PROCEDURAL ADDENDUM TO AUHS SCHOOL OF NURSING’S HIV/ AIDS POLICY

In addition to the University HIV/ AIDS Policy, the following statement apply to nursing students and faculty in the School of Nursing in relation to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Hepatitis D Virus (HDV), and Hepatitis G Virus (HGV) since health care activities may put an individual at higher risk for these diseases.

1. No individual shall be denied an opportunity for admission into the nursing program or employment in connection with the nursing program because that individual is infected with a dangerous communicable disease such as HIV, AIDS, HBV, HCV, HDV, or HGV, as long as (a) AUHS School of Nursing is able to make reasonable accommodations for the individual and (b) the disease does not create a direct threat, as both of the underlined terms are defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
2. Students and faculty should be aware that as novice practitioners with limited skills in clinical settings, students may have a greater risk of unintended puncture with sharp medical instruments and are at a greater risk of exposure to HIV, AIDS, or Hepatitis. No nursing student or faculty may ethically refuse to treat a patient solely because the patient is at risk of contracting, or has contracted, an infectious disease such as HIV, AIDS, or Hepatitis.
3. Nursing students and faculty must follow professional guidelines as well as guidelines of the health care agency relative to confidentially concerning the patient with HIV, AIDS, or Hepatitis.
4. In order to reduce the possibility of exposure to Hepatitis B Virus, nursing students and faculty will follow the policies in effect for the AUHS School of Nursing.
5. Students and faculty who are exposed to HIV, AIDS, or Hepatitis as a result of exposure to blood and body fluids such as a needle stick or other injury have the responsibility to notify their faculty or supervisor in the School of Nursing immediately after the occurrence and to follow post-exposure instructions under the guidance of their health care provider. Information on post-exposure prophylaxis may also be obtained from the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov). Exposure should be considered an urgent medical concern in order to ensure timely post- exposure management. The student will be excused from clinical work for the day to seek treatment as indicated.
   a. Before starting the clinical sequence, nursing students are required to present verification that immunization for the Hepatitis B series has been started. Documentation that the series has been completed needs to be provided according to the appropriate time frame in order to continue in the clinical courses.
   b. Nursing faculty, who provide clinical supervision to students, will supply documentation of vaccination, immunity.
6. Students are required to be tested for HIV when patients are exposed to the student’s blood. Positive test results should be communicated to the health care agency and the agency procedure followed.