Virginia Appalachian Tricollege Nursing Program

Instructions for background check, drug screen, and submitting required documentation are now available.  Please see paragraph 4 below.

1. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
   Proof of current certification in "Basic Life Support (BLS for Healthcare Providers" by the American Heart Association. The CPR certification must be for two years and cover the entire period of enrollment in the nursing program. A copy of your signed CPR card, front and back is required. Totally online BLS courses are NOT acceptable. CPR classes may be offered at community colleges, local hospitals or by contacting the American Heart Association at: www.americanheart.org. Certification should be received after May 1 to ensure current certification throughout the program. 
   
   
2. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
   Certification is required of all nursing students. HIPAA certification must be completed by each student even though HIPAA training may have been completed through another agency. You are required to complete two certificates and submit the copies in your paperwork packet. The HIPAA certificates are: Understanding HIPAA - a text-based overview of the statute (30 minute seat time) and Accessing and Sharing PHI - discovery based learning (90 minute seat time). Please contact HDM (Deb Huston) at 1-888-944-4722 for payment and log in information.
Please note:  the two HIPAA certificates must be combined into one document for uploading into the Certified Background site.


3. Professional Liability Insurance - First year students will not need to purchase professional liability insurance.
   
   
4. Background Checks, Drug Screens, Clinical Requirements Document Manager, and Certified Background Release Form - All 1st year students are required to purchase a background check, drug screen, and clinical requirements document manager from Certified Background. Detailed information on purchasing, picking up your paperwork for the drug test, clinical requirements and uploading documents may be found at the following link, Certified Background information. Submission of forms and paperwork will be through the documents manager, Clinical Requirements (do not send to the VATNP office); documents must be in electronic format in order to upload to the site. The Certified Background release form may be found at the following link, Certified Background release form.  DO NOT send any receipts, confirmations, or background/drug screen results to the VATNP office, they will be shredded. The cost for both the criminal backgrounds check and drug screen will be paid for by the student online.

   To Register with CertifiedBackground:
   
   Step 1: Go to www.certifiedbackground.com 

   • Click on STUDENTS.
   • Enter package code: IR79
   • Click SUBMIT.
   • Proceed to checkout and pay the fee
   • Print the confirmation.

   Step 2:  Your payment to CertifiedBackground includes a drug test that must be done through a Quest Diagnostics laboratory.  To find a Quest Diagnostics Laboratory for the Drug Screen:

   Go to: www.questdiagnostics.com and then click on “Find a Quest Diagnostics Location”.

   1. Enter address information
   2. Select Reason for Testing
   3. Click on:
      • Drug testing
        • Urine Drug Screen
   4. Search

   After registering for the drug screen an electronic CCF (Custody and Control Form) will be sent to you through your email.  The Bristol and Abingdon locations do not accept the electronic CCF, check with other Quest Diagnostics location to verify if an electronic CCF can be used.  If a paper CCF is needed, you must appear in person to pick up the form at one of the offices below.  Bring your confirmation email from CertifiedBackground and a photo ID.

   • Virginia Highlands Community College – Candace McClure, VATNP office, NEB 144, call 276-739-2439
   • Southwest Virginia Community College – Tammy Austin, the Armory, enter behind the building, office number 139, call 276-964-7306
   • Mountain Empire Community College – Debbie McConnell, Robb Hall 103,call 276-523-7456

   Note: Normal office hours are typically 8:30 – 4:30, but it is a good idea to call to make sure that someone will be available to help you as schedules (summer in particular) can be flexible.

   Step 3: Take the Custody and Control form to a Quest Diagnostics laboratory. It is a good idea to contact the testing site to confirm hours and location. If there are questions about the background check or the drug screen, please call the CertifiedBackground Customer Service number at 888-723-4263 ext. 7194.
   
   Step 4: The results of your  background check and drug screen will not be posted online to your account until the drug screen step has been completed. Once this is done, results can be viewed online at the CertifiedBackground website. The VATNP receives a report that shows if the tests have cleared or not cleared. If applicants do not clear the check, the VATNP Dean will contact the student to advise them of their status. Students will not be allowed to participate in clinicals without a cleared background check and drug screen. Clinical agencies reserve the right to ask students for access to their CertifiedBackground account at any time. Refusal to allow access to clinical agencies may result in the agency refusing to allow the student to continue clinical activities at that facility; which may prevent the student from being successful in the clinical course and progressing in the nursing program.

   Step 5:  Complete the Certified Background release (click on link for form) and turn in to the VATNP office.
   

