I.    Core Performance Standards

2.         If a physical and/or mental health condition arises that interferes with the student being able to meet the core performance standards, the student must submit a physician’s release documenting the student’s ability to meet the core performance standards before continuing or re-entering the program.

            3.   Background checks and drug screenings are required for clinical practice by some institutions used by the nursing program.  A student will be required to participate in these checks prior to clinical assignments.  Any background checks will be at the expense of the student.  A reasonable effort will be made to provide an alternative clinical experience if a student is not granted access to a clinical site.  Clinical experience is a component of all required nursing courses.  A course cannot be satisfactorily completed without completing the clinical component of the course.

            4.   Statement Regarding Financial Aid:

                  This message only applies to students receiving financial aid:  Federal regulations state that if a student did not attend classes and received failing grades, then the grades were not earned and financial aid needs to be reduced accordingly.  Please be advised that any student receiving a 0.00 GPA will be required to prove that the 0.00 GPA was earned by attending classes or completing requirements for each class.  Students who have earned at least one passing grade for the semester will not be affected by this regulation.  If a student has properly withdrawn from all classes, the student’s financial aid should be adjusted from the time they signed the withdrawal form.

            5.   ADA Statement:

                  Any student who feels they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should make an appointment with the Access Center to coordinate reasonable accommodations.  You are welcome to contact your instructor to privately discuss this matter.

II.        Student Uniform Regulations

            Student uniforms project the image of professionalism upheld by the nursing faculty. The following regulations are designed to define the image of the professional nurse based on cultural influences, infection control and client safety standards and issues.

            A.    The laboratory coat

                    1.      The lab coat should be clean and wrinkle-free.

2.          Picture name badge should be worn with the lab coat.

3.          The student insignia should be worn on the left sleeve, three inches down from shoulder seams.

4.          The lab coat is to be worn over appropriate clothing (i.e. no jeans, shorts, halters, etc.) when obtaining clinical assignments and/or participating in community functions.

5.          The lab coat is to be worn to and from the clinical area and must be removed prior to providing client care.

            B.    Student Uniform

                    1.      The complete student uniform should be worn only during the clinical experience. It should never be worn when working in the community as an LPN, paramedic, technician, or aide.  A student will be required to wear appropriately fitting FC student uniforms.  Large sized, or maternity student uniforms may be ordered.

                    2.      The uniform must be clean and neat to present a professional appearance and to minimize cross-contamination.

                    3.      A clean, plain white tee-shirt must be worn under the male top and is optional for females.

                    4.      All slacks should fit loosely to allow for freedom of movement when giving client care and should come to the top of the shoe.  The skirt length should be at the bottom of the knee to prevent self-exposure when giving client care.

                    5.      A clean, plain white cardigan sweater may be worn over the uniform (optional, if desired).

                    6.      White shoes and laces must be clean and the shoes must be polished.  The shoes should be standard nurse's shoes or plain white leather athletic shoes. Clogs are acceptable, however, they must be solid (no weave, no open toe) and must have a heel strap.

                    7.      White hose, run-free, must be worn with the dress uniform.  White socks may be worn with the pants uniform.

                    8.      The following items are a part of the complete uniform and should be worn with the uniform:

a.      Picture name badge

b.     stethoscope

c.      watch with the ability to compute time in seconds

d.     black pens

e.      bandage scissors

f.       student insignia for the uniform should be worn on left sleeve of the top

                    9.      During the clinical experience, the hair must be neat, clean and secured off the shoulder and must not interfere with client care. No elaborate ornamentation, or unnatural hues are allowed.  Facial hair must be neatly trimmed and clean.

                    10.    The nails should be clean, polish free, and not extended beyond the tips of the fingers. Artificial nails are not allowed for infection control purposes.

                    11.    For professional image and infection control, acceptable jewelry while in uniform are: watches, wedding bands, and one pair of small, plain stud earrings, if the ears are pierced.  Pierced eyebrows, nose or lips jewelry are unacceptable while in uniform.

                    12.    Tattoos must be covered and not visible when the student is in the nursing uniform.

                    13.    Strict personal hygienic practices are mandatory for each student. Perfume, cologne, or strongly scented shaving lotion must not be worn.

