BSN, MSN & SNSC, AND DNP STUDENT HANDBOOK: COVID-19

BSN, MSN & SNSC, AND DNP STUDENT

HANDBOOK: COVID-19 ADDENDUM

California State University, Fullerton

School of Nursing

College of Health and Human Development

800 North State College Boulevard

Fullerton, California 92831

657-278-3336

CREATED 6/11/2020

UPDATED 7/7/2022

COVID-19

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted CSUF and other American institutions of higher

education to move to virtual instruction, for the safety of all students, faculty, and staff. During this

unprecedented time, the CSUF School of Nursing (SON) has altered some existing policies.

PROSPECTIVE NURSING STUDENTS AND APPLICANTS

GRADING POLICIES:

The SON will accept CR/NC or P/NP grades for Spring 2020, Summer 2020, and/or Fall 2020 if

the institution’s grading policy was changed or altered due to COVID-19. If the institution's

standard grading policy is in place for Spring, Summer, or Fall 2020, the applicant should

complete the required prerequisite course for a letter grade, per our admission requirements

(outlined on our website). For Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 courses, we may require the

applicant provide proof that the grading policy was changed due to COVID-19 before we accept

a CR/NC or P/NP grade.

We strongly encourage prospective students and applicants to speak with their current

institution’s counselor/advisor prior to changing their grading option.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:

We will continue to accept optional work and volunteer experience for our Pre-Licensure

programs. We understand that due to COVID-19, applicants may have trouble finding volunteer

placements, but please note that gaining volunteer experience is not required. We encourage

applicants to continue searching for approved volunteer opportunities in their area.

CURRENT SON STUDENTS

CLASS FORMAT:

Please refer to the current schedule of classes for class format. Web synchronous, hybrid, and

in-person courses will meet at the day, time, and location, listed in the class schedule. The

University and the School of Nursing will provide notice to students if CSUF must return to all

virtual instruction.

CLINICAL PLACEMENT AND DOCUMENTS:

The situation with COVID-19 continues to evolve but has required that changes be made to

clinical placements.

CLINICAL SAFETY:

The safety of students, facility, and patients is a priority and requirements have been put in

place to address this. The risk of the transmission of COVID-19 may increase in a hospital setting

simply because of the presence on site of patients with confirmed or presumed COVID-19

infections. These risks cannot be eliminated, but may be mitigated by practicing good

prevention behaviors such as wearing all required personal protective equipment, following all

clinical protocols, frequently washing your hands with soap and water, refraining from touching

your face before sanitizing your hands, and practicing social distancing.

• Students must follow all current/updated CDC guidelines, state, and other agencies

including CSUF and facility-specific requirements

• No student is allowed to care for COVID-19 patients or potential COVID -19 patients

• There may be restrictions in other areas/units as to whether or not students will be

allowed

• Voluntarily, students need to sign a COVID-19 Release of Liability Waiver as determined

by the University to participate in any face to face clinical experience

• Students may be required to provide PPE to attend face to face clinical experiences

• Students may be required to provide COVID-19 test results

CLINICAL PLACEMENT ISSUES:

COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on the SON’s ability to place students in the required

clinical courses. Some clinical sites have completely cancelled rotations while others have

significantly reduced the number of students who can be at the clinical site at any one time. Due

to the decreased number of clinical spots, some students may not be able to take their required

clinical courses in the same timeframe as they would when COVID-19 did not exist.

The clinical placement office continues to follow the requirements of the California Board of

Registered Nursing (BRN), which allows for a percentage of the clinical time to be spent in

simulation and telehealth.

The clinical placement and document team, along with the SON leadership, are diligently

seeking opportunities at other sites within a 50 miles’ radius and searching for creative solutions

to ensure that students meet clinical hour requirements while meeting course objectives.

COVID-19 VACCINATION AND BOOSTER:

Prior to each semester, whether a student is enrolled in a clinical course or not, face to face or

online, the SON requires a signed copy of the COVID-19 waiver in the student’s Castle Branch

account. The SON also needs a copy of the student’s COVID-19 vaccination and booster

documentation. A few facilities currently accept a University approved medical or religious

exemption. A copy of the University approved exemption will satisfy these requirements. If a

student has a University approved exemption, weekly COVID test must be taken and submitted

to the University and the School of Nursing. If a student is placed at an acute care facility, two

COVID tests will be required weekly prior to their clinical/s, subject to specific timelines.

If a clinical rotation assignment at a healthcare facility requires proof of COVID-19 immunization

and booster, nursing students who are not vaccinated, have a booster, or have a medical or

religious exemption on file will be notified and removed from that placement. If there is no

other clinical placement that will accept a student who does not have proof of COVID-19

immunization and booster, the student will be instructed to withdraw from the course (both

theory and clinical) and no other accommodation can be made. The ability of the student to

complete their course of studies is not guaranteed given the increasing number of clinical

placements now requiring COVID-19 immunizations and booster and the California Board of

Registered Nursing regulations requiring nursing students to engage in direct patient care. The

student may apply for readmission per CSUF School of Nursing policy.

CLINICAL PLACEMENT DETERMINATION:

Multiple factors will be used to determine who can and will be placed at a site. These include:

• Completeness of the student’s SON core required documents for clinical placement

• The student voluntarily agreeing to the University’s COVID-19 Release of Liability Waiver

on approved sites

• The student’s willingness to accept clinical placement. Students have the right to decline

clinical placement while understanding that alternate sites may not be available during

any given semester/term. Students may also opt out and choose to complete the

requirements during a later semester

• Requirements of the various clinical sites