Student Occupational Exposure Procedure in Clinicals

This procedure covers what to do when a student has an incident/exposure (ex: needle stick) in the clinical setting, and includes information on how they can be reimbursed for any testing they might have done post-exposure.

  1. The student and their presiding faculty member will follow the instructions on their blue Student Occupational Exposure Procedure card, which students are required to carry with them in clinicals at all times:

STUDENT OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE PROCEDURE

In the event of an exposure, students must follow the following procedure

  1. Remove soiled clothing and wash the exposed area with soap and water, if appropriate. Administer first aid as appropriate to the exposure
  2. Immediately notify attending physician/supervisor of exposure
  3. Students shall present at the Affiliate’s Employee Health, ER or Urgent Care for assessment and initial prophylactic treatment if applicable
  4. Students should present the Card to treating health care provider
  5. For Blood/Body Fluid Exposures: Following the incident, the Affiliate shall immediately make available to the affected student a copy of all the student’s records relating to the treatment and follow up, and if and when available, results regarding the HIV, HBV, and HCV status of the source, to the extent permitted by law.

  6. Submit an incident report to RMS (Risk Management Services). Please Note: Students do not have access to submit this report. A University of Arizona employee, such as a professor, faculty member, or program manager, must complete and submit the report on behalf of the student. Information for the report should be provided by the students and/or other individuals involved.  Click here to submit a report. 

    University of Arizona Campus Health
    (attn: Dr. Kathy Wilson)
    Highland Commons
    1224 E. Lowell Street
    PO Box 210095
    Tucson, AZ 85721
    Fax (520) 626-4301

    Risk Management Services
    (attn.: Herb Wagner)
    220 W. 6th Street
    PO Box 210300
    Tucson, AZ 85721-0300
    Fax (520) 621-3706

  7. Within 5 days of the exposure, the student must follow up with Campus Health
  • TUCSON: University of Arizona Campus Health at 520-621-6493. Make an appointment with Dr. Kathy Wilson.
  • PHOENIX: ASU Tempe Campus Student Health Services at 480-965-3349. Make an appointment with Dr. Tammy Ostroski.
     

FOR TREATING PHYSICIAN: If consultation is needed, treating physician may contact the on-call infectious disease physicians at UA via the Physician’s Resource Line at 520-694-5868 or 800-777-7552 to discuss recommendations for tests and/or medications related to the student’s exposure
Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center (24/7): 1-800-222-1222
Post-exposure testing and further prophylactic drug treatment of AHSC students will be performed in Tucson or Phoenix

  1. After the student’s insurance has been billed, the College of Nursing is able to reimburse them for any remaining/out-of-pocket testing fees from the incident. Colleges cannot process a payment to a health care facility/lab on a student’s behalf. Therefore, the student must pay the remaining balance and submit the following documents to the Office of Student & Academic Affairs (OSAA) in order to have the claim reimbursed. Include: 
     

    1. An explanation of the incident in the student’s own words, or any email contact they may have had with a faculty member describing the incident.
    2. A bill for the test, with information on what was/was not already covered by the student’s insurance company.
    3. Receipt of their payment.

    In addition, the College of Nursing needs an original copy of the bill (b) or receipt (c), whichever is itemized to show which tests were performed and their costs. Students can bring this to OSAA, or mail it to:

    College of Nursing
    1305 N Martin Avenue
    P.O. Box 210203
    Tucson, AZ 85721
    Attn: Business Office/Alejandra Jacovo

  2. Once the College of Nursing receives all the items in question, we will work with the student to reimburse the cost.

Responsible Unit

Office of Student & Academic Affairs

Last Revised

June 15, 2020