Other Policies

BACKGROUND CHECKS

All students in the nursing program (Sequence or Second-Degree), are required to complete both a civilian and a federal background check through the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII). Depending on the clinical agency requirements, students may be asked to obtain annual background checks. Students will again need to complete both the civilian and federal background check for the Ohio Board of Nursing upon graduation. 

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE

Kent State University provides liability insurance for students while they are at a clinical site at no cost to the student. This policy provides coverage while on site at the clinical setting ONLY. This coverage does not extend beyond the active clinical experience under the auspice of this nursing program.

STUDENT CONDUCT POLICY

Professional role development includes assuming the values of one’s profession. Values of the professional nurse emphasize quality of care and safety of the care environment. These values incorporate the following behaviors required of students in clinical practice.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY

1. A student shall, in a complete, accurate, and timely manner, report and document nursing assessments or observations, the care provided by the student for the client, and the client's response to that care.
2. A student shall, in an accurate and timely manner, report to the appropriate practitioner errors in or deviations from the current valid order.
3. A student shall not falsify any client record or any other document prepared or utilized in the course of, or in conjunction with, nursing practice. This includes, but is not limited to, case management documents or reports or time records, reports, and other documents related to billing for nursing services.
4. A student shall implement measures to promote a safe environment for each client.
5. A student shall delineate, establish, and maintain professional boundaries with each client.
6. At all times when a student is providing direct nursing care to a client the student shall:
   1. Provide privacy during examination or treatment and in the care of personal or bodily needs; and
   2. Treat each client with courtesy, respect, and with full recognition of dignity and individuality.
7. A student shall practice within the appropriate scope of practice as set forth in division (B) of section 4723.01 and division (B) (20) of section 4723.28 of the Revised Code for a registered nurse.
8. A student shall use universal blood and body fluid precautions established by Chapter 4723-20 of the Administrative Code.
9. A student shall not:
   1. Engage in behavior that causes or may cause physical, verbal, mental, or emotional abuse to a client;
   2. Engage in behavior toward a client that may reasonably be interpreted as physical, verbal, mental, or emotional abuse.
   3. Divulge confidential information in any format.
10. A student shall not misappropriate a client's property or:
    1. Engage in behavior to seek or obtain personal gain at the client's expense;
    2. Engage in behavior that may reasonably be interpreted as behavior to seek or obtain personal gain at the client's expense;
    3. Engage in behavior that constitutes inappropriate involvement in the client's personal relationships; or
    4. Engage in behavior that may reasonably be interpreted as inappropriate involvement in the client's personal relationships. For the purpose of this paragraph, the client is always presumed incapable of giving free, full, or informed consent to the behaviors by the student set forth in this paragraph.
11. A student shall not:
    1. Engage in sexual conduct with a client;
    2. Engage in conduct in the course of practice that may reasonably be interpreted as sexual;
    3. Engage in any verbal behavior that is seductive or sexually demeaning to a client;
    4. Engage in verbal behavior that may reasonably be interpreted as seductive, or sexually demeaning to a client. For the purpose of this paragraph, the client is always presumed incapable of giving free, full or informed consent to sexual activity with the student.
12. A student shall not, regardless of whether the contact or verbal behavior is consensual, engage with a patient other than the spouse of the student in any of the following:
    1. Sexual contact, as defined in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code;
    2. Verbal behavior that is sexually demeaning to the patient or may be reasonably interpreted by the patient as sexually demeaning.
13. A student shall not self-administer or otherwise take into the body any dangerous drug, as defined in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code, in any way not in accordance with a legal, valid prescription issued for the student.
14. A student shall not habitually indulge in the use of controlled substances, other habit-forming drugs or alcohol or other chemical substances to an extent that impairs ability to practice.
15. A student shall not have impairment of the ability to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of safe nursing care because of habitual or excessive use of drugs, alcohol or other chemical substances that impair the ability to practice.
16. A student shall not have impairment of the ability to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of safe nursing care because of a physical or mental disability.
17. A student shall not assault or causes harm to a patient or deprive a patient of the means to summon assistance.
18. A student shall not obtain or attempt to obtain money or anything of value by Intentional misrepresentation or material deception in the course of practice.
19. A student shall not have been adjudicated by a probate court of being mentally ill or mentally incompetent, unless restored to competency by the court.
20. A student shall not aid and abet a person in that person’s practice of nursing without a license, practice as a dialysis technician without a certificate issued by the board, or administration of medications as a medication aide without a certificate issued by the board.
21. A student shall not prescribe any drug or device to perform or induce an abortion, or otherwise perform or induce an abortion.
22. A student shall not assist suicide as defined in section 3795.01 of the Revised Code.
23. A student shall not submit or cause to be submitted any false, misleading or deceptive statements, information, or document to the nursing program, its faculty or preceptors or to the board.

