COVID-19: School of Nursing Information

Local hospital systems that University at Buffalo School of nursing partners with to provide clinical experiences in both the undergraduate and graduate programs are requiring the COVID-19 vaccination to participate in student clinical placement at their facilities.

These sites join many others that are commonly used by both the undergraduate and graduate programs in the School of Nursing. We expect most, if not all, other clinical sites will follow suit. For many programs, these sites are the only ones we use for specific clinical experiences required by your program.

As outlined in the School of Nursing policy library, we are contractually obligated to meet all clinical requirements for immunizations that are set by our practice partners. Furthermore, the State University of New York is planning to require all in-person students to obtain the vaccine to continue their studies in the fall. As a result of the directives from SUNY and our practice partners, we encourage students pursuing degrees in the School of Nursing to plan accordingly for COVID-19 vaccinations, to include completion of the vaccination and implied immunity 2-weeks post the last vaccination to be able to participate in required learning activities.

Students with questions or concerns regarding the vaccine should consult their health care provider for more guidance. 

Attendance and participation in clinical-based learning is a requirement for nursing students. Unvaccinated students will not be eligible to continue or attend clinical rotations that start the first week of classes. If you do not meet the vaccination and implied immunity two weeks post-vaccination, please contact student services to discuss if you meet leave of absence requirements, or have decided to decline your seat in the nursing program.  

• In classrooms and labs: All students are required to wear masks and practice physical distancing in classrooms and class-based lab settings during the summer semester, according to guidance provided by SUNY.
• In indoor settings: Face coveringswill be requiredin classrooms, hallways, libraries and other common spaces, as well as UB buses and shuttles. Face coverings are not required inside personal rooms at residence halls, while eating in on-campus dining areas, within personal offices or in non-public-facing personal workstations.
• In outdoor settings: Vaccinated UB students and employees will not be required to wear face coverings in outdoor settings on UB campuses. Unvaccinated individuals will be required to wear face coverings in all outdoor settings.  Face coverings will be required for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals at outdoor events or settings where large groups of people congregate, such as at on-campus football games.   
• Health Care and Health Care Settings: Masks are required within health care settings (e.g. Student Health Services, the Dental Clinic) and campus health science and clinical teaching laboratories. Campus health science and clinical teaching laboratories may continue to operate without the 6-foot distancing normally required in a classroom. New York State had adopted the CDC's "Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People" for most business and public settings. Consistent with the CDC guidance, health care settings (e.g. Student Health Services, the Dental Clinic) will continue to follow New York State's existing COVID-19 health guidelines including mandated mask usage regardless of vaccination status.
• For current UB health and safety guidelines, including information about masking, distancing, testing, quarantining and health screenings, visit UB's COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines page.