For Students
University Health & Wellness (UHW) supports the academic and personal success and well-being of our students, our faculty and our staff. We foster awareness, attitudes and behaviors that promote active learning and healthy living.
Our on-campus registered nurses, nurse practitioners and Riverside Family Medicine physicians provide a variety of services and educational programs to help meet the health and well-being needs of the CNU community.
Note: If you will start school before reaching the age of 18, in order to receive non-emergency care in the clinic, a parent or guardian must sign the New Patient Health History form and Patient Statement of Understanding and Financial Agreement form and have it on file in the office of UHW.
Some of those services include the following:
- physicals and episodic illness and injury care
- on-campus laboratory services such as rapid strep and flu tests, blood draws
- vaccines such as flu shots
- stitch and staple removal
- blood pressure monitoring
- allergy shots
Come Prepared
Build a basic medicine & first aid kit. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
- thermometer -- essential
- band-aids
- antibiotic ointment
- pain/fever - acetaminophen (Tylenol) and/or ibuprofen (Advil)
- any prescriptions you are taking
- Got asthma? Remember your inhaler and peak flow meter. Talk to your Doctor about your sick care plan
- Diabetes? Talk to your doctor about what to do if/when you become ill at school
- Taking prescriptions? Think about how you'll get refills. You can have most of your prescriptions refilled in UHW.
Remember, unlike your previous 12 years of school, you may keep medications in your residence hall including injection medications. Consider how to keep controlled medications and needles secure and safe.
Diabetics who are insulin-dependent and students on other forms of injectable medication are required to have a milk carton or other plastic container to put used syringes and needles in.
It is a good idea to transfer prescriptions to a local pharmacy while at CNU. There are several pharmacies close to campus.
General Information
Students are responsible for their own transportation to off-campus medical appointments, such as dentists, physicians and urgent care centers. If you do not have a car on campus, having funds designated for taxi cab or bus fare can be helpful. Please know that university policy prohibits faculty, staff, RAs and resident hall directors from transporting students. Call the student clinic for more information regarding transportation: (757) 594-7661.
Here are a few convenient ways to get transportation to off campus physicians and medical facilities:
- A friend - Students will often make arrangements with a friend who has a car.
- HRT - Visit the Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) website and check out their Google trip planner. Most of the facilities listed on this site are on the Route 112 Schedule.
- Cab/ride share
If you have a documented disability that requires special assistance, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at (757) 594-7160. To further ensure support, we strongly encourage that you communicate your needs to your residence hall director, resident assistant, roommates and professors.
Regarding refills for those prescriptions, there are several pharmacies close to campus where prescription information can be transferred. And remember, unlike your previous 12 years of school, you can keep medications in your residence hall. Please make a plan on how those prescriptions will be kept safe.
Any prescription medications are considered controlled substances. Therefore, please make a plan, prior to arrival, on how to safeguard your medications. UHW does not store controlled substances.
No physicals are required. If you are a CNU athlete please contact your trainer, coach or the Department of Athletics for requirements.
Virginia State Law requires that all first-time, full-time undergraduate and graduate students provide documentation of the required immunizations against communicable diseases, including meningitis, as is required by the Virginia State Department of Education and the recommendations of the American College Health Association. This documentation must be provided and signed by a licensed health professional or health facility. Failure to do so will result in a student's inability to participate in early registration.
Your immunization record should be sent or turned into the Office of the Registrar.
When a student, 18 years or older, visits the clinic, all information relating to that visit is documented and is considered protected medical information. Without your written consent, no information may be discussed or released to anyone.
- For information from Christopher Newport to be sent elsewhere:
- Consent for University Health & Wellness to release medical information
- For information to be sent to Christopher Newport:
- Consent to release medical information to University Health & Wellness
If you have begun school before reaching the age of 18, in order to receive non-urgent nursing care in the student clinic, a parent or guardian must sign the Personal Health History and Patient Statement of Understanding and Financial Agreement and have it on file in the office of UHWS.
First visit to our office? If so, please arrive 15 minutes early in order to complete the the required forms or save yourself some time and download and complete prior to your visit.
HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It was made into law in 1996.
By law, you have the right to strict confidentiality regarding your visits to University Health & Wellness Services (UHWS). In order to release any information including the date or nature of your visit, UHWS has to have your signed consent and specific directions about what information you are consenting to be released.
