Health and Safety

Student Health Program

Bridgeport Hospital’s Industrial Medical Center (IMC) provides students with initial medical attention for minor illnesses or injuries incurred during student clinical experiences. All required incident/injury documentation must be completed. A copy of the incident/injury will be given to the Director of the School of Nursing. Students are encouraged to seek additional care for illness by their private health care provider.

If a student becomes ill or injured during a student’s clinical experience or while on campus and IMC is closed, the student may be seen in the Emergency Department for care. Students are encouraged to have insurance that will cover the cost of medical, emergency, and hospital care. Bridgeport Hospital and/or Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing are not responsible for the cost of emergency care, hospital care, specialized diagnostic procedures, and/or treatments provided for a student.

Students with a major change in health status are required to have clearance from their Health Care Provider that clearly states the limitations or the ability of the student to fully participate in all activities before the student may continue in class, laboratory or the clinical experience. Documentation of limitations or clearance must be submitted to IMC. Continuation of attendance in clinical experiences will be in accordance with BH/BHSN and/or affiliating clinical agencies policies. Health status changes include, but are not limited to:

• Injury
• Pregnancy/Delivery (requires physician’s note)
• Major illness i.e. physical or mental
• Communicable disease(s)
• Splint/brace/cast/sling, etc.

Additional services provided by licensed health care personnel at IMC include health counseling, health instruction, and consultation.

The Industrial Medical Center is located at 226 Mill Hill Ave, Bridgeport, CT. The hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (203) 384-3290.

Note-At cost to the student, some clinical affiliations may require:

• influenza immunizations (declination not acceptable)
• repeated drug testing and/or
• repeated /additional background checks

Required immunizations and testing on enrollment

• Varicella vaccine-proof of titers or adequate immunization
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)- proof of titers or adequate immunization
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (DPT)-Type Td or Tdap (highly recommended)
• Hepatitis B immunization-series of 3 doses/positive titer
  • Hepatitis B immunization is provided by the Industrial Medical Center (IMC) at cost to students
  • Second dose given 1 month after 1st; third dose given 6 months after 2nd; after 3rd dose a follow up titer is done in 8 months
• Mantoux Tuberculin testing (PPD)- required annually
  • For history of a positive PPD report- a physician documented chest X-ray report is required and then completion of a health questionnaire is required annually
  • Students who cannot provide documentation that a PPD was performed within the past 12 months are required to have a two-step (i.e. two consecutive PPDs must be separated by a minimum of 2 weeks)
• Drug testing
  • Required prior to entry and re-entry into BHSN
  • All drug testing must be done at the IMC at a cost to students

Recommended immunizations on Enrollment

• Hepatitis A vaccine-series of 2 doses
• HPV vaccine-series of 3 doses
• Meningococcal vaccine-only if recommended by student’s health care provider

Required immunizations and testing annually

• Mantoux Tuberculin testing (PPD)- required annually
  • For history of a positive PPD report- a physician documented chest X-ray report is required and then completion of a health questionnaire is required annually
  • Students who cannot provide documentation that a PPD was performed within the past 12 months are required to have a two-step (i.e. two consecutive PPDs must be separated by a minimum of 2 weeks)
• Influenza immunization- required annually
  • Students can receive immunization provided by the IMC at no cost
  • Students who receive immunization provided by another Health Care Provider are required to submit documentation, sign a declination form, and submit to BHSN and IMC by designated date, i.e. December 1
  • Exceptions for medical or religious reasons students are required to meet with associate director for advisement and direction on appropriate protocol to follow prior to designated date, i.e. December 1

At cost to the student, some clinical affiliations may require:

• influenza immunizations (declination not acceptable)
• repeated drug testing and/or
• repeated /additional background checks

The Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 and the Drug Free Work Place Act of 1988 requires that schools, their students and employees certify that they have adopted and implemented practices that prevent the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol. In accordance with 34 CFR 86.100 the Student Handbook is distributed to each student annually. The policy is as follows:

1. Standards of conduct at this institution prohibit the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by any student on the BHSN/BH campus or at a School activity. Students must adhere to Bridgeport Hospital’s policy on substance abuse (Intranet/Bridgeport/Policies/Bridgeport Hospital Policies and Procedures/search Bridgeport and YNHHS documents/search Substance Abuse/ Section B-10 Substance Abuse).
2. Legal sanctions will be taken under Local, State or Federal law to prevent and uncover those who would unlawfully possess, use or distribute illicit drugs and alcohol.
3. Drug and alcohol counseling, treatment and rehabilitation services are initially available to students (refer to “Employee Assistance Program” under Student Services section). Students who need help will be
4. referred to these sources either by the Director or the Senior Vice President for Patient Care Operations.
5. This institution will impose disciplinary sanctions consistent with Local, State, and Federal Law. The Director will determine the sanction after consultation with the Sr. Vice President for Patient Care Operations, U.S. Department of Education, law enforcement officials, rehabilitation staff and others depending on each individual situation. Each instance will be treated on an individual basis. Continuation as a student will depend on factors that include but are not limited to the severity of the offense, completion of an appropriate rehabilitation program, frequency of the violation, arrest records and convictions.
6. Biennial review will be made by BHSN's Director to determine this policy's effectiveness, and the need for changes, updates and revisions.

