Clinical Requirements

A variety of agencies in South Central Tennessee and Northern Alabama are used as clinical learning facilities for students. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the University of Tennessee Southern and assigned clinical agencies. Clinical experiences are selected to augment nursing theory and provide the learner with the opportunity to develop clinical competencies in the delivery of nursing care. Students must complete designated clinical requirements upon admission to the program and keep them current until graduation.

Mandatory clinical requirements are established to protect students as well as patients. Immunization requirements follow the CDC and OSHA guidelines as well as those of the clinical agencies serving as clinical rotation sites. Students who do not demonstrate recommended positive titers may be required to repeat the required immunizations. The mandatory clinical requirements are:

• Immunization Record;

• Measles, Mumps & Rubella titers;

• Varicella (Chicken Pox) titers;

• Hepatitis B titer;

• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis Booster (DTaP);

• A two-step tuberculin skin test or proof of negative status;

• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) (may be offered during Fundamentals course);

• A criminal background check, as approved by the Nursing program;

• A 10-panel drug screen, as approved by the Nursing program;

• Discretionary random and/or scheduled drug screen participation required until graduation;

• Flu vaccination;

• Health insurance: proof of coverage must be provided each semester;

• Physical examinations by licensed health care provider;

• Professional liability insurance: purchased through the UTS Business Office;

• Documentation of blood borne Pathogens/Standard Precautions/Universal Precautions training prior to entering the clinical experience (training provided by the Nursing program);

• HIPAA training (training provided by the Nursing program);

• RN-BSN students are required to show proof of current Liability Insurance with continued coverage while enrolled in the program (does not apply to Pre-Licensure or LPN-BSN students).

Policy changes by regulatory bodies and/or clinical agencies can result in additional clinical requirements. Students who have a positive criminal background check and/or drug screen may not be able to complete the required clinical components of the nursing courses and therefore would not be able to successfully complete the nursing program. See Nursing Student Handbook Drug Screening Policy.

Inability to comply with the change may prevent successful completion of any affected course.

Note for RN-BSN students: Simulation Lab hours are assigned by the instructor of the associated course and may take place online with the use of virtual simulation software or in the simulation lab. Practicum sites must be approved by the Chair or Program Coordinator by the end of the semester prior to beginning NUR 467. Students are to submit preferred site names and information with their application packet and provide subsequent necessary information upon request prior to site approval.