.
  7. All clinical students in programs providing direct patient care must have current influenza vaccine. The flu vaccine must be updated annually.
  8. All clinical students must maintain current health professional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification. CPR certification and recertification may be completed at any institution/agency of each student's choice provided it is one of the accepted types listed. The only CPR certification accepted to meet this requirement is the American Heart Association healthcare provider.
  9. The hepatitis vaccine series is mandatory for all clinical students unless contraindicated for medical reasons.** The series may be obtained through a private health care provider, public clinic, or through the Total Occupational Medicine Clinic (see theFranU clinical student health packet for details).
  10. FranU highly recommends that all students enrolled in clinical degree/certification programs maintain personal health insurance.
  11. The University provides an accidental injury policy for each student enrolled in a clinical program or wet lab course.
  12. Prior to enrolling in clinical courses, clinical students will be required to submit to a criminal background check to meet clinical agency requirements. This process is designed to insure the accuracy of students’ self-reports. Cases where students have not answered the background question on the application accurately will be dealt with severely and, at a minimum, result in the student being placed on administrative probation. Nursing students will have background checks conducted by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. Students in other clinical programs (and some pre-clinical courses) will have criminal background checks conducted by BR-Solutions.net. Students will receive in the student health packet information on the procedure for completing the criminal background check.
    *See policy below for “Students who fail a University mandated drug screen or criminal background check”.
  13. **Clinical students may request waiver of immunization requirements for medical or religious reasons by completing a request for exemption form available from the Office of Health & Safety. Requests for exemption will be considered on a case by case basis and will require student to 1) provide supporting documentation for the request and 2) meet with a University President designee. The President’s designee will make a recommendation to the President to approve or deny the request and the President’s decision is final. Students should understand that if the exemption is approved, clinical placement may not be guaranteed.