Student Health and Safety Requirements
Student health and safety requirements, as outlined in your admission packet, are completed through Certified Background.
To review your program specific requirements, please go to Castle Branch and log into your account.
Hazardous Exposure Policy
Hazardous Exposure Procedures
Exposure Incident Definition: Eye, mouth, mucous membrane, non-intact skin contact or parenteral exposure to blood or potentially infectious or hazardous materials that result from the performance of a duty related to a student’s educational program.
Procedure at Rush University Medical center:
- Wash injured area with soap and water. If eyes, nose or mouth, use water only.
- Immediately report the incident to your preceptor/course instructor.
- Immediately call and then report to Employee and Corporate Health Services (ECHS), Tower 1- ED-Pod C (312)947-0699.
- If ECHS is closed, immediately report to Emergency Department (ED) Tower 1 (312) 947-0100. Please bring your student ID or indicate that you are a student and not an employee. If a student is seen in the ED, that student must report to ECHS on the next business day.
- Supply ECHS or ED nurse or physician with the following information on the source: name, date of birth, medical record number, known medical diseases (Hepatitis B, HIV) and patient room number. All information is recorded confidentially in the Blood/Body Fluid Exposure Record.
- Students will be counseled or treated as deemed appropriate by ECHS or ED personnel
- Return to ECHS or to consultants as directed for follow-up lab work and treatment as indicated.
If the exposure occurred after ECHS hours and a visit to the ED was required: Email RU.Report_Exposures@rush.edu regarding the exposure with your name, college, course, date, time, and details of exposure for follow-up and to ensure proper billing of the services received.
Complete the “Needle Stick and Bodily Fluids Exposure Incident Form” and submit to BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois* to ensure that you are not charged for any care. The form can be submitted either via fax (325) 224-2033 or email sastudenthealthurgents@bcbstx.com.
*The student should submit the bill to their private health insurance company if not covered by the university health insurance. If the claim is only partially paid, please reach back out to RU.Report_Exposures@rush.edu regarding the balance.
Illness During Class or Clinical
If a student becomes emergently ill or injured in class in the Armour Academic Center but can be easily moved, then the student can be escorted to the Rush Emergency Department (ED) for immediate care. If the illness or injury requires the student to be transported, dial the emergency page operator (x25111). Tell the page operator the nature of the emergency and state that the person needs to be transported to the Rush ED. The Chicago Fire Department will be notified by the page operator to respond. If the situation is deemed a medical emergency, then dial the emergency page operator at x25111 and indicate a medical emergency is occurring (Dr. Blue). The response team will be called.
If the illness or injury is not of an emergent nature, then the student should seek care through their own health care provider.
If the student becomes emergently ill or injured on a clinical unit and cannot be easily transported, Rush staff will transport the student to the ED.
Counseling Services
For local students, Rush University has a comprehensive, on campus student counseling service available. Counselors provide services for academic and personal issues (e.g., relationship issues, eating disorders, grief, test anxiety, etc.). There is no charge for the service and no limit on the number of visits. Like all counseling and health services, all information shared remains confidential. The College is not informed if the student attended, what was addressed, or frequency of visits.
For all students, both on campus and distance students, we have services available through the Rush Employee/Student/Family Assistance program. All students, staff, faculty and their families can use the services of this program. Services such as traditional counseling, financial planning, legal consultation, finding care for an elderly parent, and more are all available.
The phone numbers to access these services are:
Local students: 312-942-3687
Distance students: 800-292-2780
Academic Civility
Facilitating a Process for Open Dialogue
Rush University College of Nursing is committed to maintaining an environment of mutual respect and civility. Whether faculty to student, student to faculty, or student to student, the most conducive environment where learning and professional growth can take place is one where empathy and positive engagement exist.
“Academic incivility may be considered as any speech or behavior that negatively affects the wellbeing of students or faculty members, weakens professional relationships and hinders the teaching learning process.” From Clark, C. M., & Kenaley, B. L. D. (2011). Faculty empowerment of students to foster civility in nursing education: A merging of two conceptual models. Nursing Outlook, 59(3), 158-165.
We recognize there may be times during the course of an exchange between and among faculty and students where misunderstandings may occur that should be addressed promptly to avoid any disruption in learning or the culture of respect we are trying to promote. To that end, we encourage an open and safe dialogue; one in which both parties can express their concerns without fear or recrimination, can end the conversation with a better understanding of each other, and learn how to engage in a more productive interaction the next time.
