Clinical Health Clearances for Nursing Students

Prior to the start of each semester, all nursing students must receive health clearance in order to meet both the university and clinical health care agency requirements.

All requirements must be current at all times in order for you to participate in your clinical course(s). Each requirement is valid for a year from the date of completion. After one year, the requirement expires and you must renew it.

• There are a couple exceptions to this rule, including the Immunization requirement which needs to be completed only once, and some CPR certifications which are valid for two years.

Please note that some clinical sites such as Sibley Memorial Hospital may require a drug screening within 30 days of your first clinical. Your clinical instructor will notify you of this extra requirement and it must be completed in order to achieve clinical clearance. The Student Health Center (SHC) next to St. Mary's Hall provides drug screenings for $25. You can call (202) 687-2200 to make an appointment at the SHC.

New Undergraduate Student Nurses

• The New Undergraduate Student Nurse Health Screening Form needs to be completed for requirements 1-4. Each section of the form needs to be signed and dated by your health care provider. Return this completed form to Eliza Ycas in STM 408D by July 1 for the Fall term or December 15 for the Spring term. No other forms will be accepted.
  
  
• For requirements 5 and 6, please return documentation to Eliza Ycas in STM 408D July 1 for the Fall term or December 15 for the Spring term.
  
  
• You must make copies for yourself of all documents including the health screening form.
  
  
• BSN students should contact Eliza Ycas at ery@georgetown.edu for questions about requirements.

Returning Undergraduate Student Nurses

• The Returning Undergraduate Student Nurse Health Screening Form needs to be completed in order to keep requirements 2, 3 and 4 current. Each section of the form needs to be signed and dated by your health care provider. Return this form to Eliza Ycas in STM 408D. No other forms will be accepted.
  
  
• For requirements 5 and 6, please return documentation to Eliza Ycas in STM 408D.
  
  
• You must make copies for yourself of all documents including the health screening form.
  
  
• BSN students should contact Eliza Ycas at ery@georgetown.edu for questions about requirements.

Graduate Nursing Students

Graduate nursing students must meet the same general clearance requirements as undergraduate students, unless otherwise instructed, in addition to their program's specific requirements. Please see Additional Requirements for a list of all requirements by program. There are also health screening forms designated for each program. You must make copies for yourself of all documents including the health screening form.

• Nurse Anesthesia students
  
  
  • New CRNA Student Nurse Health Screening Form
  • Returning CRNA Student Nurse Health Screening Form
  • Additional Requirements
  • Contact Amanda Brandon, Program Coordinator for Nurse Anesthesia, amb257@georgetown.edu if you have any questions about requirements.
    
    
• FNP, ACNP, CCNS, CNM, and NED students
  
  
  • New Graduate Student Nurse Health Screening Form
  • Returning Graduate Student Nurse Health Screening Form
  • Additional Requirements
  • Contact Sarah Crosley, Program Coordinator for Graduate Nursing, at sfc28@georgetown.edu if you have any questions about requirements.

Requirements for Clinical Clearance (Numbers 1-6 listed below)

1. Immunizations

• See the appropriate Health Screening Form for complete details.
• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Acellular Pertussis (Tdap): One dose of Tdap vaccine is required within the last ten years or a Td booster within the past 2 years.
• Varicella (Chicken Pox): 2 doses of Varicella vaccine or a positive antibody titer is required. To have had the chicken pox as a child may not be sufficient protection against the disease. A titer is therefore necessary to prove immunity.
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella: 2 doses of MMR vaccine or a positive antibody titer is required.
• Hepatitis B: 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine over period of 6 months or positive antibody titer is required. The Health Screening Form should reflect that you have begun this process by the time it is returned.
• Meningococcus: One dose of vaccine given within the past five years is required of all freshman undergraduate students living in residence halls. This requirement may be waived (please see Health Screening Form).
• The Immunization requirement needs to be completed only once.
  
  

2. TB Test

• For all new undergraduate student nurses, a 2-Step PPD-Mantoux test must be placed and interpreted by a health care provider within 12 months of registration.
• For graduate and returning undergraduate student nurses, one PPD-Mantoux test test is required annually.
• If PPD is positive, or student has previous history of a positive tuberculin skin test, a normal chest X-ray is required within 12 months, unless history of INH therapy is documented. Repeat chest X-rays are not needed unless student displays symptoms or signs of TB or a clinician recommends a repeat chest X-ray. The health care provider performing the annual physical should screen for signs and symptoms of TB.
• This is an annual requirement for all student nurses.
  
  

3. Influenza Vaccinations

• New for 2009-10 is a requirement that all students be vaccinated against both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu.
• Proof of vaccination is to be documented on the appropriate Health Screening Form.
• Students who cannot receive the flu vaccination due to an egg allergy or other health issue most provide documentation of this from a health care provider.
• This is an annual requirement for all student nurses.
  
  

4. Physical Exam

• Your health care provider must verify that you are in good health and can participate in the clinical setting.
• This is an annual requirement for all student nurses.
  
  

5. CPR Certification

• A Basic Life Support (BLS) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course specifically for health care providers (not lay people) is required, and must be kept up-to-date at all times. The American Heart Association (AHA) offers a 2 year certification course, which we strongly recommend. American Heart Association courses are offered at Georgetown throughout the semester. To find a session, click here and select Calendar of Events, then “Georgetown University Hospital” from the dropdown menu. Select the course you would like to attend and click “Register”. When entering your information your organization will be DC-Georgetown University Hospital and your position is Nursing Student.
• Return a copy of your CPR certification to the appropriate program coordinator.
• This is an annual requirement for all student nurses, unless certification is good for 2 years. In that case, you must be recertified upon expiration.
  
  

6. Criminal Background Check

• All nursing majors must secure a criminal background check every year. NHS only accepts background checks completed through the vendor CertifiedBackground.com. All you need to do is go to CertifiedBackground.com and click on "Students." In the package code box, enter the package code EO14 (it is a capital "O" and not a zero). Select a payment. CertifiedBackground.com accepts Visa, MasterCard, and money orders.
• Once your background check is finished processing, please send the appropriate program coordinator an e-mail to alert him/her that the results are in. The program coordinator can access the results online.
• This is an annual requirement for all student nurses.