A Madison College student may be withdrawn from the clinical component of a Health Sciences or Nursing course any time they fail to provide a "standard of care" as established by course objectives, basic competencies, affiliating agency agreements or rules established by State of Wisconsin licensing and regulating agencies. This withdrawal may result in failure of the course and is to be reviewed by the Dean of the prospective school.

  • Caregiver Background Check

    Wisconsin law requires background checks for persons who provide care for others or have access to people who receive care. Please see the State of Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 50.065, for reference and details on legislative guidelines pertaining to Offenses Affecting Caregiver Eligibility. This law applies to students in many School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing programs. A completed background check as prescribed under Wisconsin law includes:
    •    Completed Background Information Disclosure Form (BID).
    •    Electronic status check of professional licenses and credentials through the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
    •    Electronic criminal history search from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
    •    Electronic review of records kept by the Department of Health Services for any substantial findings of abuse/neglect and license restrictions or denials.

    Based on information obtained, additional research may include an out-of-state criminal history search, tribal court criminal history search, check of relevant military records, and check of county or local records.

    Clinical sites may request a background check to be completed on a yearly basis. Clinical sites have the right to deny your participation in clinical at their facility based on arrest or conviction record if the arrest or conviction is substantially related to the circumstances of your role as a potential health program student. Each site applies their interpretation and application of the Fair Employment Act. Information found in this process may prevent placement in a clinical agency or practicum site for experiences required to graduate from the program. This information may also affect eligibility to obtain state licensure. More information can be found on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.
    Students entering many health sciences and nursing programs must honestly and accurately complete a Background Information Disclosure (BID) form in full. Background screenings for School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing students are completed by the company CastleBranch. Nursing Assistant program students must complete the background check prior to enrollment.

    You must be thorough in your response to all items, on the BID form. If you indicate "no" on the Background Information Disclosure (BID) and there are pending or convicted crimes on your background check results, admission to a health sciences and/or nursing program and/or registration to a Nursing Assistant course may be denied and delayed for at least one semester. You will also be required to resubmit a BID form and complete an appeal process. You are responsible for accuracy. It is in your best interest to reveal everything; any discrepancies between your responses and the background check results will likely effect your entry into the program. If you have legal questions, you can connect with our Legal Clinic.  

    If you have any of the following circumstances, students should check with the program's Program Director prior to the petition process, being accepted as a condition admit student, or beginning any of the Madison College health sciences or nursing programs. 

    Note: These convictions do not automatically render an individual ineligible for employment or contract as a caregiver. However, entities may refuse to employ or contract with the individual to work as a caregiver if, in the estimation of the entity, the conviction was substantially related to client care.

    Please be aware that some clinical sites may deny students with the following criminal pending charges or convictions:

    • Recent DUI or OWI 
    • Possession of narcotics 
    • Any crime (pending or charged)

    If you have any pending charges or are charged with a crime after your BID is submitted and the background check is completed, it is your responsibility to reveal this information to the program director within five days (excluding weekends). Failure to do so may result in immediate dismissal. If dismissed from a program, contact either the School of Health Sciences or School of Nursing regarding a possible appeal process.
     
    Knowingly providing false information, or omitting information, may result in no admittance to a program and/or dismissal from the program. 

  • Immunization Policy

    Accepted program students must provide documentation of current immunizations after acceptance and prior to beginning School of Health Sciences or School of Nursing core-program courses. 

    Refer to your program's Accepted Student Checklist for important immunization instructions and deadlines.

    *Please note: Nursing Assistant program students are required to submit this documentation prior to enrollment.

    Immunization is an important and necessary expectation of students enrolled in School of Health Sciences or School of Nursing programs. Immunization protects you from contracting potentially deadly communicable diseases from those you come in contact with. Immunization also prevents you from infecting others. This factor is especially important when working at a clinical site where students are exposed to many patients, families, visitors and other healthcare workers.

    Most clinical sites require proof of immunization before you can be assigned a clinical rotation at their healthcare facility, and almost all healthcare facilities will require proof of immunization before they will hire you. In order to move forward with your academic and professional career in healthcare, we strongly encourage you to get immunized and stay current on your immunizations. Refusing to get immunized is a personal choice, but it does carry negative consequences that you should be aware of.

    Declining to document or be current with expected immunization will likely result in clinical sites refusing to accept you in their facility. This may prevent you from attending required clinical rotations, resulting in unsuccessful completion of your clinical assignment, your course, and ultimately your program.

    Programs expect that students understand the implications of not being immunized or not being current with their immunizations. They expect all students to be current with their immunizations (or positive anti-body titers), which may include any or all of the following:

    • Two (2) MMRs (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
    • Two (2) Varicella vaccinations (dated at least four weeks apart) OR a titer lab report, reflecting immunity
    • TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis)
    • Influenza
    • Hepatitis B
    • 2-step Tuberculosis (TB) skin test; if you have previously tested positive for TB and cannot provide negative chest x-ray results, you may be denied participation in clinical practice.
    • COVID (Required for all Nursing programs. Please check with Program Director for other Health Sciences programs)

    While immunizations are strongly encouraged, students can choose to decline by completing the Health Sciences or Nursing Program Immunization Declination Form. Please contact your program director or the Dean of the School of Health Sciences at (608) 616-1250 or School of Nursing at (608) 246-6780 to obtain this form. It is important to note that even with a signed declination form, clinical sites will likely refuse to accept you in their facility. 

  • Student Accident Insurance

    A variety of programs at Madison College require students to have a minimum of basic accident insurance for clinical participation. By checking "Yes" in your CastleBranch account, you are indicating you agree to maintain coverage throughout the duration of your clinical experience(s), and you understand that Madison College cannot assume any liability or financial obligation for students’ health care.          

    If you are in need of a low-cost basic accident insurance plan while enrolled in Madison College courses, you can consider Arthur J. Gallagher & Co; click on Student Direct Pay Enroll link on the left side of the page to purchase.

    Upon purchase, you will receive an email directly from Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. regarding your next steps on how to activate your account and receive your insurance card.

    The cost is $15 per semester.  You must purchase coverage, every semester in which you will be participating in clinical practice.

    Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. customer service global@gallagherstudent.com.

  • CPR Training

    Most School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing programs require CPR training prior to attending labs and/or clinical sites.

    The required CPR training level is American Red Cross BLS for Health Care Providers or American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers. These courses include infant through adult CPR and AED training and a return demonstration of CPR/AED performance.

    Online courses do not include hands-on skills testing and will not meet this requirement. 

  • Latex Allergy

    Every effort will be made to support students who have or may develop a latex allergy while in a School of Health Sciences or School of Nursing program. A latex-free environment cannot be guaranteed at Madison Area Technical College or at health care affiliates. Students may have to purchase their own latex-free products if not provided by their clinical site. Students with concerns should contact the appropriate program director and their own health care provider to discuss the ramifications of a latex allergy.