When dealing with a student-faculty situation where verbal communication or physical behavior is perceived as interfering with either the student’s ability to learn or the faculty member’s ability to teach, here are a few suggestions on how to handle the conversation:
- Address concerning behavior from the beginning. If you have a concern, do not wait to see if it happens again.
- Identify the specific communication and/or behaviors of concern. Think about what you want to say before the interaction, write it down if necessary. It will help you stay calm.
- Express your concerns in an appropriate setting where both parties can speak comfortably.
- Don’t personalize the situation: take a breath and look at the situation as objectively as possible. What is perceived as the communication may not have been the intended message.
- Avoid creating an adversarial relationship where there is no room for movement.
- It is important for both parties to engage in a meaningful dialogue about the situation so look for the educational opportunity whereby both individuals gain a better understanding of each other.
- Ask the person who initiated the conversation to problem solve with you on how you might change your communication so it is received more positively the next time.
- Maintain professional communication and behavior throughout the interaction.
One thought about how to proactively promote an environment of mutual respect is to take a few seconds and think about crafting constructive messaging. Every criticism that might automatically come to mind can be altered in a more positive way for the receiver, recognizing both areas of strength and ones that need improvement. If we can do this on a regular basis, there is enormous benefit for everyone.
By following the above guidelines it does not mean there won’t be difficult situations or conversations to face in the future. They are meant to provide a non-threatening means to handle those interactions where both parties can learn and grow.
Filing an Academic or Non-Academic Complaint
Students have the ability to file academic and non-academic complaints. There are different procedures related to the type of complaint being filed.
A student may register an academic complaint when they believe they have received a final course grade or evaluation that was the result of a mistake, illegal discrimination, or differential treatment. The student may initiate an academic appeal process for the review of that grade. The process for review can be found under Student Academic Appeal Process in this guidebook.
An academic complaint may be filed related student misconduct. The purpose of the student misconduct process is to investigate and adjudicate charges of student misconduct including but not limited to: violations of commonly accepted ethical standards of an academic community such as cheating and plagiarism; falsification of student records, transcripts, financial aid forms, or applications; unlawful use or possession of controlled substances on the Medical Center campus; conviction of a crime deemed serious enough to render the student unfit to pursue his or her profession; or other conduct which is inconsistent with generally accepted standards of behavior within an academic community or the nursing profession. The process for registering a student misconduct complaint and its adjudication is located in this guidebook under College of Nursing Student Misconduct Process.
A student may also register a non-academic complaint. Such complaints may relate to mistreatment or problems experienced while engaged in an interaction with the college or university. The process to initiate a non-academic complaint can be found on the Rush University website under Non-Academic Complaint Procedures.
Rush also has strict prohibitions against harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct in compliance with Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments. All complaints and concerns about conduct that may violate this policy (including retaliation for reports made pursuant to this policy) should be filed with Rush’s Title IX Coordinator. Confidential reports can also be made through the Rush Hotline at (877) 787-4009 or via the Rush web reporting tool.
Prohibition Against Harassment, Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct
Rush University Medical Center promotes and maintains an environment that emphasizes the dignity and worth of every member of its community, free of unlawful discrimination, including the prevention of harassment and sexual misconduct. The webpage containing the linked document, Prohibition Against Harassment, Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct, has policies, procedures and resources to protect our community members.
Rush University Medical Center (Rush) strictly prohibits all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment of and by any member of the community, including but not limited to students, faculty, employees, volunteers, guests and vendors. Rush complies with Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities, admission and employment. Sexual misconduct (and its various forms) constitutes sexual discrimination and is also covered under this policy.
This policy does not only prohibit discrimination and harassment of employees by employers, but prohibits discrimination and harassment between any members of the Rush community, including between a member of the faculty and a student, between two students, between an employee and a campus guest or between a student and an applicant. This policy applies to all Rush programs and activities including, instruction, grading, housing and employment.
It is central to the values of Rush that any member of the community who believes that they have witnessed or been the target of unlawful discrimination or harassment, feel free to report their concerns for an appropriate response and investigation, without fear of retaliation or retribution.
All complaints and concerns about conduct that may violate this policy (including retaliation for reports made pursuant to this policy) should be filed with Rush’s equal opportunity officer. See Page 10 of the document for contact information. Confidential reports can also be made through the Rush Hotline at (877) 787-4009 or via the Rush web reporting tool. Anonymous reporters do not need to identify themselves, but are asked to provide enough information to enable an investigation. Upon receipt of a complaint, the equal opportunity officer will evaluate the information received and determine what further actions should be taken consistent with the procedures outlined herein.
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