Without written consent, UHWS cannot release or discuss any information relating to your visit with anyone including your parents, guardians, spouse, faculty, staff, coach and other medical professionals.
When a student, 18 years or older, visits the clinic, all information relating to that visit is documented and is considered protected medical information. Without your written consent, no information may be discussed or released to anyone.
If you want information or records released to or from someone specific, please complete the appropriate form:
- For information from Christopher Newport to be sent elsewhere:
- Consent for University Health & Wellness to release medical information
- For information to be sent to Christopher Newport:
- Consent to release medical information to University Health & Wellness
Note: UHWS maintains patient records for six years after a student graduates. After six years health records are destroyed.
Self Care
Here are a few things you may want to include in a personal medicine chest. Having these things around could make getting sick a lot less painful or even a lot less frequent.
- thermometer
- band-aids
- antibiotic ointment (Neosporin)
- 3x4 bandages
- waterproof tape
- anti-diarrheal (Imodium)
- something for pain/fever (acetaminophen, aspirin)
- an anti-inflammatory
- an anti-histamine (Benadryl)
- a decongestant (Sudafed)
- an antacid (Digel)
- an anti-emetic (Pepto Bismol)
- saline nasal spray
- throat spray/lozenges
- cough Medicine
- tweezers
- heating pad
- ice bag
Academic pressure, relationship concerns, adjusting to a new environment, making new friends, along with other personal concerns, can all have an impact your personal well-being and academic success. If you are feeling any of these things or are just having a hard time adjusting, you may want to talk with to someone in the counseling office. We will listen carefully, help you to clarify your feelings and thoughts and then help you develop tools that will enable you to be successful in both in your personal life as well as your academic career.
Call our 24 hour nurse advice and medical resource service at (757) 594-2000 and ask for the Riverside Nurse. The Riverside Nurse is provided by Riverside Health System as a service to the local community and is staffed by registered nurses that use state of the art telephone triage protocols in order to help you access the appropriate medical care.
Insurance and Fees
Health Services does not accept insurance for services in the clinic. However, when the clinic sends lab work to Lab Corp, Sentara or Quest, they will bill the student's insurance. So please be sure to have a copy of your insurance card. At the time of your visit, you'll be provided with a medical encounter form which itemizes all charges for services rendered. This statement contains all the necessary information needed in order for you to submit a claim to the insurance company for reimbursement.
Payment is due at the time of service. Cash, check, Captain's Card and credit/debit cards are accepted forms of payment.
Minors: If you will begin school before reaching the age of 18, in order to receive non-emergency medical care in the student clinic, you will need to have your parent or guardian sign the Patient Statement of Understanding and Financial Agreement form to have on file in the clinic. This form is available in the office of UHWS.
Except for emergency care, you will need to contact your insurance company in advance to be certain the company will will authorize the expenses. Most insurance companies will authorize most off-campus visits as long as you contact the company before getting medical care. Failure to do so could result in your being required to pay for services out-of-pocket or risk not being seen.
Don't forget to bring all your health insurance information, insurance cards and doctors' contact information.
If you should become ill or injured or be referred for off-campus medical care, x-rays or lab work, you will be required to have a copy of the front and back of your insurance card. Other than life threatening situations, without that card, most facilities will require you to pay for the entire cost of the visit at the time of service out-of-pocket or run the risk of not being seen.
In the event that you become ill or injured, you should be prepared to answer the following:
- Am I covered on my parents' health plan, and if so for how long?
- Am I covered under my own health plan?
- Do I have a copy of my parents' or my insurance card?
- If I am referred by Health Services to an off-campus physician or urgent care center, or if I become ill on weekends or after hours, will the visit be covered under my insurance?
- Which urgent care centers am I authorized to use?
- Who do I call for after-hours authorization?
- What is my co-pay and what form of payment will they accept?
- What pharmacy does my insurance authorize to use?
UHWS strongly encourages students to have health insurance. Staying healthy is critical in supporting academic success.
- Under the Affordable Care Act, part of the new health care reform law, many students will be eligible for insurance under their parent's insurance until their 26th birthday.
- Anthem and other insurance companies offer "Away from Home" options for students attending college.
- Here are a few insurance options for your consideration:
- HealthCare.gov
- National Insurance Store
- American College Student Association - UnitedHealthcare Network
- Anthem Health Insurance
Application packets from a few of these companies are available in our office located in The Freeman Center, first floor.