2026 – 2027 Nova Southeastern University Student Handbook ● Health College Policies and Procedures Page 101 Postexposure Policies and Procedures A bloodborne pathogen exposure incident is considered an urgent medical event that requires immediate attention for proper medical management. An exposure, which might place a student at risk for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, or HIV infection is defined as a specific eye, mouth, or other mucous membrane, nonintact skin, or parenteral contact with blood, body fluid, or other potentially infectious materials. If a health profession or research student has experienced such an exposure, the student must not delay in seeking medical care. The exposed student is to report the incident and the outcome of that initial evaluation as soon as possible to the environmental health and safety (EHS) liaison or the Office of Environmental Health and Safety via email at EHS@nova.edu. It is the responsibility of the exposed person to complete the appropriate online Postexposure Incident Form, located on the Office of Environmental Health and Safety website at nova.edu/ehs/index.html, as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours after the exposure incident. If the exposed student is within the local geographic work areas of the NSU Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus or NSU’s health clinics at the Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus and during normal business hours, the exposure should be immediately communicated to the EHS liaison within that college/ NSU health clinic/business unit, and the exposed student must immediately go to the NSU Student Medical Center, identify themselves as having been exposed to a bloodborne pathogen, and undergo a postexposure evaluation and follow-up procedure. It is important to note that student health insurance will be billed. If the exposure occurs after normal business hours or outside of the NSU Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus, the exposed person should proceed on their own to the nearest emergency department for an immediate and timely evaluation. NSU students have exclusive responsibility for their own medical bills. All applicable processes and procedures can be found in NSU’s Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control plan and NSU’s Post-Exposure Policy and Procedure for Management of Blood and Body Fluid Exposure, at https://nova.edu/ehs/documents/bbp-exposure-control-plan.pdf and https://nova.edu/ehs/documents/postexposure-policy-for-management-of-blood-and-body-fluid-exposure.pdf , respectively. Certain clinical sites may offer evaluation and treatment to students exposed during assigned clinical rotations, however, students are still required to immediately communicate the exposure to the EHS liaison within the applicable college/ program. Social Events and Extracurricular Activities All extracurricular activities by recognized organizations, on campus and off campus, must be approved in advance by that specific college’s Office of Student Affairs. A student or group of students may not officially represent the health college(s) or the university, on or off campus, at any time without prior authorization in written form. All events sponsored by student body groups must receive prior approval from the specific college’s Office of Student Affairs/Office of Student Activities designee and faculty advisers affiliated with the group. Requests for permission for speakers, student meetings, and other activities on campus should be made on the student activities request form at least two weeks in advance. The specific college’s Office of Student Affairs/Office of Student Activities must approve activities before the manager of events and academic support systems can assign a room, and no meeting announcements may be made until approval is received. At that time, a specific room will be assigned for the function. No announcements can be posted unless authorization is given. Students must comply with all university requirements related to student travel, events, and activities. Refer to the University-Sponsored Student Travel Policy and Student Events and Activities Policy in NSU Student Handbook for detailed information regarding registration, approvals, risk management, and event planning requirements. Student Employment Due to the intensity of all full-time academic programs, outside employment during regular school terms is strongly discouraged. Any employment should not interfere with the student’s progression throughout the
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