What nursing schools will ask of you immediately after your accepted

[deitiphobia]

Just a heads up as to what to expect once your accepted into a nursing program.

1. They will want you to provide proof of immunity to the following diseases

Measles (Rubeola), Varicella, Rubella, Mumps, Hepatitis B.

You will have to provide proof by having titers done. A titer is a blood test that checks to see if you have antibodies for a given disease. You will have to give several vials of blood (one for each disease), and it will be checked for actual antibodies.

Hospitals will not just accept shot records, so neither will your school. If all the titers show that you have immunity, then you are good to go. If not, then you will have to go and get vaccinations.

Titers are NOT cheap! You should shop around for the cheapest titers. Ask around your local county and city health departments. See if you can find as cheap of a place to do it. Some places offer care based on income. Be resourceful and try and find the least expensive means of having these done. If not, all of your titers will be around $300-400.

2. They will ask you to take 2 Tuberculosis skin test within 2 weeks of each other. Don't know why they want you to do it twice, but just be ready. Also note that TB test require that you return in 48 hrs to have the injection site observed for reaction. So plan on going back 2 days later for them to check for each test.

3. You will have to undergo a criminal background check and drug screening. Drug screening usually is just a simple pee in the cup deal. Background check will cost about $75 and will take up to two weeks to complete.

4. You will have to take a CPR course. Many schools offer a course for it's incoming students in the weeks before semester starts.

5. You will have to attend several mandatory meetings. As soon as your accepted, put all of the mandatory meetings on your calendar! Don't miss any of them as you may be dropped from the program and an alternate will be given your seat!

6. You will have to get a complete physical done by a physician. I highly recommend going to get your physical first, and showing your doctor the schools physical checklist that the doctor will have to complete. Your doctor can and will order up bloodwork for you as part of the physical. Your doctor can also order up the titers that you will need, but just make sure you know how much they will cost, again find the cheapest place to do your titers as it can get expensive.

7. You will be required to do a "Fire Training." As I understand it, this training is a day long training session that involves learning how to evacuate a hospital in the event of a fire or emergency. This will be one of your mandatory meetings.

8. Your class schedule will be assigned to you. No more freaking out about class registration...your schedule is pre-prepared for you by your nursing counsellor.

That's the basic gist of it. Get started right away on all of these things once accepted. It will take a while to get it all done. Don't leave any of it till the last minute.

Cheers!

[NewSN13]

My program's requirements are different.

1. Shot records are perfectly acceptable for measels, mumps, rubella and varicella. If records are not available, then titers must be done. We aren't required to have Hep B but if we don't sign an opt out form, then we need to provide proof of immunization. We are also required to show proof of an administration of Tdap or a booster within the last 10 years.

2. One negative TB test is all that is required of us.

3. Background check is required. It cost about $50 and was done within a week. Drug screening is not required.

4. CPR for healthcare providers is required. It must be completed by mid-July in order to start nursing classes at the end of August.

5. No mandatory meetings. Just an orientation the Friday before classes start.

6. A physical is required. I also highly recommend bringing a copy of the school's health screening requirements to this appointment and using it as a checklist with your physician and his/her staff.

7. No fire training required before the start of classes.

8. We had a two schedules to choose from but because of the number of class sections available within those schedules, you could have a Monday through Thursday schedule with long Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays and it was also possible to do a Monday through Wednesday schedule.

[breezy7, BSN, RN]

Yeah, I think this all totally depends on the program... but it's definitely a good idea to be prepared for what your school requires!

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

yep except my blood titer was free from my doctor at my yearly check up! WIN! lol plus my job does free HEP B series and TB skin tests....WINNING!

ps TB tests are two step if your previous one has expired....its called a delayed sensitivity reaction so thats why you have to return to check the rxn and have the test readministered a week later

[mangopeach]

My school does not require titers. Immunization records are just fine for my school. As others have said, totally depends on your program. We did not have fire training. A physical, drug test and background check, BLS card are required.

If you need updated shots, your health department offers them for cheap! Yeah, you might have to wait a few hours but the cost there can't be beat.

[grownuprosie]

Except for the fire training, all of those were required just to apply for my program. Very expensive application process...

[IUstudent]

My program's requirements are different.

1. Shot records are perfectly acceptable for measels, mumps, rubella and varicella. If records are not available, then titers must be done. We aren't required to have Hep B but if we don't sign an opt out form, then we need to provide proof of immunization. We are also required to show proof of an administration of Tdap or a booster within the last 10 years.

2. One negative TB test is all that is required of us.

3. Background check is required. It cost about $50 and was done within a week. Drug screening is not required.

4. CPR for healthcare providers is required. It must be completed by mid-July in order to start nursing classes at the end of August.

5. No mandatory meetings. Just an orientation the Friday before classes start.

6. A physical is required. I also highly recommend bringing a copy of the school's health screening requirements to this appointment and using it as a checklist with your physician and his/her staff.

7. No fire training required before the start of classes.

8. We had a two schedules to choose from but because of the number of class sections available within those schedules, you could have a Monday through Thursday schedule with long Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays and it was also possible to do a Monday through Wednesday schedule.

my program is like this too.. just have to order a million things during the summer like polos scrubs med equip & such

[deitiphobia]

Oh and I forgot about the Liability Insurance. You will be required to purchase liability insurance that's about $25 per year.

[NewSN13]

Oh and I forgot about the liability insurance. You will be required to purchase liability insurance that's about $25 per year.

Again, this varies with program. I am covered under my university's Student Professional Liability Insurance policy for Clinical Medical Practicum students.