Nursing Student Compliance Program
The School of Nursing is committed to ensuring all nursing students are compliant with national and state for personnel providing nursing care, as well as additional/specific requirements mandated by the school’s clinical affiliates. All nursing students are required to be in full adherence to the school’s compliance program while enrolled in the nursing program as an essential part of their professional responsibility for patient safety. These requirements include immunizations (MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, influenza), trainings (CPR, HIPAA, OSHA), contracts (Confidentiality and Social Media), as well as a tuberculosis test and a background check. We utilize Viewpoint Screening to track student compliance. When accepted to the program, you will receive further information about signing up for an account.
The School of Nursing partners with Viewpoint Screening to manage student health compliance documents. This management system allows students to order their own background checks online and store all required documentation. There is a one-time fee for Viewpoint Screening that is paid by the student, that covers the cost for the background check and Health Portal. Once the subscription fee is paid, students will have permanent access to their account. Background checks expire after four years. If there is any change in the individual’s background while enrolled in the program that results in a change of the caregiver report, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the School of Nursing and another full background check is required.
For more information, please click on the tab for the specific requirement. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our compliance staff at compliance@nursing.wisc.edu.
New incoming students-one of the following is required with NEGATIVE results:
- Documentation of a two-step PPD skin test within the last year. The two-step test requires an initial injection and reading by a healthcare professional and a second injection and reading by a healthcare professional within 1–3 weeks of the first; OR
- Documentation of a negative QuantiFERON Gold -TB blood test within the last year.
Current Students:
The renewal will be set for 1 year for negative results. Students with negative two-steps or QuantiFERON Gold -TB blood test must submit documentation of annual testing yearly after initial screening to maintain compliance. The renewal options are:
- A negative one-step skin test, OR
- A negative two-step skin test, OR
- A negative QuantiFERON Gold -TB blood test
If POSITIVE results, a QuantiFERON Gold -TB test is required.
- If the QuantiFERON Gold -TB test is negative, submit both of the following:
- negative QuantiFERON Gold test AND
- TB Symptom Risk Assessment form reviewed and signed by a healthcare professional/clinician.
- If the QuantiFERON Gold -TB test is positive, submit all of the following:
- positive QuantiFERON Gold test AND
- a post-positive chest x-ray report AND
- physician clearance documented on letterhead OR
- a symptom risk assessment form reviewed and signed by a healthcare professional/clinician.
The renewal will be set for 1 year for positive results. Upon renewal, a new TB Symptom Risk Assessment form reviewed and signed by a healthcare professional/clinician is required.
University Health Services offers TB skin testing for enrolled students. It is important to note that all UW-Madison students are eligible to use UHS during any semester or summer that they are registered for classes.
All documentation must be from a verifiable source such as MyChart, Wisconsin immunization registry, or be on a physician letterhead. Documentation must also include student’s name on at least the first page of the document.
Submit documentation:
- Three vaccination series OR
- Serological laboratory evidence of immunity to Hepatitis B (positive antibody titer)
Students must have at least one dose administered prior to the compliance deadline. The second and third doses must follow, with the second dose 1 month after the first dose and the third dose 4 months after the second dose.
All documentation must be from a verifiable source such as MyChart, Wisconsin immunization registry, or be on a physician letterhead. Documentation must also include student’s name on at least the first page of the document.
One of the following is required:
- 2 vaccines OR
- a positive antibody titer for all 3 components
If the vaccination series is in process, please submit where you are at in the vaccination process, and additional alerts will be created for you to complete the series. Documentation must also include the student’s name on at least the first page of the document and the date of immunizations.
If the titer shows immunity OR you have documentation of 2 vaccinations, no further action is required.
If you do NOT have documentation of 2 vaccines, a titer will need to be done to prove immunity or the MMR vaccination series will need to be completed.
All documentation must be from a verifiable source such as MyChart, Wisconsin immunization registry, or be on a physician letterhead. Documentation must also include the student’s name on at least the first page of the document and the date of immunizations.
One of the following is required:
- 2 vaccines OR
- a positive antibody titer
If titer is negative or equivocal and you have documentation of 2 vaccinations, no further action is required.
If you do NOT have documentation of 2 vaccines, a titer will need to be done to prove immunity, or the Varicella vaccination series will need to be completed.
