COVID-19 Policy & Procedures for Nursing Students

Note to all UPSON Student Nurses

All nurses, including faculty and students, have pledged to adhere to both the American Nurses Association’s Scope and Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. These provide guidance and support in the hard decisions that we have to make each day and become even more valuable in times of a pandemic. As we engage in Professional Practice experiences at UPSON, it is our responsibility to maintain the ANA Scope and Standards and Code of Ethics to ensure the highest quality of health and safety for all. 

Purpose

The purpose of this COVID-19 policy is to help ensure the health and safety for all nursing students whether in the classroom (virtual or in-person) or professional practice setting.

For off-campus professional practice activities, clinical site policies are always upheld.

DNP students should follow their clinical placement protocols, including symptom monitoring.

Student’s health is our priority. We know that nursing school is stressful for students and do not want anyone to disregard symptoms for fear of getting behind in the classroom or a professional practice setting. Please encourage students to report symptoms openly and honestly and know that we will work with students individually to develop a plan that best supports their health.

The intent of the policy is to help faculty and staff standardize student support.

This policy is organized in the following sections:

1. Daily symptom monitoring
2. Development of symptoms of COVID-19
3. Exposure to COVID-19
4. Returning to the classroom and/or Professional Practice

Daily Symptom Monitoring

Students should self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms regularly. Please visit the CDC website for a list of current symptoms: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html.

Undergraduate Nursing Student

• Students in online classrooms only should monitor for symptoms generally, but do not need to actively report their symptoms using the Daily Monitoring Tool (DMT).
• Students physically attending off-campus professional practice experience must monitor and report their symptoms each time student participates at the site using the Daily Monitoring Tool (DMT).
• Students physically attending on-campus professional practice experience must monitor and report their symptoms using the DMT each time the student participates in the SHC.
  
  • Daily Monitoring Tool: https://uportland.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_72mw0ByAsEtdlK5
  • Students need to complete the DMT no earlier than three hours prior and no later than 30 minutes prior to attending scheduled Professional Practice activity
  • Students need to complete the DMT in addition to the University’s Campus Clear app

Graduate Nursing Student

• DNP students should follow their clinical placement protocols, including symptom monitoring. 

Faculty

• Simulated Health Center (SHC)/On-campus faculty will retrieve the data for students in their classes prior to students participating in scheduled Professional Practice activity and will work with students on a plan for rescheduling and/or alternative plans for obtaining clinical experience to meet course outcomes
• Clinical/Off-Campus Faculty will be notified by student if student was unable to attend scheduled clinical shift and will work with student on a plan for rescheduling and/or alternative plan for obtaining clinical experience to meet course outcomes

Development of COVID-19 Symptoms

Nursing Student

• If a student develops symptoms of COVID-19, student needs to notify classroom faculty as soon as possible
• If a student answers “yes” to any of the questions on the DMT and/or reports symptoms they will need to be tested and cannot attend Professional Practice until cleared (see returning to the classroom and/or professional practice).
  • If student is near the UPSON campus, student can go to the University of Portland Health and Counseling Center to be tested: https://www.up.edu/healthcenter/ 
  • If student is not near campus, please contact your nearest health facility about where you should get tested
    • Students are not considered to be employees of the health care facilities in which they have clinical. As such, students are not covered by OSHA rules that govern employees. Thus, costs associated with exposure control of bloodborne pathogens are the responsibility of the student (see Standard Precautions/Bloodborne Pathogen Guidelines in BSN Student Handbook)
  • To be complaint with University policy, students must receive a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test.

Faculty

• If a student develops symptoms of COVID-19, faculty should direct student to be tested
• Complete an Early Alert in order to coordinate support and resources for the student.
• The UPSON COVID-19 Response Team will reach out to the student and faculty to provide guidance

Exposure to COVID-19

Known Exposure

If student has a known exposure to COVID-19 (in close contact with a confirmed case) as a result of engaging in any Professional Practice activity:

Nursing Student:

• Follow specific guidelines from clinical site for exposure (if applicable)
• Notify Clinical Faculty of exposure as soon as possible
• With Clinical Faculty, complete Exposure/Incident Report form
  • Student may receive medical evaluation per clinical agency protocol, may be referred to own health care provider, or referred to University Health Center
    • Students are not considered to be employees of the health care facilities in which they have clinical. As such, students are not covered by OSHA rules that govern employees. Thus, costs associated with exposure control of bloodborne pathogens are the responsibility of the student (see Standard Precautions/Bloodborne Pathogen Guidelines in BSN Student Handbook)

Clinical Faculty:

• Support student in following specific guidelines from clinical site for exposure
• Notify lead faculty of Professional Practice course of exposure
• Complete Exposure/Incident Report form with student
• Complete an Early Alert in order to coordinate support and resources for the student
• The UPSON COVID-19 Response Team will reach out to the student and faculty to provide guidance

Potential Exposure

If student has a suspected exposure to COVID-19 from engaging in a Professional Practice activity or the community.

Nursing Student:

• Notify Clinical Faculty of potential exposure
• The UPSON COVID-19 Response Team will reach out to the student and faculty to provide guidance
• If symptoms develop, refer to "Development of Symptoms" above and student should seek testing

Faculty

• Clinical Faculty will notify Professional Practice lead faculty of potential exposure
• Consult with the UPSON COVID-19 Response Team for additional actions

Returning to the Classroom and/or Professional Practice

Nursing students must receive clearance from the UPSON COVID-19 Response Team before returning to any in-person classroom and/or Professional Practice activity. Each case is reviewed and evaluated individually by the UPSON COVID-19 Response Team. The UPSON COVID-19 Response Team follows guidance from the Center for Disease Control, Oregon Healthy Authority, and the larger University for decision-making regarding quarantining and returning to Professional Practice. 

Daily Monitoring Tool (DMT) Preview

Exposure/Incident Report

COVID-19 Resources for Oregon Higher Education Partners

Oregon.gov contains information and guidance related to the 2019 novel coronavirus and ​COVID-19 for postseco​​ndary institutions and s​takeholders in Oregon. Since this is an evolving situation, they are updating the page as frequently as possible. For the current Oregon public health status on COVID-19, see the Oregon Health Authority. 

Resources for Higher Education Partners: https://www.oregon.gov/highered/about/Pages/COVID19.aspx