Clinical Requirements for All Nursing Students

Beginning in 2019, an outside company, Castle Branch, will be the exclusive vendor to obtain and monitor student pre-clinical compliance documentation. Students will pay a small fee directly to Castle Branch. Students will establish a unique identified login to upload all required paperwork.

In addition to documentation on physical wellness, all clinical students must complete a drug test and initial background check prior to participating in any off-campus clinical learning experiences. Subsequent background checks, drug screening and possibly fingerprinting may be required by individual clinical agencies at other points in the program. Students must be aware that clinical placements sites reserve the right to deny, in their sole discretion, a student's clinical placement based upon the results of the background check and drug screening. The School of Nursing is not responsible for any clinical ineligibility, regardless of whether any possible convictions or potential drug use was disclosed prior to the student's matriculation to the School of Nursing. If a student's clinical placement is denied because of the findings of a background check or drug testing, the School of Nursing does not guarantee the availability of an alternative clinical placement. If a student cannot be placed at a clinical site due to a background check finding, he/she will not be able to complete the nursing program and will be dismissed from the nursing program.

All information from the background check is held as confidential and the information shared with the various agencies notes only that the student has passed the check. Individuals that fail the background check are notified by the University. They then have the opportunity to schedule an appointment with a University-appointed individual(s) to review the results of a background check. A determination on proceeding is then made on a case-by-case basis.

(All information related to this policy is found in the appropriate program handbook, which can also be accessed on the Molloy University website.)

In addition to other clinical clearance requirements, nursing students must complete a drug test and initial background check through the programs approved vendor, prior to participating in clinical learning experiences. Clearance requirements vary by clinical site and are subject to change at any time. Students are responsible for all costs associated with the drug test and background check, along with all other clinical clearance procedures. Students entering the clinical sequence of the nursing program curriculum will be informed as to the timeline and deadline for completion of all clinical clearance requirements.

Students must be aware that clinical placement sites reserve the right to deny, in their sole discretion, a student's clinical placement based upon the results of the background check, drug screening, noncompliance with safety or vaccination requirements, or other site-specific requirements. Procedures related to clearance for clinical experiences are documented in the Nursing Student program handbooks. The Molloy University Barbara H. Hagan School of Nursing and Health Sciences ("The School") is not responsible for the clinical ineligibility of any student for any reason, including but not limited to whether a history of conviction, potential drug use, or to other circumstances which were disclosed to the School of the University prior to the student's matriculation. If a student's clinical placement at a clinical placement site is denied, the School does not guarantee the availability of an alternative clinical placement. The School or University is under no obligation to affirmatively seek out additional clinical placement sites that may be willing to accept a student who has been denied a clinical placement. If a student cannot be placed in an established clinical placement for any reason, including, but not limited to, a failed background check or drug test, clinical clearance, or other finding, he/she will not be able to complete the nursing program and will therefore be removed and dismissed from the nursing program.

Healthcare workers, including nursing students may care for patients with communicable diseases. Students are required to use appropriate PPE and to engage in all other appropriate infection control measures, including those specifically prescribed by the clinical site. Nurses have an ethical obligation to care for all patients; this obligation extends to student nurses as well. Nurses, including student nurses, will not disseminate against any individual based on the perception that the individual is suspected of having an infectious or communicable disease. Students assigned to a hospital unit or other practice site specialized to care for infectious patients are expected to remain on the unit and complete their clinical assignments. Faculty and/or Associate Dean will speak to students who are concerned that they cannot remain in the clinical environment.

Students unwilling to remain in the clinical setting or who insist they must leave the site will receive a withdrawal from the course. Withdrawal from the course will be treated as any other course withdrawal. When the course is repeated, the student must continue for the full semester and earn a grade.