Standard for Drug Screening
and Background Checks

Prescreening requirements have been introduced into Tyler Junior College clinical affiliation agreements. These prescreening requirements are the same as those required of employees (background checks and drug screens). The rationale for extending these requirements to clinical students and faculty was the concept of due diligence and competency assessment of all individuals whose assignments bring them in contact with patients or employees. Competency extends beyond technical skills to an individual's criminal and substance abuse history. This approach ensures uniform compliance with Joint Commission standards pertaining to human resource management. Moreover, the public is demanding greater diligence in light of the national reports of deaths resulting from medical errors.

Timing of Prescreening Requirements

All drug screen tests and background checks must be conducted after admission to the clinical program. Verification of the satisfactory results must be received by the participating hospital prior to the student's clinical rotation start date. Drug screen and background checks will be honored by all hospitals for the duration of the student's enrollment in the clinical program if the participating student has not had a break in the enrollment at the college/school. A break in enrollment is defined as nonattendance of one full semester (Fall or Spring) or more. The above information must be verifiable through the college/school. Drug screen and background checks of faculty will be honored for the duration of the employment of the faculty member at the college/school.

Reciprocity

Students need only meet these requirements prior to the start of the first clinical rotation.

1. Pre-Assignment Drug Screening

Method of Urinalysis

• An unobserved collection of urine should be collected at a facility that follows Substance
• Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) guidelines.

Type of Test

Substance Abuse Panel 9 ("SAP 9"), with integrity checks for Creatinine and PH levels. Acceptable and unacceptable test ranges are listed below.

1.Pre-Assignment Drug Screen Panel with Ranges

SAP 10 test results that fall outside any of the acceptable rages are considered positive test results and are automatically sent for a separate confirmatory test by a Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) method. If the results remain positive, they are sent to a Medical Review Officer (MRO) who calls the student to determine if there is a valid prescription for the drug in question. If a valid prescription exists, the test result is deemed to be "negative" and acceptable.

The MRO is a medical doctor who specializes in the interpretation of drug screen results. Medical Review Officers do not make placement decisions; they simply pass along information regarding legal versus illegal drug use or consumption. Medical Review Officers are not required, but are beneficial in making placement decision. Medical Reviews are a separate cost since they entail a separate service. The cost of Medical Reviews varies from about $25 to $75 dollars per donor. It is important to note that although any physician could perform this service, only certified MRO's are considered bonafide experts in this field.

An individual with a positive drug screen will not be allowed to attend any clinical agency/rotation for a minimum of 12 months. Prior to returning to the clinical affiliate rotation, a student must provide proof of a negative drug screen as verified by the college.

A clinical affiliate reserves the right to remove a student/faculty from the facility for suspicion of substance use or abuse (including alcohol.) The clinical affiliate will immediately notify the instructor/college to facilitate immediate removal of the student. In all instances, the clinical affiliate will provide written documentation of the student's/faculty's behavior(s) by two or more representatives to the Tyler Junior College.

II. Criminal Background Check

A. Criminal Background Check

• Criminal background checks should review a person's criminal history seven (7) years
• back from the date of application. The check should include the cities and counties of all
• known residences. The following histories will disqualify an individual from

B. Consideration for the clinical rotation:

• Felony convictions,
• Misdemeanor convictions or felony deferred adjudications involving crimes against persons,
• Misdemeanor convictions related to moral turpitude,
• Felony deferred adjudications for the sale, possession, distribution, or transfer of narcotics or controlled substances,
• Registered sex offenders,

  NOTES: (1) If a licensing/registry body approves the individual to take the licensing/credentialing exam, the individual may participate in the clinical rotation. However, it is the student's responsibility to be aware that the disqualifications listed above are used for employment eligibility by most hospitals in Texas.

  (2) Tyler Junior College may request an exception from the first clinical affiliate for a student with a felony deferred adjudication and no alternative recourse through a licensing/registry authority, i.e. Board of Nurse Examiners of Texas.

Following approval from the first clinical affiliate, the student may progress as stated above.

III. Allocation of Cost

• Each clinical student must bear the cost of these requirements.

IV.Verification of Compliance & Recordkeeping

• The vendor will notify the College on all individuals who fail a criminal background

check. Upon request, verification of the compliance with these standards will be sent to the designated representative of the clinical affiliate prior to the clinical rotation start date. Verification is accomplished by sending a letter from the appropriate department chair on letterhead stating that these standards have been met by the student/faculty, listing the student's/faculty's full name and clinical rotation start date. If more that one student is attending a clinical rotation, a comprehensive list with all the student/faculty names may be submitted.

It is the responsibility of Tyler Junior College to inform these persons of requirements prior to enrollment in this curriculum. This will give students/faculty prior notice and an opportunity to decline the clinical training/assignment before investing their time and money in the class or agreeing to employment. The student/faculty name and social security number will be the only information provided to the office of the Dean of Allied Health and Nursing. This information will be filed in a secured area to ensure confidentiality. In the event that the student/faculty feels that an error has been made in the criminal background check, it is the responsibility of the student/faculty to contact the external vendor for a verification check.