Programs

Clinical Clearance

Students enrolled in the Wheaton nursing program are required to begin clinical site rotations their second year.  The clinical placement manager will place students in their clinical sites once they have completed the first semester of their sophomore year.

Students who are eligible for the clinical experience will need to complete the health and clinical requirements prior to entering their clinical site.

On this page:

• Deadlines Prior to Clinical Placement
• Clinical Policies and Requirements
• Immunization Requirements
• Student Responsibilities and Professional Attire
• Uniforms and Clinical Materials
• Forms and Links
• Resources

Deadlines Prior to Clinical Placement

Students must complete and submit information during the semester before clinical placement begins. The clinical placement manager will make an announcement each semester, but it is the student’s responsibility to update their information on Viewpoint.

Viewpoint Screening

Students will utilize their Viewpoint Screening portal to view all requirements, due dates, and renewal information. Students must submit all required documentation on Viewpoint.

Clinical Policies and Requirements

See Nursing handbook pages 33-40.

Student Clinical Safety

Our nursing program safety practices follow the regulatory requirements and guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, clinical agency specifications, and nursing best practices. Students will have access to appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) during their clinical experiences. Students will receive training related to potential hazards and prevention techniques.

If a public health emergency occurs, clinical faculty and clinical agency administrators will develop or change policies and procedures relating to student safety and prevention of exposure to disease. Requirements may include, but shall not be limited to, social distancing, mandatory wearing of masks, use of gloves and shields in select situations, lab precautions, testing for infections, symptom monitoring and reporting, and isolation and quarantine measures.

Clinical Attendance

Clinical practice is an important component to your education and attendance is mandatory. All clinical absences must be made up. If a student exceeds three clinical absences the student will fail that clinical experience.

Pledge of Confidentiality (HIPAA)

Nursing students must complete HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) training. This training can be found at Centralized Clinical Placement Online Orientation. Students and faculty in the nursing program will have access to confidential patient/client information. The confidentiality of this information must be maintained at all times. Discussion of confidential material outside of the classroom or clinical setting or posting confidential information or photographs on any electronic social media outlet violates HIPPA.

Use of Social Media

All Wheaton nursing students must be aware and comply with the professional standards in consideration to the use of media in the class and clinical setting. Please become familiar with following:

• Social Media Guidelines for Nurses
• A Nurse’s Guide to the use of Social Media (pdf)

Drug and Marijuana Policy

Students must adhere to the college policy on drug and marijuana use  on campus.  Students must also adhere to the clinical site policy on drug and marijuana use.  If the clinical site requires drug testing for students, students will be notified of this requirement and should look to Viewpoint for further information.

Immunization Requirements

See Nursing handbook pages 34-36.

Documentation of the following immunizations will be scanned/uploaded by students to their Viewpoint account (Viewpoint will be used for background checks and health clearance documentation).

• A thorough history regarding communicable diseases and immunizations.
• TB: blood test OR Two-Step Skin Test within last year.
• Rubella: proof of immunization AND positive titer.
• Tetanus toxoid: proof of immunization within the last 10 years.
• Measles: proof of immunization (2 doses) OR positive titer.
• Mumps: proof of immunization (1 dose) OR positive titer.
• Hepatitis B: proof of immunization (3 doses) AND positive titer.
• Varicella: proof of immunization OR positive titer.
• COVID-19 vaccination including booster.
• Seasonal influenza vaccination.

Specific Immunization Requirements

Hepatitis B:  Completion of the Hepatitis B vaccine series (3 doses) AND a HBsAB titer is required. If the series is incomplete at the start of clinical nursing courses, students will receive temporary health clearance. Full health clearance is granted when the immune titer is complete. Students must be current in the Hepatitis B vaccination series to continue with clinical.

Measles:  Immunization for measles requires two doses. For many persons, a first dose was given at 12 months of age; a second dose may or may not have been given. If unsure of your measles status, two doses are required to insure protection. If the titer is positive, no immunization is needed. If the titer is negative, two doses of vaccine are needed.

Mumps:  One dose of mumps vaccine is required. Many people were vaccinated as children and therefore need only provide documentation of vaccination. If students are unable to find any documentation, they may have another dose of the vaccine or have an antibody titer drawn. If the titer is positive, students do not need further immunization. If the titer is negative, students will need one dose of vaccine.

Rubella:  Students must have an antibody titer that documents immunity to rubella. A history of receiving the rubella vaccine is not sufficient. The titer need not be a recent one as immunity is lifelong, and once the antibody titer is positive there is no need later in life for re-immunization. If the titer is negative, the Health Center can give rubella vaccines alone or in combination with measles and mumps vaccines. One month after receipt of the rubella vaccine, the recipient must have an antibody titer to document immunity.