The school will exercise their right according to Bridgeport Hospital’s policy (refer to #1 above) to request testing if the student’s behavior on the BHSN/BH campus gives reasonable suspicion that such behavior may be due to alcohol or drug use and does or could jeopardize student performance, or pose a potential or actual safety, health, security or property risk.

Illicit drug or alcohol use by students is in direct conflict with the philosophy of BHSN, the professions of nursing and Allied Health. Therefore, the faculty of BHSN does not sanction the indiscriminate use, unauthorized possession, use or exchange of drugs and/or alcohol. Unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol will result in dismissal and is punishable to the fullest extent of the law.

BH Security Department patrol the BH/BHSN campus and surrounding area by vehicle and on foot. They also monitor the campus with local cameras on specific buildings.

The primary goal is to provide a safe environment for the BH/BHSN campus. It is very important that no one prop a door or allow unauthorized persons into the buildings for everyone’s safety. In the event of an emergency affecting our community, BH campus security has developed partnerships with municipal, state, and federal agencies.

The security office is located on the first floor of the hospital to the right of the main elevators. The address is 267 Grant St. Bridgeport, CT. The office is open 24 hours a day, seven days per week. We encourage the students to program our numbers into their cell phones for immediate use. We also ask that you report all incidents and crimes to Campus Security and the local police.

Reporting of Accidents, Emergencies, Unusual Incidents, or Crime

In an emergency, dial 155 from any school or hospital phone to reach the Security Department immediately. There are also emergency phones (red phones) located at the tunnel gate, in the classroom area directly across from Classroom C, near the Nursing Arts Lab and at the far end of the Ridgefield Dorm. Emergency phones require no dialing and are a direct line to Security.

Injuries, unusual incidents, or crimes committed on Bridgeport Hospital property must be reported to the office of BHSN (203-384-3926) and the Security Department (203-384-3466). In the case of an injury on campus, students are referred to the Industrial Medical Center (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or to the Emergency Department (after 4 p.m.) where an injury report is completed and appropriate follow-up initiated.

BHSN is strongly committed to enforcing the provisions of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1990, which requires schools to publish annual specific, crime-related information. The report includes information about BHSN’s security policies and procedures, crime prevention programs and campus security statistics of the institution for the preceding academic year. A report is distributed to all students and is also available upon request.

Students can go on line to the College Navigator website regarding prior years’ statistics of arrests and criminal offenses on campus.

College Navigator
(Expand “campus security” for information.)

Fire Safety Policy

All students must review fire safety annually and learn the following fire prevention and safety precautions:

1. Know the exact location of fire alarm boxes, fire extinguishers and exits.
2. Do not obstruct fire alarm boxes, fire extinguishers or exits. Report any obstructions or unsafe conditions to the office at BHSN.
3. Report at once, all conditions such as exposed wire, faulty electrical equipment, dangerous floors, or any hazard that might cause fire or injury.
4. Safety depends on exercised care, knowledge and precautions taken.
5. It is easier to prevent a fire than fight one.
6. Do not use a water type "A” fire extinguisher on an electrical fire. Use only CO2 and dry chemical ("B" or "C") extinguishers for electrical and flammable liquid type fires.

Smoke alarms are located in Elizabeth Oliver Hall (EOH) corridors. When a fire alarm sounds, follow the following fire procedure and evacuate EOH, whether you think it is a false alarm or not.

Fire Procedure

R= RESCUE - immediate action may be needed to save a life
A= ALARM - pull the fire alarm box, call ext.155 and give the exact location of the fire
C= CONFINE - close doors and windows to prevent spread and cut off supply of oxygen to the fire
E= EXTINGUISH - if possible, try to control the fire until help arrives- but- life safety come first

Use of Fire Extinguisher

P= PULL the pin
A= AIM the nozzle
S= SQUEEZE the handle
S= SWEEP at the base of the fire

Elizabeth Oliver Hall Evacuation Plan

Instructions to evacuate a building will be issued by security, fire or police officials, or the building fire alarm will sound. Procedure to follow if evacuation is necessary:

• leave the building quickly in an orderly fashion;
• classroom level or auditorium-proceed to nearest exit and report to the parking lot of Elizabeth Oliver Hall (EOH);
• middle level- proceed to nearest stair tower, exit at street level, and report to the parking lot of EOH;
• main floor- proceed to main entrance and report to the parking lot of EOH;
• do not touch or move anything suspicious — report it; and
• remain in the parking lot until notified by emergency officials that it is safe to return to EOH.