14.    For purposes of maintaining a professional image, no heavy makeup is allowed while in uniform.

15.    Artificial eyelashes are not allowed.

16.    Judgments regarding appropriateness of uniform or student appearance will be at the discretion of the clinical faculty involved.  Inappropriate uniform or student appearance may result in the student being sent home. This would be considered a clinical absence and the student would be required to make up the absence.

                    17.    Students may request an exception to the uniform policy.  Written appeals should be made to the Program Director, who will present it to the faculty for approval or disapproval.

III.       Conduct - (Refer to Georgia Highlands College Student Handbook)

A.      Honesty: (Refer to Georgia Highlands College Student Handbook, GHC Academic Dishonesty Policy)

Honesty is required in both written and oral communications within classroom and clinical settings.  Sanctions that may be imposed include, but are not limited to, expulsion, academic probation, suspension, and failure in the course.  The student dismissed for dishonesty will not be eligible for readmission to the nursing program.

B.    Disruptive Behavior:

       Disruptive behavior in the classroom will not be tolerated.  Students distracting or disturbing other students will be asked to leave the classroom. 

C.    Cell phones and pagers are not allowed in the nursing classroom or campus lab.

D.    Confidentiality:

Confidentiality is required concerning client information including, but not limited to, written, printed, verbal or observed information and status.  Breach of confidentiality is grounds for dismissal from the nursing program.

E.    Safe Practice:

Safe Practice in the clinical setting is required. Students are expected to demonstrate behavior leading to safe practice. Failure to demonstrate those behaviors can result in sanctions determined by the faculty and/or dismissal from the program. The behaviors expected are identified in the clinical evaluation tool for each course.

F.    Weapons:

1.        A weapon may mean any object or substance designed for inflicting an injury or incapacitating another person as designated by state, federal or local statutes.

2.        Violation of any local, state or federal weapons law or ordinance on any College campus, clinical facility or at any school related activity is prohibited and is grounds for dismissal from the nursing program. The student dismissed for possession of a weapon will not be eligible for readmission to the nursing program.

G.   Drug and Alcohol Policy: (Refer to Georgia Highlands College Student Handbook)

1.        The faculty will dismiss a student from class or clinical facility if there is a suspicion of substance abuse.

2.        The nursing faculty reserves the right to require, at the expense of the student, a drug test, or other appropriate test if there is a suspicion of substance abuse.

3.        Violation of the substance abuse policy is grounds for dismissal from the nursing program.

H.    Tobacco Use:

1.        The use of tobacco products inside College buildings is prohibited. Tobacco products include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, snuff, and chewing tobacco.

2.        The guidelines for tobacco usage follow the policies of Georgia Highlands College and the clinical facilities.

            I.    Attendance Policy:

                  The faculty of Georgia Highlands College believes that nursing is both an art and a science.  Although the science of nursing may be learned solely through reading texts, the art of nursing requires active participation with others in the profession.  For this reason, nursing students are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities presented for interaction with faculty. Students are expected to be prepared for each class.

               Absences from class and laboratory sessions are discouraged.  Students must inform the appropriate faculty member(s) and/or the Nursing Division Office if an absence will occur.  This must be done prior to the time of the class experience.  The student will be dismissed from the program and will receive and “F” for the semester after six sessions/absences occur (the AM lecture time period is considered one session and the PM lecture time period is a different session) in a nursing course.  The sign-in sheet must be signed by the student at the beginning of the lecture time period.  Failure to sign the sign-in sheet counts as an absence for the session.  Signing the sign-in sheet for another student is considered an act of academic dishonesty.  The student has the right to appeal to the Chair of the Division of Health Sciences to remain in the program.

IV.       Testing and Grading:

            A.    Grading scale is as follows: (No grades are released by telephone)

                        A: 90-100

                        B: 80-89

                        C: 75-79

                        D: 70-74

                        F: Below 70

B.       A nursing student must have a final average of 75% or a grade of "C" in a nursing course and achieve a "satisfactory" evaluation of clinical performance in order to advance to the next nursing course.  An “unsatisfactory” evaluation of clinical performance results in an F for the course and the student will not be allowed to continue attending class. Satisfactory evaluation of clinical performance is specified in each course syllabus.