Policy No. 302

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
SCHOOL OF NURSING
ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE & GRADUATE PROGRAMS

POLICY:

Any health incident, defined as any actual or potential injury or health risk, that occurs to a student anywhere on university property during working hours, at any University or School of Nursing sponsored activity, or in any School of Nursing (SON) affiliated clinical agencies must be documented and reported by the injured students.

All students are required to carry health insurance for the entire duration of their program of study and as verified by the student on their initial and annual health form, that insurance will cover the initial treatment and follow-up of any health incidents occurring while in the program. Students will be responsible for all out-of-pocket expenses not covered by their health insurance. It is important for students to understand the terms of their insurance coverages and what their potential out of pocket expenses will be, as the University will not cover any portion of these expenses. Out of pocket expenses include, but are not limited to, deductibles, coinsurance, co-payments, and fees for non-covered services.
 

PROCEDURE:

If the health incident occurs on University Property or at a University or School of Nursing Sponsored activity:

1. Complete the School of Nursing Health Incident Report Form (available in the Center for Student Success and each SON Department) and submit it to the Office of the Dean by the end of the next business day.
2. The Office of the Dean will send a copy to the Center for Student Success, send a copy to University Environmental Health and Safety, and place a copy in the Incident Report File.
3. If the student requires medical care for the incident, they must submit the bill to their health insurance carrier for payment. The student will be responsible for any out-of-pocket expenses associated with the care.

If the injury or exposure occurs in clinical agencies:

1. If the incident occurs in a clinical agency, notify the clinical facility supervisor or administrator on call that the incident has occurred and complete the documentation required by the facility.
2. Complete the School of Nursing Health Incident Report Form and submit it to the Office of the Dean by the end of the next business day. The Health Incident report should include a clear statement of the incident that occurred, who was involved, action that was taken, and any plan for follow-up. The description should be factual in nature and free of interpretation and impressions. If the injured or exposed student is unavailable to sign the School of Nursing Health Incident Report Form by the end of the next business day, the Nursing faculty should indicate this on the form and obtain the student’s signature as soon as possible.
3. For incidents involving exposure to blood/body fluids, the student should report immediately to the facility Employee Health site. If the incident occurred during hours other than when Employee Health is open the student should report to the Emergency Department of the facility or the nearest Emergency Department. The student should follow the agency’s policies and procedures, in line with the agency’s respective exposure control plan.
4. Bills associated with treatment of injuries should be submitted to the student’s health insurance carrier. The student will be responsible for any out-of-pocket expenses associated with the care.
5. The faculty member must be aware of the contractual (affiliation) agreement between the School of Nursing and the clinical agency regarding student access to treatment in an emergency and should facilitate that process in either case.
6. When treatment is not accessible in the clinical agency, the faculty member should refer the student to Student Health Services or the emergency room, as applicable.
7. In the event of an incident involving a student, payment all follow-up care is the responsibility of the student through their primary health care provider or the student, as applicable.
8. School of Nursing Health Incident Report Forms are available in the Center for Student Success, in each SON Department. The report should be completed as soon as possible after the incident occurs.
9. The faculty member should forward the completed report to the Office of the Dean by the end of the next business The Office of the Dean will send a copy to the Center for Student Success, University Environmental Health and Safety, and place a copy in the Incident Report File.

Please refer to University Safety Manual Guideline EHS 01-015 or the University of Pittsburgh Guidelines for Faculty and Staff Response to Student Injury.

For bodily injury or property damage incidents involving any non-employee of the University that occurs on University property, please go to the Risk Management website for more information.

Exposure means reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of clinical duties.

Other Potentially Infectious Materials means: (1) The following human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids; (2) Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human (living or dead); and (3) HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and HIV- or HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions; and blood, organs, or other tissues from experimental animals infected with HIV or HBV.

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Standards 1910.1030 (1910.1030 – Bloodborne pathogens. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)

Approved by Total Faculty Organization: 05/92, 4/99, 11/01, 02/04, 06/08, 04/12, 01/19, 10/20, 4/23
Reviewed 03-04, 07-08, 10-11, 11-12, 16-17, 18-19, 19-20, 20-21, 22-23, 25-26
Revised 98-99, 03-04, 07-08, 11-12, 16-17, 18-19, 19-20, 20-21, 25-26