Tuberculosis Testing:  For initial clinical clearance, students can receive either a TB Blood Test (QuantiFERON Gold or T-Spot) OR Two-Step Tuberculin Skin Test Method required (per CDC Guidelines for health professionals), meaning one TB Skin Test (planted/read) and then a second TB Skin Test (planted/read) after one week but before three weeks. After the initial two-step, an annual TB Skin Test is required while in the Nursing Program. Some of our clinical agencies may require more frequent tests. If more than one year passes without a TB Skin Test, the student must complete a two-step again. The blood test is the preferred method. If a student has a history of a positive TB Skin Test result, they will need to submit documentation of the year of the positive result, treatment received, and the date of a negative chest x-ray. The student is then required to complete an annual symptom review with a healthcare provider.

Varicella (Chickenpox):  Two vaccinations OR proof of immune titer is required. A history of the disease is not sufficient. If a student’ s titer results come back negative, two vaccinations are required. The second vaccination should be administered one month following the first.

Influenza:  Students are required to have an annual flu vaccination (no FluMist). The season’s flu vaccine is typically available around September and is usually due by October 1st. Date is subject to change based on affiliating agency requirements.

COVID-19:  Students in clinical classes must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Student Responsibilities and Professional Attire

See Nursing handbook pages 34-37.

Complete Centralized Clinical Placement Online Orientation

• Centralized Clinical Placement Online Orientation

Modules for the subsequent academic year are available starting August 1st and are good through July 31st.

CPR Documentation

All Wheaton College nursing students are required to maintain Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Adults/Children/infants certification prior to clinical courses. The only acceptable certifications are:

• The American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers
• Red Cross CPR for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers

All students must submit a CPR card with their clinical clearance documentation on the Viewpoint Screening portal.

Criminal Record Inquiry

All students accepted into the Wheaton College nursing program will be required to undergo a criminal offender record information (CORI) and national background check in order to attend clinical, and practicums. The purpose of these checks is to help promote public safety and protect vulnerable populations. Any student that refuses to submit to a CORI check will be asked to withdraw from the nursing program. This information will be submitted on Viewpoint.

Clinical Schedule and Transportation

Students are expected to attend clinical experiences as assigned. Please factor travel time and the cost of transportation to and from clinical sites into your schedule and budget for the semester.

Professional Attire

Uniform: Nursing program uniform consists of blue scrub pants, top, and a white lab coat bearing the school emblem. Tightly knit, white cotton t- shirts, with short or long sleeves, may be worn under the scrub top.

Name pin and facility badges: Your Wheaton College nursing name pin must be visible during your clinical hours. You must also wear any facility badge that is issued to you.

Shoes: Shoes must be a white, black, or navy in color with closed toes and backs with non-skid soles. Shoes must be clean and in good condition.

Piercings/Jewelry: For the safety of students and patients, all piercings should be discrete with only small flat studs worn. Dangling necklaces, earrings, bracelets etc are prohibited for the safety of the student and patient.

Nails/Hair: Nails must be kept short and clean. Gel, acrylic, wraps, dips, tip extenders are prohibited in the clinical setting. We respect that students’ hair is a representation of their unique ethnicity, culture, gender, spiritually and/or religion. For the safety of students and patients, hair should be pulled back off the face. Male students must keep any facial hair well groomed and in compliance with OSHA standards.

Uniforms and Clinical Materials

Uniforms vendor: McGill’s Inc.

Mandatory Uniform List

• Blue scrub pants
• Blue scrub top w/ Wheaton logo
• Short white lab coat w/ Wheaton logo
• Wheaton College Nursing name pin
• Facility badge that is issued to you

Mandatory Clinical Materials List

• Littmann Classic III stethoscope OR Littmann Cardiology IV stethoscope
• Watch with a sweep second hand or a smart watch

Optional

• Tightly knit, white cotton t- shirts, with short or long sleeves, may be worn under the scrub top.
• Piercings should be discrete with only small flat studs worn.
• Stethoscope engraving of chest piece is available. Up to 20 characters, engraved in uppercase block lettering.

Forms and Links

Viewpoint

• Viewpoint Screening
• Viewpoint Student Instruction Guide (pdf)

CPR

• The American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers
• Red Cross CPR for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers

Uniforms

• McGill’s Inc.

CORE-ELMS

• Core Higher Education – ELMS login

Centralized Clinical Placement Online Orientation

• Centralized Clinical Placement Online Orientation

Resources

Wheaton College has been granted initial approval status through the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing for the operation of its baccalaureate degree in nursing program.