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• Every nursing student is required to receive a Criminal Background Check upon program entry and then annually thereafter until graduation.
• For fall entry students the Criminal Background Check must be completed and submitted to the university approved software system by August 15^th. Information about obtaining the background check will be given at orientation and via email.
• For spring-entry students the Criminal Background Check must be completed and submitted to the university approved software system by December 15^th. Information about obtaining the background check will be given at orientation and via email.

All Criminal Background Check reports must be received by the Nursing Clinical Placement Specialist or Program Chair by the designated due dates or the student will be dropped from nursing classes and cannot be guaranteed a clinical placement.

*The Program Chair reserves the right to change or extend the deadline for completion for all applicants depending upon the date of acceptance.

• Results of the Criminal Background Check (CBC) will be valid for one year, unless there is reason to initiate another check or if the facility requires more frequent screening.
• If the nursing student leaves the Program for more than two semesters, a new Criminal Background Check and Urine Drug Screen is required prior to return.
• Students must use the university approved vendor for the CBC. No other results will be accepted. Information to access the screening will be provided by the Nursing Clinical Placement Specialist.
• History of the following infractions will disqualify an accepted student from enrollment in the Nursing Program:
  • Falsification of records or omission of pertinent information on either the certified background check or urine drug screen
  • Felony convictions
  • Misdemeanor convictions, probated sentences or felony deferred adjudications involving crimes against persons, including physical or sexual abuse
  • Misdemeanor convictions related to moral turpitude, including prostitution, public lewdness/exposure, theft, etc.
  • Felony probated sentences or deferred adjudication for the sale, possession, distribution, or transfer of narcotics or controlled substances
  • Registered sex offenders
• A nursing student who is charged/convicted of a criminal offense must report the charge or conviction to the Program Chair within three days of the charge.
• A nursing student whose subsequent Criminal Background Checks reveals any of the infractions noted above, will be disqualified from participating in any clinical experience and will then be dismissed from the Nursing Program.

Students should also note that a successful criminal background check must be completed after graduation and before taking the licensure exam (NCLEX-RN).

• Every nursing student is required to receive a urine drug screen upon program entry and then annually thereafter until graduation.
• For fall entry students the urine drug screen must be completed and submitted to the university approved software system by August 15th. Information about obtaining the background check will be given at orientation and via email.
• For spring-entry students the urine drug screen must be completed and submitted to the university approved software system by December 15th. Information about obtaining the background check will be given at orientation and via email.

All urine drug screen reports must be received by the Nursing Clinical Placement Specialist or Program Chair by the designated due dates or the student will be dropped from nursing classes and cannot be guaranteed a clinical placement.

*The Program Chair reserves the right to change or extend the deadline for completion for all applicants depending upon the date of acceptance.

• Results of the urine drug screening will be valid for one year, unless there is reason to initiate a random urine drug screening or if the facility requires more frequent screening.
• Students must use the university approved vendor for the urine drug screen. No other results will be accepted. Information to access the screening will be provided by the Nursing Clinical Placement Specialist.
• The drug screening will consist of a 10-panel urine drug screening, see below under program requirements for the list of the substances.
• A positive drug screen on admission may result in dismissal from the Nursing Program.
• If a nursing student has a positive drug screening on the test done prior to clinical, the student will not be permitted to participate in the clinical component of a nursing course and is required to withdraw from all nursing courses. A student’s academic standing will be reviewed internally with an outcome of possible dismissal from the program.
• All students are subject to random drug screening at the discretion of a nursing faculty, Nursing Clinical Placement Specialist, Chief Nurse Administrator, and staff member with due cause.

Note: Individuals with a history of any disqualifying behavior on the Criminal Background Check or urine drug screen, will only be considered for readmission to the Program if the NJ Board of Nursing issues a statement that the student is eligible for initial licensure as a registered profession nurse following program completion.

The University and the School of Health Sciences clinical preparation programs (including the nursing program) strongly recommend but do not require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and other diseases. Our clinical partners regularly update their immunization and health requirements, which may include mandatory vaccination against COVID-19, influenza, and other immunizations.

The University is required to comply with the placement requirements implemented by the respective clinical partners, including health and immunization requirements. Please note the following important information:

• Attendance and participation in clinical-based learning is a requirement for nursing students. Failure to comply with health and immunization requirements from clinical partners may impact a student’s ability to complete the clinical component of the nursing program.
• The University nursing program may admit students without vaccination compliance; however, the nursing program cannot guarantee clinical placements, degree completion, or program progression in the case that the student does not meet the clinical, health, and immunization requirements of our clinical partners. Non-compliant students may be permanently excluded from clinical participation due to external clinical site requirements.
• Placements are made based on the availability of our clinical partners; therefore, if students are placed at a rotation site that requires them to be vaccinated and students do not have the required immunization(s), students may be excluded from clinical experiences.
• Please be aware that clinical partners can and do react to population health and public health developments as they occur, and students may be subject to immediate enforcement of clinical site health requirements which could lead to possible clinical course withdrawal.

Accommodations/Exemptions

Clinical partners may require students to request accommodations/exemptions (medical or religious) through the clinical partner’s exemption/accommodation process. Each clinical partner will determine its own process for accepting requests for accommodations and exemptions. The School of Health will facilitate exemptions at the respective clinical site.

• The length of time it takes to decide an exemption request may delay the start of your clinical rotation.
• A request for exemption is not a guarantee that it will be granted.
• If an unvaccinated student intends to seek an accommodation or exemption and is placed at a clinical partner that has its own accommodation/exemption process, the student should contact the SHS to facilitate the accommodation/exemption process.
• If a clinical partner does not provide for or allow accommodations or exemptions to its vaccination requirement, or, requires students to go through the clinical partner’s exemption/accommodation process and the student’s request is denied by the clinical partner, the student may request an alternate clinical site through the School of Health Sciences. However, the university cannot grant exemptions or accommodations to a clinical partner’s vaccination requirements.
• If placement at an alternative clinical site is not possible, the only available accommodation(s) may be deferral, or temporary or permanent withdrawal from the program.

Acknowledgement

Your continued participation in the School of Health Sciences clinical preparation programs is an acknowledgment that you have been informed and have reviewed the nursing program and clinical site requirements for health and immunizations. Your continued participation also acknowledges that you have been informed that an unvaccinated student may be permanently excluded from clinical participation due to external clinical site requirements and may be ineligible to continue or to complete the degree program, which may delay or halt graduation.