Note: A history of having Varicella (chickenpox) does not meet compliance.
All documentation must be from a verifiable source such as MyChart, Wisconsin immunization registry, or be on a physician letterhead. Documentation must also include the student’s name on at least the first page of the document and the date of immunizations.
Submit a Tdap administered within the past 10 years.
The date of renewal will be set 10 years from the administered date of the vaccine at which time a TD booster (TD or Tdap) is required every 10 years.
All documentation must be from a verifiable source such as MyChart, Wisconsin immunization registry, or be on a physician letterhead. Documentation must also include student’s name on at least the first page of the document.
Submit documentation of one of the following:
- a flu shot administered during the current flu season OR
- declination on the Flu Declination Form available for download from this requirement.
Documentation does not need to include batch information. The renewal will be set for 11/01 of the following flu season.
All documentation must be from a verifiable source such as MyChart, Wisconsin immunization registry, or be on a physician letterhead. Documentation must also include student’s name on at least the first page of the document.
The UW Madison School of Nursing does not require the COVID-19 Vaccine. However, most of our clinical partners do require proof of COVID-19 vaccination. If you have received the COVID-19 vaccine, please provide the proper documentation for record keeping. If you received a COVID-19 Booster, please upload a copy of the booster vaccination. Students must submit the vaccine status form if they never received the COVID-19 vaccine.
Submit your CPR certification. School of Nursing will only accept a “Basic Life Support” or “BLS” for Healthcare Provider Class or ACLS/PALS certifications from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross. Required documentation is a copy of the final CPR certification card or certificate. American Heart Association has a blended learning model with an online portion followed by an in-person skills hands-on session that is acceptable. Courses that are 100% online only are NOT accepted. The following courses are acceptable:
- American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers
- Advanced Professional Healthcare Education provides acceptable American Heart Association courses.
- American Red Cross BLS for Healthcare Providers
- Cardiac on Campus (cardiaconcampuscpr@gmail.com) offers American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support classes. This is the link to check availability and to sign up. Please note: check with your compliance team to make sure the class you sign up for qualifies.
Here is a guide with step-by-step instructions to sign up for American Heart Association or Red Cross BLS Classes.
Blended Online + Classroom (hands on) courses are acceptable from American Heart Association. The University of Wisconsin School of Nursing offers American Heart Association BLS for Professional Rescuer Courses throughout the school year that satisfy the School of Nursing requirement.
Students must complete OSHA Safety and Infection Control online course. This is done through UW Health’s Learning website.
Click here for step-by-step instructions. Please be sure to carefully follow the instructions when uploading your certificate to Castlebranch/Viewpoint.
To complete the training, click here to access the training website. Create an account per the instructions above. Under MyLearning, click “View All” at the bottom to see all courses and launch the Safety and Infection Control course. If you do not see the class listed, please search for it in the upper right. Once in the course, scroll down until you find: “Safety and Infection Prevention FY24: Direct Patient Care Inpatient and Tech Roles.”
If you have difficulty with the training, contact HRServiceCenterForms@uwhealth.org.
HIPAA training is required for all SoN students. You can complete the online training in Canvas at “2023-24 HIPAA Privacy & Security Training.”
Please note a newer version of the course – 2024-25 HIPAA Privacy & Security Training – will be released in October 2024. You will receive messages about this from central campus. It is very important to complete the course in a timely manner and maintain compliance. (All SoN students must complete the new course, even if they just recently completed the current one.)
Please direct any questions to Staci Lowe (slowe@wisc.edu), HIPAA Privacy Coordinator for the SoN.
When entering the School of Nursing, all students are required to access and sign a Social Media Contract. This is a one-time step to ensure students are aware of social media rules regarding patient data.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Students who are not in compliance by given deadlines, or who fall out of compliance during the semester, are not allowed to participate in classroom or clinical experiences, including practicum or research experiences in a clinical or other care setting. Students may return to classes once cleared by the Clinical Placement Office and they complete the compliance requirement(s) or are able to provide evidence of a future appointment/registration to update the immunization or training requirement. Students may return to clinical settings (including practicum or research experiences) only after the appropriate immunization or training has been completed and the documentation submitted.
Students who are out of compliance will have a hold placed on their university record, which will suspend the student’s ability to add courses; the hold will be lifted once the student is in compliance.