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Non-Academic Requirements for Admission and Continuation in the Nursing Program

Essential Functions and Skills

The Nursing Program has identified essential functions and skills critical to the effective preparation of nursing students and to their success as future nursing professionals. The purpose of the essential functions and skills is to establish performance levels that are required of all nursing students in order to successfully complete the Nursing Program with or without reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with the University's Office of Student Disability Services. This includes a review of whether the accommodations may jeopardize clinician/patient safety, or the educational process of the student, including all coursework, clinical experiences and internships deemed essential for graduation.

To be accepted into and/or to continue in the Nursing Program and successfully fulfill its standards, students must be able to meet the essential functions and skills, which include emotional requirements, behavioral and social abilities, cognitive requirements, communication skills, neurosensory skills, psychomotor skills, and general health. Students will be required to sign that they meet the Essential Functions and Skills (http://www.uiw.edu/nursing/documents/essentialfunctionsskills0815.pdf) prior to enrollment in nursing courses. A provider's clearance may be required following a temporary disability experienced during the program.

For details, please see: http://www.uiw.edu/nursing/bsn/health_and_other_program_requirements.html 

Health Requirements

Good physical and mental health is essential for study and practice in professional nursing. The faculty of the nursing program reserves the right to admit and retain only those students who demonstrate qualities of physical and mental health generally considered imperative for professional nursing practice. The nursing program shares student health information with clinical partners as required by letters of agreement with agencies at which students learn and provide patient care. See preceding reference to Essential Functions and Skills. In compliance with the Health Care Provider terms of TAC 97.64 (Required Vaccinations for Student Enrolled in Health-Related and Veterinary Courses in Institutions of Higher Learning) applicants to the nursing program are required to provide proof of completed immunizations upon application to the program. CPR (Healthcare Provider) certification, and First Aid certification is required prior to enrollment in nursing classes. Current immunization and certification is also required for continued enrollment in the program. Students are required to maintain up-to-date records as directed by the nursing program. Students are also responsible for providing evidence of this record upon request from the appropriate program director. The UIW Health Services Office can help the student determine what immunizations are complete and when further immunizations are due. The HSO can provide required testing/immunizations or refer students to outside agencies as necessary. Specific requirements include:

  1. Immunization Record:
    1. Hepatitis B (Completed series of 3 vaccines plus a follow-up Hepatitis B Surface antibody titer [anti-HBs] that reflects immunity is due upon program application. May take up to 1 year or more to complete series and titer). A titer that reflects immunity is required in addition to documentation of the immunizations as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  
    2. Measles, Mumps, Rubella (2 doses, due upon program application).
    3. Varicella (2 doses-or Positive Varicella titer--due upon program application). History of Chickenpox not accepted as documentation.
    4. Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (1 dose Tdap--due upon program application).
    5. Seasonal Influenza (due annually in Fall).
    6. TB skin test or alternate medical recommendation (due upon application and then annually)
  2. Selected Agencies only: HIV testing. Students will be notified if this is required at the time of clinical assignment.
  3. Additional background checks may be required by some clinical agencies.
  4. Current CPR certification- Only the following courses are accepted: American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Provider and American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers.
  5. Current First Aid Certification- Required for traditional BSN students only; not required for students in the RN to BSN alternate pathway. The following courses are accepted:
    • American Red Cross First Aid Certification.
    • American Heart Association First Aid Certification

Additional health requirements may be required by some clinical agencies. Students must show proof of current health insurance and blood-borne pathogen injury coverage upon admission and annually. If for any reason, any required immunization is contraindicated, the student is required to present a record of medical evaluation and recommendations. The program cannot guarantee the required clinical placements if a student is not immunized or does not meet the health-related requirements of clinical partner agencies.

Other Requirements

Criminal Background Screening:

Criminal background screening is completed on all candidates for the nursing program. The nursing program will notify admitted students when and how to complete the FBI background check as required by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). Students may not enroll in nursing courses until they show evidence of BON clearance to the director of the pathway in which they are enrolling (Traditional or RN-BSN). Students pay expenses related to all screening. A student with a significant criminal background or a current conviction may not be allowed to register for nursing courses until the BON for the State of Texas issues a declaratory order stating the individual is eligible for initial licensure or license renewal or determines that the individual is eligible to return to practice. If a BON reportable event occurs during the time the student is enrolled in the program, the student will notify the Dean or director of the pathway in which they are enrolled (Traditional or RN-BSN) within 3 days of the event. The Dean along with the pathway director and the BSN Program Chair will determine if the student is eligible to continue in the program.

