Bloodborne Pathogens Policy

The School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership follows the policies and procedures set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the University of Washington’s Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure the safety of students while in practicum and fieldwork. 

In compliance with CDC guidelines, students and faculty will adhere to these standard precautions when working with the public: https://www.cdc.gov/dental-infection-control/hcp/summary/standard-precautions.html 

Understand and follow OSHA’s needlestick policy: https://www.osha.gov/bloodborne-pathogens/general

Educate yourself on epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne diseases, modes of transmission, methods of control exposure, and protective clothing and equipment provided by EH&S: https://www.ehs.washington.edu/training/bloodborne-pathogens-bbp-non-researchers-online 

All School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership students are STRONGLY ADVISED to have personal health insurance or join a health care plan to cover the expenses of their health care and treatments in case of a catastrophic illness or injury and/or the development of a serious chronic condition within or outside the occupational setting. 

Bloodborne Exposure Procedures
Emergency first aid, risk assessment, laboratory testing, and medications for prophylaxis of blood- or secretion-borne pathogens (BBP) will be available to students at the practicum or fieldwork site's employee health office. If there is no employee health office at the practicum or fieldwork site, students are to seek care at the nearest emergency room. 

Written documentation of a needle stick or exposure to a bloodborne pathogen incident and the actions taken must reported on the Online Accident Reporting System: https://oars.ehs.washington.edu/. The agency may also request you to fill out their incident report. Please do so AFTER you have called for immediate triage.