Academic Policies & Procedures

Professional/Technical Standards

Students of the School of Nursing will be held to the American Nurses Association’s “Standards of Professional Performance” and “Code of Ethics 2005,” and the School of Nursing’s essential abilities (outlined below). Failure to uphold these standards may result in dismissal from any nursing program.

ANA Standards of Professional Performance (revised 2004)

  1. The nurse systematically evaluates the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice.
  2. The nurse evaluates one’s own nursing practice in relation to professional practice standards and relevant statutes and regulations.
  3. The nurse acquires and maintains current knowledge in nursing practice.
  4. The nurse interacts with and contributes to the professional development of peers, and other health care providers as colleagues.
  5. The nurse’s decisions and actions on behalf of patients are determined in an ethical manner.
  6. The nurse collaborates with the patient, family and other health care providers in providing patient care.
  7. The nurse uses research findings in practice.
  8. The nurse considers factors related to safety, effectiveness, and cost in planning and delivering patient care.

ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses (revised 2005)

Each person, upon entering the nursing profession, inherits a measure of the responsibility and trust associated with the profession, along with the corresponding obligation to adhere to the standards of ethical practice and conduct it has set. Nursing students are expected to show responsibility in their behavior; to deal with faculty, peers, patients, and clinical staff in a direct and honest manner; and to be professional in their conduct. Students who violate accepted standards for professional nursing may be discharged from the program.
  1. The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.
  2. The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community.
  3. The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient.
  4. The nurse is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse’s obligation to provide optimum patient care.
  5. The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, to maintain competence, and to continue personal and professional growth.
  6. The nurse participates in establishing, maintaining, and improving healthcare environments and conditions of employment conducive to the provision of quality health care and consistent with the values of the profession through individual and collective action.
  7. The nurse participates in the advancement of the profession through contributions to practice, education, administration, and knowledge development.
  8. The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public in promoting community, national, and international efforts to meet health needs.
  9. The profession of nursing, as represented by associations and their members, is responsible for articulating nursing values, for maintaining the integrity of the profession and its practice, and for shaping social policy.

Essential Abilities

The School of Nursing faculty have specified essential abilities (technical standards) critical to the success of students enrolled in any IU nursing program. Qualified applicants are expected to meet all admission criteria, and matriculating students are expected to meet all progression criteria, as well as these essential abilities (technical standards) with or without reasonable accommodations.
  1. Essential judgment skills to include ability to identify, assess, and comprehend conditions surrounding patient situations for the purpose of problem solving and coming to appropriate conclusions and/or courses of action.
  2. Essential physical / neurological functions to include ability to use the senses of seeing, hearing, touch, and smell to make correct judgments regarding patient conditions for the purpose of demonstrating competence to safely engage in the practice of nursing. Behaviors that demonstrate essential neurological functions include, but are not limited to, observing, listening, understanding relationships, writing, and employing psychomotor abilities.
  3. Essential communication skills to include ability to communicate effectively with fellow students, faculty, patients, and all members of the health care team. Skills include verbal, written, and nonverbal abilities consistent with effective communication.
  4. Essential emotional coping skills to include ability to demonstrate the mental health necessary to safely engage in the practice of nursing as determined by professional standards of practice.
  5. Essential intellectual and conceptual skills to include ability to measure, calculate, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate to engage competently in the safe practice of nursing.
  6. Other essential behavioral attributes to include ability to engage in activities consistent with safe nursing practice without demonstrated behaviors of addiction to, abuse of, or dependence on alcohol or other drugs that may impair behavior or judgment. The student must demonstrate responsibility and accountability for actions as a student in the School of Nursing and as a developing professional nurse. (Policy U-VI-A-15)

Last updated February 18, 2010


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