To protect the health of all USF community members and the patients that you serve, USF and our Clinical Partners require students to fulfill certain health requirements. Nursing students are expected to submit their immunization records to the School of Nursing and Health Professions, not Health Promotion Services.
The health requirements for the School of Nursing and Health Professions (SONHP) will fulfill the requirements of USF Health Promotion Services. You will only need to submit the documentation from this web page directly to the SONHP. Only Undergraduate Health Insurance information will be handled through Health Promotion Services.
You must be cleared by the School of Nursing prior to entering the clinical setting. Expiration dates cannot expire during the semester or you will not be cleared for that term.
Please click on one of the following for detailed Health Requirement Information and Deadlines:
Initial Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Information
Students in this category are those that have two semesters of study prior to starting the nursing curriculum and their first clinical rotation. Your initial requirements are as follows:
- Physical & Mental Review
- Tdap Booster
- Positive titers for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella and Hepatitis B (immunization records do not fulfill this requirement)
Please submit the completed Health Requirements Worksheet #1 along with supporting medical documentation via AdvisorTrac.
Deadline: September 1 (Fall) or February 1 (Spring). Failure to complete the immunization requirement by the deadline will result in a $100 late fee and possible registration hold.
Students in this category are those that have one semester of study prior to starting the nursing curriculum and their first clinical rotation. Your requirements are as follows:
Please submit the completed Health Requirements Worksheet along with supporting medical documentation via AdvisorTrac.
Deadline: September 1 (Fall) or February 1 (Spring). Failure to complete the immunization requirement by the deadline will result in a $100 late fee, registration hold and inability to attend clinicals.
Students in this category are those that are starting the nursing curriculum at the graduate level. Your requirements are as follows:
Please submit the completed Health Requirements Worksheet along with supporting medical documentation via AdvisorTrac.
Deadline: January 22 (Spring) or May 10 (Summer). Failure to complete the immunization requirement by the deadline will result in a $100 late fee, registration hold and inability to attend clinicals.
Freshman 2 Only – Term before First Clinical
This requirement is the second portion of health requirements for freshman and 8 semester transfer students in the undergraduate program. You must complete the following requirements in the term prior to their first clinical (Sophomore 1 term):
Please submit the completed Health Requirements Worksheet #2 along with supporting medical documentation via AdvisorTrac.
Deadline: August 2 (Fall) or January 4 (Spring). Failure to complete the immunization requirement by the deadline will result in a $100 late fee, registration hold and inability to attend clinicals.
Continuing Students in ALL Nursing programs (Undergraduate & Graduate)
You must be cleared by the School of Nursing prior to entering the clinical setting. Each semester you may need to update certain health requirements prior to entering clinical. You will be notified of what requirement must be updated. Expiration dates cannot expire during the semester or you will not be cleared for that term. The following are typical health requirements that need to be updated:
Please submit the completed documentation along with supporting medical documents via AdvisorTrac.
Deadline: August 2 (Fall), January 4 (Spring) or May 10 (Summer). Failure to complete the immunization requirement by the deadline will result in a $100 late fee, registration hold and inability to attend classes.
How long will it take to complete my health requirements?
- It is safe to plan for your health requirements to take approximately one month to complete. Please be mindful of your deadlines and do not wait until the last minute to start working on this documentation.
Where can I go to have medical work done on campus?
- The USF Student Health Clniic is the location that students at USF can go to have medical work completed. More information on the USF Student Health Clinic (located at St. Mary's Hospital) can be found at: http://web.usfca.edu/HPS/Student_Health_Clinic/.
How does AdvisorTrac work?
Is there a special form my healthcare provider has to complete for my Physical & Mental Review?
- Your healthcare provider does not have to complete any particular form. When s/he signs your health requirement worksheet, this verifies that you are clear to enter clinicals.
What is a Tdap Booster and how often do I have to get one?
- A Tdap Booster is the shot to help prevent Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap). This shot has only been available since 2005 and is valid for 10 years.
What is a 2-Step PPD test?
- A 2-Step PPD test is when you have your 1st PPD Skin test placed and read two days later. Then, you have a 2nd PPD Skin test placed and read two days later. This process is completed within a two week period. The purpose is to ensure that you do not have a false negative. The timing is critical because more than two weeks between tests could results in a false positive due to the repeated exposure to the test.
Do I have to have a TB test every year?
