Agencies that provide clinical experiences to students in the nursing program require students to provide health and immunization documentation to the nursing department annually.

This includes having a physical exam with a healthcare provider and completing TB screening prior to the junior and senior year in nursing, documentation of an annual flu shot, and documentation of the following immunizations: immunity to Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella, Varicella (Chicken Pox), Diphtheria and Tetanus, Hepatitis B.

These requirements are in addition to the St. Olaf College health requirements.

Students must be CPR certified by completing a Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers course according to American Heart Association or American Red Cross guidelines.  The course must include resuscitation of children and adults, one and two-person rescue techniques, and AED use. CPR certification must be valid for two (2) years.  A course for one (1) year will not be accepted.

Resources for finding an approved course include the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross and St. Olaf Emergency Medical Technicians (SOEMTS)

Minnesota law requires the St. Olaf Nursing Department to conduct a criminal background study for nursing students who will be providing direct patient care while attending clinical experiences.  A study will be submitted upon a student’s entrance to the nursing program.

The study involves a review of specific records and will determine if a student is eligible to provide direct contact services (care of patients).  Eligible students will be issued a Clearance Letter from DHS.  This letter is needed for a student to attend clinicals.

Students in the nursing program will incur additional expenses associated with the requirements of the major.  Some examples include costs associated with CPR certification, healthcare costs pertaining to the annual exam, immunization, testing and vaccination requirements, fingerprinting fee associated with the criminal background study, purchasing nursing uniforms, transportation costs to clinicals, textbooks for nursing courses, and the annual nursing student fee.  The fee, which is assessed by St. Olaf College, covers the expense of professional liability insurance.  We are required to have this coverage for all nursing students for protection in case of errors of commission or omission during their clinical experiences.