5. Annual Student Statement Of Health Form
   This verifies the student’s ability to perform clinical activities. This statement of health form must be renewed and submitted every year by stated deadlines, while enrolled in clinical courses. This form is to be filled out and signed by the student. Submit the original document, make a copy for yourself.
   
   
6. Student Information, Physical, and Immunization Form
   This form is to be completed and signed by a licensed health care provider and student as indicated.  Please make sure that the form is completely filled out, including health care provider information. This form is required upon entry or readmittance to the nursing program. Forms left with blank entries will not be accepted as complete. Submit the original document, make a copy for yourself. First year students should have physical after May 15.

   Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test
   (TB Tine test is not acceptable) - Proof of a negative TB skin test must be obtained every year and should not expire during the clinical experience. This screening is to be renewed annually. The results of the test must be signed by a licensed health care provider showing the date of testing, date of reading, and results recorded in millimeters of indurations. Students who are known positive reactors or who cannot be tested must provide a negative chest X-ray and yearly physician documentation of negative physical signs and symptoms of tuberculosis.

   Procedure for Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test - Give 0.1 ml 5 TU PPD intradermal injection in a forearm. Read test in 48-72 hours.  If reading (indurations) is 5mm or greater, the test is positive for certain persons at increased risk; 15mm or greater is considered positive for healthy people who are not at risk.

   MMR (Measles, Mumps, & Rubella)
   Persons who cannot document prior MMR vaccinations must provide titer results.  If titer results are negative, two doses of MMR separated by at least 4 weeks are required.Note: Your high school vaccination record is a valid document to show proof of immunization.

   • Measles (Rubeola) – Proof of two immunizations of live measles virus vaccine on or after first birthday or titer results showing immunity.
   • Mumps – Proof of two immunizations with live mumps vaccine on or after first birthday or titer results showing immunity.
   • Rubella – Documentation of Rubella immunization on or after first birthday or titer results showing immunity.
   Hepatitis B:  A new ruling for hepatitis B vaccinations will be in effect starting July 1, 2011. This applies to all nursing students first and second year, day and evening/weekend. You are required to provide proof of the completion of hepatitis B immunizations, positive titer, or documentation supporting one or more of the exemptions listed below with your nursing paperwork that is required by August 1, 2012.  If you do not have documentation as outlined below you will not be able to participate in clinicals.   A declination is no longer acceptable documentation.  If you need to have the series, please begin it immediately; it takes a minimum of 5 months to complete.

Effective July 1, 2011, unless exempted by law, any student enrolled in a higher education institution who is a health science student expected to have patient contact shall present proof of protection against hepatitis B before patient contact begins. For purposes of this paragraph adequate immunization is defined as: 1) a complete hepatitis B vaccination series or 2) laboratory evidence of immunity.

An individual may be exempted from the requirements only under the following circumstances:

1. Where a licensed physician provides documentation that the vaccination is contraindicated for one of the following reasons:
   • the individual meets the criteria for contraindication set forth in the manufacturer's vaccine package insert;
   • the individual meets the criteria for contraindication published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control of the ACIP; or
   • in the best professional judgment of the health care provider, based on the individual's medical condition and history, the risk or harm from the vaccine outweighs the potential benefit.
2. An individual who has been exempted from a particular vaccination must comply with immunization requirements for any vaccines from which he/she has not been exempted.
3. Where a parent or guardian, or in the case of an adult student, the student, provides to the school a written statement, affirmed under penalties of perjury, that vaccination conflicts with the religious tenets and practices of the parent or guardian, or in the case of an adult student, the student.

Hepatitis B Vaccination Schedule - First dose at elected date.  The second dose at least 4 weeks after the first dose; the third dose should be given at least 8 weeks after the second dose and at least 16 weeks after the first dose.  Administer missing doses to complete a 3-dose series of hepatitie B vaccine to those persons not completely vaccinated.

Varicella (Chicken Pox) - Students must have one of the following:

• Varicella vaccination - documentation is required from a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, medical doctor, or appropriate health care provider with the dates of injections.
• Positive titer and date of varicella stated as "immune" signed by a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, medical doctor or appropriate health care provider.
• A signed verification and date of varicella disease - documentation is required from a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, medical doctor, or appropriate health care provider.
• Declaration of Varicella – student signed

Tetanus (Td)- Proof of Tetanus immunization received within the past 10 years. If immunization is not within past ten years, one is required by the clinical agencies. Student should have immunization every ten years. Verification of tetanus must be signed by a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, medical doctor, or appropriate health care provider.

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