- A TB test is valid for one year. Students are expected to maintain current TB test results. If a TB test will expire during the course of a semester, then the student must update the test results prior to the start of the semester.
What are the requirements for Positive TB Chest X-Rays?
- If a student tests positive for TB, then a chest x-ray must be performed. A chest x-ray is valid for 5 years. If the chest x-ray results expire, then a new chest x-ray must be performed.
What is a Positive TB Symptom Review and how often do I have to have one?
- A student who tests positive for TB must have a symptom review performed by a healthcare provider each year to determine if they have active symptoms. You may use the form your healthcare provider issues or the Positive TB Symptom Review form from the SONHP.
Why do I have to have titers instead of an Immunization Record?
- Titers are blood results that test for the presence of antibodies against diseases. When we have vaccinations our immune system does not always convert the vaccination into immunity against that particular disease. Titer tests ensure that our body has actually converted the vaccination into immunity. This is important to ensure the continued health of our nursing students in the clinical setting and helps prevent the spread of diseases to the patients you serve.
What if my titer results are negative?
- If you have had your first titer test and the results were negative, equivocal, or borderline, then you need to repeat the vaccination series for that particular disease. Once you have completed the entire revaccination series or booster, then you would have the titer for that disease retested.
What if I have had two vaccination series and two titer tests and my results are still negative?
- If you have repeated vaccination series and completed a second titer and the results are still negative, equivocal, or borderline, then you may sign a waiver for this disease. Waivers are available by contacting the School of Nursing & Health Professions.
What if I have medical condition that prevents me from completing a vaccine?
- If you have a medical condition, then you may sign a waiver that the SONHP will keep on file to document your medical exception.
Why do I have to have a Flu Vaccine each year?
- You are required to recieve a flu shot in order to protect the patients you serve and in order to prevent you from being a carrier. Each year the Center for Disease Control (CDC) develops a flu vaccine that is a combination of the strains of Influenza most likely to be active in the next flu season. Flu vaccines are available from late September through early May. Students are required to have a current flu vaccine on file in order to enter the clinical setting. Keep proof of your Flu Vaccine until the following year.
Why do I have to have my CPR-Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification through the American Heart Association?
- This certification is valid for a two year period and provides comprehensive training in this area. This certification helps reduce the frequency in which you have to recertify during your program.
What is the requirement for the Background Check?
- The SONHP uses Certified Background as our background check provider. To sign up for the background check, you will utilize the directions for Certified Background. Once you remit payment your background check will run automatically. Reports will automatically be sent via a secured website back to the SONHP. You only have to report the date that you submitted for the background check. For more details, contact Certified Background at 1- 888-666-7788.
What is the requirement for the Drug Test?
- The SONHP uses Certified Background as our drug test coordinator. To sign up for the drug test, you will utilize the directions for Certified Background. Once you have remitted your payment, Certified Background will provide with you a Lab Corp nearest you. You have 72 hours to submit to the drug test. Reports will automatically be sent via a secured website back to the SONHP. You only have to report the date that you submitted for the drug test. For more details, contact Certified Background at 1- 888-666-7788.
Questions? Bachelor’s Degree Students Contact Justin Moore at:
School of Nursing and Health Professions, Cowell Hall 104
2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Tel: (415) 422-2693, Fax: (415) 422-6877
Email: jwmoore@usfca.edu Web: www.usfca.edu/nursing
Questions? Master’s of Science Students Contact Robert Gibson at:
School of Nursing and Health Professions, Cowell Hall 211
2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Tel: (415) 422-6228, Fax: (415) 422-6877
Email: rvgibson@usfca.edu Web: www.usfca.edu/nursing
Questions? Doctoral Degree Students Contact Chris Raynor at:
School of Nursing and Health Professions, Cowell Hall
2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Tel: (415) 422-4524, Fax: (415) 422-6877
Email: crraynor@usfca.edu Web: www.usfca.edu/nursing
Questions? Master’s of Public Health Contact Michelle Potthoff at:
School of Nursing and Health Professions, Cowell Hall 211
2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Tel: (415) 422-4134, Fax: (415) 422-6877
Email: mlpotthoff@usfca.edu Web: www.usfca.edu/nursing
Questions? Behavioral Health Contact Linsey Wirt at:
School of Nursing and Health Professions, Cowell Hall 211
2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Tel: (415) 422-6289, Fax: (415) 422-6877
Email: lmwirt@usfca.edu Web: www.usfca.edu/nursing
