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Student Expectations in Classroom, Clinical, and Skills-Lab Settings (Policy SON-07)

Download a Printable Version of Policy SON-07

Effective Date

Spring 2008

Last Revision Date

4/1/2022

Responsible Party

Students, faculty, and School of Nursing administrators.

Scope and Audience

All students in the School of Nursing.

Additional Authority

Nursing Practice Act for the State of Idaho, Administrative Rules of the Idaho State Board of Nursing, American Nurses Association Code of Ethics with Interpretive Statements, BSU: Student Code of Conduct (Policy 2020), University-Recognized Student Absences (Policy 3120), Academic Probation and Dismissal (Policy 3000), Faculty Initiated Withdrawal (Policy 4190), CHS: Dismissal (Policy 315)

1. Policy Purpose

Students in the School of Nursing are held to the ANA Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice (2021) as well as the standards for registered nurses in the clinical agency while completing clinical experiences. To ensure professional conduct, patient safety, and appropriate legal-ethical behavior on the part of all nursing students, the following expectations are held by the School of Nursing.

2. Policy Statement

Student Responsibilities

  1. Students are required to attend ALL scheduled classes, including on-campus and off-campus clinical experiences, unless previously approved. Students are not allowed to miss the first class or orientation to a class and may be dismissed from the program if this occurs. See Boise State University Policy 4190 Faculty Initiated Withdrawal.
  2. Students are expected to provide their own transportation to and from ALL classes, including on-campus and off-campus clinical experiences.
  3. It is the responsibility of the student to notify their faculty member prior to any absence from scheduled classes or on-campus/off-campus clinical experiences. Failure to notify faculty of absence may result in failure in the clinical/course.
  4. If absent from a scheduled class or on-campus/off-campus clinical experience, the student is still responsible for the clinical/course objectives. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with faculty to discuss possible need for makeup or alternative assignments for missed classes or on-campus/off-campus clinical experiences. If the student misses more than 10% of the hours for scheduled classes or on- campus/off-campus clinical experiences, the student may fail the clinical/course.
  5. All School of Nursing communication with students will be through Canvas and the student’s Boise State University email account.
  6. Conduct that violates these policies may, in the professional judgment of the faculty, be determined to be unsafe or unacceptable practice. Conduct in violation of these policies will lead to a faculty evaluation of the student’s performance and possibly failure of a course and/or dismissal from the Nursing Program.

Student Responsibilities Regarding Injury/Illness

It is understood that sometimes injury or illness may prevent a student from attending class or an on-campus/off-campus clinical experience or may impair his/her ability to fully function in these settings. When this is the case, the following are applicable:

  1. The student is responsible for notifying faculty of any illness or injury that will affect the student’s clinical or classroom performance.
  2. Students must conform to the policy in the institution where their current off-campus clinical experiences are based.
  3. The student, when injured or ill, must fully inform his/her health care provider about the nature of the physical activity necessary to meet the clinical objectives. This is necessary for the health care provider to determine the student’s ability to participate in the Nursing Program.
  4. The student then must obtain and submit a written statement from his/her health care provider that identifies any restrictions placed on the student or any threats to patient safety, e.g., communicability or limited lifting.
  5. The faculty have the final authority to decline clinical participation if the student’s health status will jeopardize patient care.

Student Expectations for Classroom Experiences

Students are expected to behave in a professional manner to all clients, staff, faculty and other students. This behavior includes courtesy, honesty, ethical actions and responsible interpersonal communication skills. Behavior that interferes with agency/University/staff/ faculty relationships or inhibits learning may be cause for dismissal from the program.

  1. The faculty may remove a disruptive student at their discretion.
  2. Cell phones may only be used on silent or vibrate mode, and should only be utilized during breaks, unless the instructor designates otherwise. School, faculty and staff telephones are not to be used by students.
  3. Children will not be allowed in the classroom except in extreme circumstances and with prior permission of the faculty.

Student Expectations for On-campus/Off-campus Clinical Experiences

  1. Students will perform nursing care only under the direction of the faculty or assigned agent of the faculty. In a preceptorship class, the student may perform nursing care under the supervision of the preceptor or the assigned agent of the preceptor.
  2. Students are responsible to seek the assistance of the faculty to clarify expectations regarding scope of student experience, or when faced with new or unique clinical situations.
  3. Students participating in any clinical experience must be prepared to provide responsible, safe nursing care or they will be asked to leave the clinical area. Performance that endangers patients may be cause for dismissal from the Program.
  4. When in on-campus/off-campus clinical experience settings, personal telephone calls must be limited to breaks. Cell phones may be used only on silent or vibrate modes, and should only be utilized during breaks, unless the instructor designates otherwise. Additionally, students must comply with the clinical agency’s policies regarding the use of cellular telephones.
  5. At no time are children allowed in the on-campus/off-campus clinical experience.
  6. Falsification of patient charts or records will result in dismissal from the program.
  7. Students entering a clinical site and believed to be under the influence of a substance that could endanger patient safety will be asked to leave the clinical area. This will jeopardize the student’s ability to successfully complete the Program.
  8. A pattern of noncompliance with ethical or legal behavior outlined in the above statements will be cause for dismissal from the Program.
  9. If a student witnesses behavior in the clinical setting by students or staff that is illegal, unethical or unprofessional, the student must report it immediately to the faculty. The faculty has the responsibility to assist the student to plan the proper course of action in response to the situation.
  10. Students are not permitted to be in the clinical setting in the role of a student except during assigned clinical hours or by permission of the instructor.

Unsafe, Unethical or Other Unprofessional Practices in Clinical or Internship Patient Care Settings

  1. Any student may be temporarily and eventually permanently dismissed from the Program for conduct involving his or her attitude or competency that jeopardizes patient care or safety, or whose personal behavior prevents desirable relationships within the health care facility or the School of Nursing.
  2. If a licensed student (LPN or RN) is dismissed from any School of Nursing Program for unsafe practice, the incident may be reported to the Idaho State Board of Nursing.

Pre-Licensure Students: Students who do not meet deadlines given for health requirements, background and drug testing, clinical agency forms, and other requested documentation or information will not be allowed to attend classes nor clinical until clinical compliance is met. See SON Clinical Health Requirements Policy.

 

Forms

N/A

Related Information

Nurse Practice Act, American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics

BSU: Student Code of Conduct (Policy 2020), University-Recognized Student Absences (Policy 3120), Academic Probation and Dismissal (Policy 3000), Faculty Initiated Withdrawal (Policy 4190)

CHS: Dismissal (Policy 315)

SON: Clinical Compliance (Policy SON-01), Student Behaviors and Actions (Policy SON-06)

Last Review Date

4/1/2022

Revision History

Spring 2008, April 1st 2022