Eligibility for Licensure:

Completion of degree requirements for the BSN does not guarantee licensure as a registered nurse. The Nurse Practice Act for the State of Texas, and the Texas Board of Nursing (BON), require that a candidate for licensure possess good professional character. Students are regularly evaluated for good professional character throughout the program of study. Students who do not demonstrate the qualities required by the Nurse Practice Act will not be recommended for licensure. Good professional character includes, but is not limited to, behaviors indicating honesty, accountability, trustworthiness, reliability and integrity. Students will review the BON rules related to Good Professional Character (213-27) at http://www.bne.state.tx.us/rr_current/213-27.asp. Standards of Nursing Practice (217-11) at http://www.bne.state.tx.us/rr_current/217-11.asp and Unprofessional Conduct (217-12) at http://www.bne.state.tx.us/rr_current/217-12.asp in the first semester of the nursing program, and they will be held to the standards throughout the program. See these rules and others at https://www.bon.texas.gov/laws_and_rules_rules_and_regulations.asp 

Declaratory Orders

Applicants to the nursing program who answer "yes" to any of the following questions MUST contact the Texas Board of Nursing and file a petition for a declaratory order (an order which indicates the candidate will be eligible for a nursing license). Admission into and continuation in the BSN Program is contingent on positive outcome notification from the Texas Board of Nursing.

  1. For any criminal offense, including those pending appeal, have you:
    • been arrested and have a pending criminal charge?
    • been convicted of a misdemeanor?
    • been convicted of a felony?
    • pled nolo contendere, no contest, or guilty?
    • received deferred adjudication?
    • been placed on community supervision or court-ordered probation, whether or not adjudicated guilty?
    • been sentenced to serve jail or prison time? court-ordered confinement?
    • been granted pre-trial diversion?
    • been arrested or have any pending criminal charges?
    • been cited or charged with any violation of the law?
    • been subject of a court-martial; Article 15 violation; or received any form of military judgment/punishment/action? 
    • You may only exclude Class C misdemeanor traffic violations.
  2. Are you currently the target or subject of a grand jury or governmental agency investigation?
  3. Has any licensing authority refused to issue you a license or ever revoked, annulled, cancelled, accepted surrender of, suspended, placed on probation, refused to renew a professional license, certificate or multi-state privilege held by you now or previously, or ever fined, censured, reprimanded or otherwise disciplined you?
  4. Within the past five (5) years have you been diagnosed with, treated, or hospitalized for schizophrenia and/or psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder or borderline personality disorder which impaired or does impair your behavior, judgement, or ability to function in school or work.
  5. Within the past five (5) years have you been addicted to and/or treated for the use of alcohol or any other drug?

    The statements above are excerpts from the Petition for Declaratory Order (revised 6-2015). See the Texas Board of Nursing website at http://www.bon.texas.gov/forms_declaratory_order.asp and https://www.bon.texas.gov/pdfs/forms_pdfs/initial_licensure_recognition_pdfs/declaratoryorder_pdfs/DOAPP2014.pdf for more information.

    Drug Screening

    Drug screening may be required by some clinical agencies or by the School of Nursing's determination. The School will designate a company to do the drug screening and will not accept results from any company other than the one designated by the School. The student will pay the cost of the screening at the time of testing.

    A student who has a positive drug screen will not be allowed to participate in clinical courses. The student will be required to complete, at the student’s expense, chemical dependency evaluation and treatment if recommended by the drug assessment. Any student with a positive drug screen shall be suspended for a minimum of one calendar year and will be required to provide documentation of successful treatment prior to being readmitted to clinical courses. If readmitted, the student must be retested by the School approved laboratory and have a negative drug screen. This testing is done at the student’s expense.

    Liability, Health, and Blood-borne Pathogen Insurance

    Students are required to be covered by liability insurance. The liability insurance fee is included in nursing course fees. Students must also be covered by health insurance. Limited health insurance coverage is offered by the University. Blood-borne pathogen (needle-stick injury) insurance is also required as directed by the program after enrollment in nursing courses.