السعودية العربية المملكةالتعليم وزارة

حـائل جامـعـةالتمريض كلية

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIAMinistry of Education

University of Ha’ilCollege of Nursing

CLINICAL SKILLS UNITClinical Policies and Protocols

TITLE:Protocol on Dealing with Communicable Diseases

DOCUMENT TYPE:Policy

DEPARTMENT:Clinical Skills Unit

EFFECTIVE DATE: LAST REVISED:

APPROVED BY:Dr. Salman Alsaqri

APPLIES TO:Nursing Students/ Staff

NO. OF PAGES:3

Purpose:

Nursing students and Field Teaching Staff are highly susceptible to exposure with infectious diseases. It is the responsibility of all to prevent any occurrence or spread of communicable diseases. Hence, certain measures must be implemented to avoid such.

Policy:

1. It is mandatory to present Immunization status (Hepatitis B) prior to the start of students’ field experience exposure.

2. An orientation about Infection Control measures is given on the start of each academic year during the Laboratory Training week.

3. All students are prohibited to handle patients in the isolation room, regardless of the case.4. It is a must that all students and NFTS wear appropriate personal protective equipment before

having contact to any patient.5. Any student manifest or diagnosed with communicable disease, must not come on duty and

inform his/her Instructor.6. An excuse slip must be submitted with medical report once the student is clear from the

communicable disease.7. Any incidence of positive case of H1N1 and MERS-CoV in any area of exposure, the NFTS must

informed the Clinical Skills Unit to find any possible area to transfer the students. The students must not be allowed to get inside the area with positive case of H1N1 and MERS-CoV.

8. In an event, the group will be transferred to an area or another hospital, proper communication with the Hospital staff, specifically CNE, must be done.

9. If no possible area to accommodate the affected group, the students with their NFTS must stay in the university laboratory.

Page 1 of 3

السعودية العربية المملكةالتعليم وزارة

حـائل جامـعـةالتمريض كلية

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIAMinistry of Education

University of Ha’ilCollege of Nursing

With unavoidable circumstances where the student or a staff is exposed to a patient who turned out to be positive or suspected H1N1 or MERS-CoV, the following must be followed:

1. The NFTS must inform the Clinical Skills Unit about the incidence and list of students who are exposed.

2. The exposed students and staff must be observed for 14 days (2 weeks).3. A Logbook must be accomplished to record any signs/symptoms on a daily basis. 4. Regardless positive or suspected, the student or staff who was directly exposed must be

referred to Infection Control of the hospital he/she is exposed.5. If the staff/student received a flu vaccine prior to exposure to the infected/suspected patient,

he/she will be observed continuously on the daily basis only. But if the staff/student is not vaccinated, it is recommended to take Tamiflu for 5-7 days.

6. If the student/ staff manifest any flu like symptoms, he/she will be excuse from attending any classes both in theory or practice.

7. If the student/staff becomes severely ill, he/she must be admitted and be subject to throat swab.

8. If the result of the swab is positive all exposed staff and students will be subjected to the same protocol.

Protocol on presence of H1N1/ MERS CoV in the affiliating hospital.

If there’s a presence of suspected or positive case of H1N1 in the isolation room of any ward/ unit, all University personnel and students must be strict in following hospital protocol especially the use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). The students and instructors can continue the duty in the said unit provided, they must be assigned to room away from the isolation room. Furthermore, avoid any direct contact with the hospital staff who takes care of the patient.

If there’s a presence of suspected or positive case of MERS CoV in any area or unit of a particular affiliating hospital, all students and instructors will be transferred to another area as directed by Clinical Skills Unit. The decision will be based on the availability of area within the same hospital or adjacent to it, the course being affected, and acceptance from the hospital they will be transferring.

If a positive or suspected case of H1N1 is assigned in the regular room, all students and instructors will be transferred to another area as directed by Clinical Skills Unit.

In an event the suspected case of H1N1 turned out positive and exposed the staff prior to transfer, all students and instructors will be transferred to another area as directed by Clinical Skills Unit.

Page 2 of 3

السعودية العربية المملكةالتعليم وزارة

حـائل جامـعـةالتمريض كلية

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIAMinistry of Education

University of Ha’ilCollege of Nursing

Protocol on information dissemination about presence of H1N1/ MERS CoV

The Clinical Skills Unit assigned an instructor to monitor the attendances of university personnel for King Khaled Hospital and Ha’il General Hospital. The same person submits a copy of the attendance sheet to the CNE every duty day and take update of any presence of H1N1 or MERS CoV case in any area.

The assigned NFTS will communicate the information to the Clinical Skills Unit to decide whether to keep or transfer the students and teaching staff.

If the decision is to transfer, proper communication must be submitted to the CNE of the affected hospitals.

The Clinical Skills Unit must inform the Department Head or coordinator of the Department about the movement of students and staff.

It is the responsibility of the course coordinator to inform the instructors and students about the movement on the schedule prior to the day of duty. In an event the students are not informed earlier, the instructor will be waiting for the students outside the hospital or area to avoid direct contact to any staff or patient.

Any admission of suspected or positive case of H1N1/ MERS CoV during weekends or at night, the CNE supervisor will give an update to the Clinical Skills Unit.

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