Disclosure of offenses post-background check completion

Current full & part-time VUSN students are required to immediately report to their Faculty Advisor and the Senior Associate Dean for Academics any arrest, criminal charge or conviction occurring after his or her background check has been completed.

Required disclosure also includes but is not limited to: allegations, investigations and/or disciplinary action from any licensing board or agency included under the Nationwide Healthcare Fraud and Abuse scan; Office of Inspector General (OIG), General Services Administration (GSA), FDA Debarment Check, Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), Office of Research Integrity (ORI), and Medicare and Medicaid Sanctions. 

Background Check Required for Readmission

Students returning from a break in enrollment must complete a new background check through Castle Branch prior to registration by entering the ‘VA14bc’ Package Code in the Place Order box at: https://www.castlebranch.com/online_submission/package_code.php.

A new background check is not required from students returning from a VUSN approved deferment or LOA. However, returning students must submit up-to-date documentation to their myCB account requirements prior to registration.

Maintaining Health Insurance, TB Testing, Annual Flu Vaccination, Training, Licensing and Certification Requirements

While enrolled, continuing full and part-time, MSN, Post-Master’s Certificate, and DNP students are required to update the following date-dependent documentation in their myCB account, To-Do-List by the requirement’s Renewal Date. (Renewal requirements are generated 21-days prior to the Renewal Date.) Students maintaining the Magnus Immunization Tracker through Castle Branch have an annual $20 fee.

Please note: Students who fail to maintain their Castle Branch (myCB) account’s To-Do-List requirements with up-to-date documentation will not be allowed to begin/continue clinical course work and/or register for additional courses.

VUSN Requirements to Maintain for Registration

1. All students are required to have current health insurance coverage either through the University’s student health insurance plan or by another policy while enrolled (monthly issued insurance is not acceptable). Clinical sites require students to have health insurance to cover any illness or injury that they may incur during the clinical training experience.
   
   Students who wish to be covered by a personal policy must complete a waiver EACH YEAR to decline the University’s student insurance plan by January 1 for spring admits and August 1 for fall, Maymester and summer admits by submitting proof of coverage at: http://www.gallagherstudent.com/vanderbilt. If a waiver is not completed by the appropriate date, the student is automatically billed and enrolled in the Gallagher Student Health Insurance plan. Students must maintain current documentation of health insurance coverage through their Castle Branch (myCB) account. Documentation of the University’s student health plan can be pulled each academic year, the first week of August at, https://www.gallagherstudent.com/students. Students who change providers during enrollment must provide current documentation of their coverage by contacting the VUSN Compliance Officer at: lisa.boyer@vanderbilt.edu or call (615) 343-3294.
2. Annual tuberculin skin test (PPD) or blood test (IGRA= QFT-Plus, QFT-GIT and T-Spot). If the student has been consecutively enrolled and a clear chest x-ray was submitted to myCB in the year(s) prior, complete the Annual Post-Chest X-ray TB Questionnaire, to confirm the absence of symptoms (healthcare provider signature required).
   1. If test is positive, medical evaluation and documentation of a clear chest x-ray (lab report OR physician verification of results required). If there is evidence of a positive chest x-ray and/or symptoms of TB, the student must notify their Program Director and follow up with a medical evaluation and if needed, treatment.
3. A Current  American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS)  certification is required by all entry levels and specialties .  AHA is the  only  BLS card accepted.  Find a Course. Local Providers .  Additional Specialty Requirements:   Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) requires the AHA ACLS card.  Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) requires the AHA PALS & ACLS cards and an Advaned Trauma Life Support (ATLS) - OR - Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) certification.  Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) requires  a  Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) card . Pediatric Nurse Practitioner- Acute Care (PNPAC) requires  an   AHA PALS card. Other specialties may require additional certifications at specific stages of enrollment. 
4. HIPAA & OSHA Safety Training:  Annual online training to be completed in July or August for the coming academic year (AY). Training is offered through the  BrightSpace  platform - requires active VUnetID & password.  Complete the VUSN Orientation before selecting  VUSN HIPAA/OSHA training  from the Content menu. Complete quiz for the correct academic year under  Assessments and Quizzes.  Print/Save PDF or JPG of completion webpage under  Quiz Submissions –VUSN HIPAA/OSHA Training  page- by clicking on the  Attempt #  with a score of 80% or greater for proof of completion. Submit printed/saved proof of completion webpage (showing  Completion Date & Attempt Score  of at least 80%) to the  HIPAA/OSHA  requirement in your  myCB  account’s To-Do-List. Attempt Scores of lower than 80% can start again by selecting Content. Quiz can be repeated unlimited times and the most recent score will appear. Contact:  lisa.boyer@Vanderbilt.Edu  for assistance with quiz submission. Contact:  timothy.groves@Vanderbilt.Edu  if HIPAA/OSHA training is unavailable under  Content  in  BrightSpace .
5. Copy of an unencumbered  Registered Nurse’s license  in the state(s) where the student will be doing clinical training (if applicable). In addition, DNP students must have Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) designation in their home state or equivalent and national board certification in their area of specialty as appropriate. 
6. Influenza: Annual flu vaccination is required or student must obtain an approved exemption through Vanderbilt University’s Student Health Center by submitting a request by October 1st, prior to each flu season at: https://www.vumc.org/student-health/influenza-vaccinations-students. Medical provider documentation of a contraindication to the seasonal influenza vaccine is required for exemption approval. (Note: Minor side effects, such as low-grade fever, cold symptoms, or muscle aches, are not considered a medical contraindication to the influenza vaccine.)
   
   In addition, students unable to receive an annual flu vaccination must also obtain an approved exemption (per site specifications) prior to placement at each clinical, observation or project site.

Clearing the Nursing Requirement Hold for Registration

The continuing student must maintain up-to-date documentation through their myCB account by submitting the documentation specified under the requirement’s drop-down. The readmitted student must have satisfactory completion of a new background check in addition to maintaining up-to-date documentation through their myCB account.

The Nursing Requirement Hold in Your Enrollment Services (YES) account is automatically cleared (allow 10-business days) when the student’s myCB requirements show as ‘Complete’ by their Renewal Date.

Additional Clinical Site Requirements and Restrictions

Additional immunizations, titers, TB testing, drug screening, and/or additional background checks may be required by some clinical, observation and project sites. Once enrolled, the student may complete immunizations, titers and TB testing at Student Health. A student who plans to use Student Health should call (615) 322-2427 to schedule an appointment. The student should bring a copy of their VU Nursing Health Questionnaire form and any required documentation to the appointment. Students are responsible for all charges incurred in order to meet clinical site requirements.

Due to certain restrictions, VUSN is not able to accommodate clinical placements in all locations.

Accidents/Injury/Illnesses

Students are responsible for the costs of tests, treatment, and follow-up care for any accidents, injury, or illnesses that occur while enrolled as students at VUSN. Students are not entitled to worker’s compensation benefits.