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Attendance and Participation

Absences in clinical practicum rotation may jeopardize a student’s successful progression and completion of the program. Clinical practicum absences may result in clinical practicum probation at the discretion of the course faculty.

Students who are too ill to perform safely in clinical practicum should seek medical attention and contact their course faculty prior to missing clinical practicum.

Attendance of 100% is strongly recommended. Students are responsible for any and all material covered in class, in clinical practicum, and in their assigned readings. Participation in the online classroom and clinical practicum experience is essential to meet the objectives for all clinical practicum courses.

Attendance at all scheduled lectures, discussions, and clinical practicum and laboratory courses is expected. Students are expected to be on time to all scheduled activities. Students are required to notify faculty of any absence and/or anticipated tardiness. Individual faculty will discuss the mechanism for notification of absence. Absenteeism may interfere with student attainment of course objectives, and may impact the grade students receive in clinical practicum and theory courses.

Any student who has experienced an Emergency Department visit or hospitalization or an acute illness, trauma, surgery, or pregnancy/delivery will need a health care provider’s release to return to clinical practicum.

Such a release should provide information that attests to the fact that the student is physically and emotionally able to provide direct patient care.

Students who must miss clinical practicum due to pregnancy or extended illness may not be able to complete clinical practicum objectives. Students must contact the clinical practicum faculty member to discuss options or students are encouraged to contact the Office of Field Experience. The CONHS is not obligated to provide makeup clinical practicum opportunities for students unable to complete clinical practicum during their clinical practicum course.

Absence Policy

Failure to complete the minimum clinical practicum requirements will result in failure of that clinical practicum course. All absences are to be reported to the preceptor in a timely manner via email, text, or phone, as required by the preceptor and/or healthcare organization.

 

If a student is unable to attend clinical practicum, the student must:

  1. Contact, by phone or in person, the preceptor at least one (1) hour prior to the scheduled clinical time.

  2. At the discretion of the preceptor or course faculty member, submit a release signed by a health care provider to return to clinical practicum.

  3. Obtain a Release from medical provider if absence is related to pregnancy.

Tardy Policy

Clinical practicum tardiness is defined as being late at the beginning of a clinical practicum. Any anticipated tardiness is to be reported to the appropriate Preceptor.

Consequences of being tardy three times within the same course are:

  • First Occurrence: Student will receive a clinical practicum warning.

  • Second Occurrence: Student will be placed on clinical practicum probation

  • Third Occurrence: Student will fail clinical practicum.

 

Clinical Pause

Clinical pause is the official means of pausing the student from any clinical experience when students have missing, expired, or insufficient immunizations or documentation requirements on file with the Office of Field Experience. You will be notified by the OFE and/or through Complio before documentation is set to expire. Once documentation has expired, the Clinical Coordinator will notify your clinical course faculty of your clinical pause status if unresolved in a timely manner. You will not be permitted to continue clinical hours or logs until resolved. At all times, it is your responsibility to ensure that your health and safety documentation is up to date and current and that all other program requirements have been met. Health and safety requirements are mandatory for all students where indicated in this handbook. Violation of a clinical pause will result in a referral to the Program Director and/or Code of Conduct Committee.

 

Clinical Probation with Restriction

Clinical probation with restriction is the official means of notifying you of unacceptable behavior and/or unsatisfactory performance. Being placed on probation with restriction can affect the field experience/clinical grade and may result in a Student Code of Conduct violation which may result in being administratively withdrawn from the course. 

Clinical probation with restriction status is conferred at the discretion of the course instructor, clinical instructor, and respective course faculty and referred to the Program Director for any unsafe or unprofessional behaviors. Violation of a clinical probation will result in a referral to the Code of Conduct Committee.

The following are examples of behaviors that lead to clinical probation with restriction: 

  • Participating in a setting with expired or outstanding immunizations/documentation, participating in a setting without approval or documentation or delay in completing COMPLIO by the due date 

  • Unexcused absences 

  • Tardiness, failure to notify faculty/staff of tardiness or absences in clinical 

  • Insufficient preparation for the field experience 

  • Violation of professional and behavioral standards as outlined in the FNP Clinical Handbook, USU Catalog and USU Code of Conduct.

  • Failure to follow clinical faculty or clinical nurse guidance 

  • Unsafe practice in the clinical area 

  • Causing a client unnecessary suffering or harm 

  • Failure to report abnormal data in a timely manner to the appropriate persons 

  • Conduct inappropriate to the role of the student as outlined in this manual 

  • Failure to dress in approved program attire 

  • HIPAA violations 

  • Leaving the clinical site without permission at any time during clinical hours 

  • Performing skills/interventions which have not been signed off by the clinical faculty 

  • Acting outside of a student scope of practice 


Although some probationary actions and/or other sanctions may be assessed by the College, learners may still be referred to the University level Code of Conduct for violations of conduct outlined in this manual and/or the University Code of Conduct.


In the event a student is found to have violated the University Code of Conduct, is placed on clinical probation with restriction and/or jeopardized a clinical placement, the Program Director, OFE Director and/or designee reserves the right to require the student to identify clinical placements independently. This is in addition to any sanctions the student may realize as part of the Code of Conduct proceedings or otherwise.


Clinical Probation with restriction and Code of Conduct Referral Procedure 

  • Code of Conduct processes will be initiated.

  • The clinical faculty will discuss the concern with the Program Director.

  • A letter of probation will be provided to you by the Program Director. 

  • A copy of the letter will be sent to the Office of Field Experience and Academic Advising, and will be placed in your file. 

  • Clinical probation may result in the student being withdrawn from the course. If the matter is referred to the Code of Conduct committee, the student may need to withdraw from the course or program.


Refer to https://www.usuniversity.edu/current-students/university-catalog/ for more information