Covid-19 Update: Recommendations for Unvaccinated Nursing Students – the NCSBN and eight professional Nursing Organizations provided recommendations in response to unvaccinated nursing students.
The Covid-19 update news release includes recommendations to provide guidance to boards of nursing and nursing education programs that are receiving requests from students for alternate clinical experiences when the program’s clinical sites require the COVID-19 vaccine.
Many, nursing programs are receiving requests from unvaccinated students to provide alternate experiences when the designated clinical facility mandates the COVID-19 vaccine. These requests have been ranging from using 100% simulation as a substitute for the clinical experience to the program finding other types of activities and case studies/scenarios. Much of the fear and concern over receiving the vaccine is based on misinformation and lack of knowledge about the vaccine and its development (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2021). Additionally, Unvaccinated individuals are at risk for contracting COVID-19, thereby increasing the chances for more variants to emerge and, more importantly, putting vulnerable individuals at risk; especially hospitalized patients, nursing home residents, health care professionals and peers who may be immunocompromised. (Plater, 2021).
Nursing educators – such as myself – want to accommodate our students so we can help to diversify our workforce – however immunizations are essential to the health of self and others and therefore we must address this issue following the science and what we know to be true. According to one study, as of August 2021, 92% of nursing faculty were vaccinated or planned to be vaccinated and 86% of currently enrolled students have been vaccinated (National Student Nurses Association, 2021). Thus, it is a small number of students who are vaccine-hesitant and affected by vaccine mandates. These recommendations will addresses these particular students. Clinical experiences are integral to nursing education and the development of strong critical thinking and clinical judgment skills – and cannot be substituted completely with simulation or case study scenarios alone.
Here are the COVID-19 update recommendations for facilitating unvaccinated nursing student requests for alternative clinical experiences:
• Students should be vaccinated when clinical facilities require it so that they can participate in the clinical experience and progress in their programs.
• Nursing education programs should reach out to students who are vaccine-hesitant and counsel the students about the benefit of the vaccine and the need for it as a student enrolled in a nursing program, and address myths and misleading information about the vaccine.
• Course descriptions should include that a clinical component is required.
• Nursing education programs are mandated by boards of nursing as well as accreditors to provide students with clinical experiences. They are not obligated to provide substitute or alternate clinical experiences based on a student’s request or vaccine preference.
• Just as the nursing education program and/or clinical facilities require other vaccines, the facilities have the option to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Boards of nursing have no obligation to waive their current rules/regulations about clinical experiences for unvaccinated students.
• Transparency is essential. Even if mandated by the academic institution, students can refuse the vaccine. Therefore, if the student refuses to be vaccinated and is not entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the disability laws* or is not entitled to a reasonable accommodation for a sincerely held religious belief* then, the student (a) may be disenrolled from the institution/nursing program or (b) may not be able to fulfill the clinical requirements of the program, resulting in them not graduating.
• Accommodations made for students under the disability laws or for a sincerely held religious belief should be decided on a case by case basis.
* In providing an academic adjustment to students with disabilities, post-secondary schools are not required to lower or substantially modify essential requirements. (U.S. Department of Education, 2011)
So in short – Nursing Students may choose to refuse get the vaccine and disregard the COVID-19 update recommendations set forth – but they may also not be able to graduate from a nursing program.
Endorsing Organizations for the COVID-19 Update:
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
- American Nurses Association (ANA)
- American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)
- National League for Nursing (NLN)
- NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA)
- National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA)
- Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN)
For references and the full original report from the NCSBN, please visit: https://www.ncsbn.org/16263.htm
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Best Wishes!
-Damion
