Physical Assessment/Treatment
The Nurse Practitioner (NP) works independently and collaboratively with our consulting physician to provide basic healthcare for our students. Utilizing protocols developed for our Wellness Center, the NP can assess any illness or injury and provide appropriate management (including prescription medication) within their scope of practice. Referrals are made to community healthcare providers/medical specialists for those situations that are beyond the scope of practice of the NP and/or services in the Wellness Center. The following link to "California Association for Nurse Practitioners" provides a further explanation of the role of an NP in healthcare services:
http://www.canpweb.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=141
Travel Medications
The NP will provide consultation services for travel medications. The Wellness Center is not a certified travel clinic, but in most situations we can assist the student with identifying appropriate vaccines and travel medications, or direct them to a certified travel clinic for consult and specifically for "Yellow Fever" vaccination documentation.
Medication advice is based on Center for Disease Control (CDC) Travel recommendations and current medical literature. Some vaccines are available in the Wellness Center and prescriptions can be provided for other recommended travel medications. Students are encouraged to review CDC website information for their specific destinations(s) before their appointment, www.cdc.gov/travel. There is a $10 consultation fee for this service.
Immunizations
Required immunizations for incoming students include: documentation of Tetanus vaccine within the past 10 years and documentation of two doses of Mumps/Measles/Rubella vaccination. This requirement is based on recommendations from American College Health Association (ACHA) and the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practice (ACIP).
The completion childhood immunizations are also recommended: Polio, Hepatitis B and early adolescent/college entry immunization with quadravalent Meningococcal vaccine.
Tuberculosis (TB) Testing
The Wellness Center provides TB testing every morning of the week, except Thursday. Please come in between the hours of 8:00AM and 12:30PM, the charge is $5. Students are asked to return 2-3 days later so the test can be read, appropriate documentation of the test result will be provided at that time. An alternate site for TB testing is the San Diego Department of Health located at 3851 Rosecrans Street; call (619) 692-5565 to verify cost and hours of service (no tests are administered on Thursdays). |