Adapted from the State of Ohio Board of Nursing Law and Rules, Chapter 5 on “Program Policies” – rule #4723-5-12, letter J 1-9. http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/4723-5-12 (2/1/07)

In addition to the Ohio Board of Nursing regulations on student conduct, students should also understand the are held under the Code of Conduct put forth by the National Student Nurses Association.  The Code of Conduct for Academic and Clinical Conduct can be found at: http://www.nsna.org/Portals/0/Skins/NSNA/pdf/pubs_code_of_ac.pdf. The Code of Conduct for Professional Conduct can be found at: http://www.nsna.org/Portals/0/Skins/NSNA/pdf/pubs_CodeofProfessionalConduct.pdf

The rules as described by both the Ohio Board of Nursing and the National Student Nurses Association also apply to student behavior and actions associated with the College of Nursing and its affiliated institutions. Students are expected to demonstrate professional behavior in all actions related to the College and their education. This includes, but is not limited to, all forms of communication, behavior in the classroom and clinical setting, and activities related to their education. The College of Nursing retains the right to dismiss from the program any student who is deemed to violate the policies and procedures of the College of Nursing or of affiliating facilities. 

CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM POLICY

Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are not tolerated in the College of Nursing. "Cheating and plagiarism constitute fraudulent misrepresentation for which no credit can be given and for which appropriate sanctions are warranted and will be applied.” (3342-3-07 Administrative policy and procedure regarding student cheating and plagiarism.) Students who participate in such behaviors will be subject to sanctions ranging from failure of the assignment or course to dismissal from the College and the University. Students who have observed or have knowledge of others engaging in any form of academic dishonesty are required to report such to the course faculty. Students who are aware of such behaviors but fail to report it are complicit and liable.

The College of Nursing expectations of academic conduct are based on the core values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity and social justice as delineated by the AACN Essentials of Baccalaureate Education document. Professional nursing practice requires a commitment to excellence, personal accountability and responsibility. The Faculty and administration of the Kent State University College of Nursing expect and support scholarship by students. The Kent State University administrative policy regarding student cheating and plagiarism can be accessed on the Kent State Policy Register website (3-01.8).

STUDENT CLASS ATTENDANCE

The faculty of the College of Nursing support the Kent State administrative policy regarding class attendance and class absence outlined on the Kent State Policy Register website (3-01.2). It is expected that students will attend all scheduled classes and clinical days except when there is an extenuating circumstance such as illness. It is expected that the student will use good judgment in choosing to be absent. Professional behavior that takes into account responsibility for learning and, in the case of clinical absence, responsibility for the clients who are assigned to their care is expected. In order to contribute to success in the program, students who also maintain employment are to arrange work hours so as not to coincide with class and clinical hours. Extended absence for health reasons may necessitate a physician’s release and possible course withdrawal. Students may not participate in clinical experiences against the advice of a Licensed Healthcare Provider or against agency policy.

CLINICAL PASSPORTS

It is strongly recommended that students keep copies of grades, immunizations, CPR cards, reports, etc. for their personal records. This may save the student time and expense should paperwork become misplaced.  It is the student’s responsibility to obtain and retain their own records, which will be required at all clinical agencies.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY

Kent State University College of Nursing faculty promotes those policies that protect the health and well being of students and the patients they serve. In keeping with this goal, faculty support the policies set forth by Kent State University relative to the use of drugs and alcohol. If drug or alcohol usage is detected in classroom or other campus settings, students will be referred for appropriate follow-up according to the Kent State policies outlined in the Digest of Rules and Regulations contained in the University Directory. As a guest in health care facilities, students will be subject to policies of the agency, which may include random urine testing. If drug or alcohol usage is detected in clinical settings, students will be tested at the clinical agency, in accord with agency policies. Follow-up procedures will be conducted at the discretion of the agency.

STUDENT ACADEMIC COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

The Student Academic Complaint Procedure is established to provide an appropriate framework and method to resolve student complaints of an academic nature in accordance with the university policy as stated on the Kent State Policy Register website (4-02.3) (Regional Campuses policy 8-01.4). These policies are specifically designed to maintain the integrity of the academic environment and to ensure that the rights of students and faculty in such matters are clearly stated and protected.

The student is expected to first attempt to resolve complaints informally with the individuals involved. Section (F) (1) of the aforementioned policy outlines information resolution procedures. The instructor is to be contacted in an attempt to resolve the concern immediately. Many academic concerns can be resolved by informal discussion between the student and instructor. The following questions may serve as a guide:

1. What are the specific details of the problem?
2. What has been done to resolve the problem?
3. What recommendations can be made to resolve the problem?

If the matter continues to be unresolved a written complaint must be submitted to the Undergraduate Program Director within 15 days of the occurrence of the event. Refer to section (F) (2) of the academic complaint policy for instructions and time lines for filing a formal complaint. Students must follow procedures identified in the policies noted in paragraph 1 above. Some issues may involve one or more policies which, because of either the nature of the complaint or the status of the complaint, may be related to University offices that have separate responsibilities for such policies. For example, an allegation of discrimination or sexual harassment could be reviewed by the Student Ombuds and the Office of Affirmative Action. There shall be no retaliation or abridgment of a student's rights resulting from the use of this policy.