Building academic and practical knowledge in nursing through TB skin testing certification in a BSN curriculum

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease with worldwide health care cons equences. After decades of declining incidence there was a 14% increase in the United States from 1985 to 1992, although rates are now declining due t o focused programs. The State of Indiana mandates continuous TB monitoring by health care workers who have completed an educational course. The Indian a State Department of Health (ISDH) and the American Lung Association desig ned an educational program called a Basic TB Skin Test Course, which is use d by the Community Health Nursing faculty at Indiana University School of N ursing (IUSON) in the baccalaureate curriculum to assist students in meetin g state requirements. All students receive the didactic TB content of the c ourse in the epidemiological concepts unit. Students can elect to receive c ertification by attending an additional 2-hour clinical session. Over 500 c ommunity health nursing students have completed the Basic TB Skin Test cour se in the past 5 years. The outcomes are positive for students, community, and public health.