Pictured :: Katendi Kanema :: Nursing :: Mishawaka, Indiana (hometown)

Clinical Regulations

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Student Policy Handbook

All nursing students are provided with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Student Policy Handbook at the clinical orientation beginning with the sophomore semester. This document is updated (at least) annually to reflect ongoing changes in clinical and program requirements and policies. While the School of Nursing provides these updates, it is the student’s responsibility to maintain the currency of the handbook and refer to the most current regulations.

CPR Requirement

All nursing major students enrolled in clinical classes must present evidence of current health care provider certification prior to the beginning of each semester. Two options are available:

• American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support for Health Care Provider level (preferred)
• American Red Cross CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer

OSHA Regulations

Health requirements and OSHA regulations include annual education on blood borne pathogens. See the B.S.N. Student Policy Handbook for annual regulatory requirements. Clinical agencies may have additional requirements which must be met.

Health Requirements

All nursing students must show annual proof that they have met the immunization, physical examination, and laboratory examination requirements of hospitals and other health agencies used for clinical experiences. Specific instructions are distributed prior to clinical assignment. Special circumstances may arise which require additional action. Failure to meet health requirements and their deadlines makes the student ineligible for clinical classes and the student is administratively withdrawn from all nursing courses. The student is then considered to be out-of-progression in the Nursing Program. Detailed requirements and descriptions are provided in the B.S.N. Student Policy Handbook.

Criminal Checks

Federal mandates for clinical agencies require criminal history inquiries through certified background checks or designated alternate state or federal inquiry program. Students are responsible for applying for the criminal check and all fees associated with the check upon application to the major and prior to the seventh semester courses.

Health and CPR Requirements

Upon Admission to the Nursing Program

In accordance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations and local health facilities requirements, nursing students are required to provide:

• Immunization verification for Hepatitis B
• Immunization verification for TDap (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertusis) (within 10 years)
• MMR (two doses of MMR or two doses of ProQuad or mumps titer of 1:10 is required)
• Varicella vaccine or history of the disease
• Tuberculosis (TB) testing within three months of patient contact
• Up-to-date completed health evaluation (within one year)
• CPR (professional level) certification

Titers are acceptable forms of documentation. Any international student or student whose country of origin where TB is considered endemic must be tested at the IU South Bend Health and Wellness Center. Those testing positive will be required to have a blood test confirming their TB status. Requirements may change as recommendations of the CDC indicate. Specific, current information and guidelines can be found in the B.S.N. Student Policy Handbook.

The deadlines for submitting the health and safety requirements for students entering the fourth semester are:

Semester :: Date
Fall semester :: July 15
Spring semester :: October 15
Summer semester :: May 1

Failure to do so results in the student being automatically withdrawn from all clinical nursing courses for which they are registered and the student is considered to be out-of-progression in the Nursing Program. Students who come to class and are in noncompliance are not allowed to enter the clinical setting. Students admitted late to the Nursing Program are handled on a case-by-case basis.

All applicants are encouraged to begin gathering the necessary documentation to avoid delays upon admission. Even students admitted late must have all documentation on file with the School of Nursing prior to beginning the clinical nursing courses. Failure to do so results in the student being automatically withdrawn from all clinical nursing courses for which they are registered and the student is considered to be out-of-progression in the Nursing Program.

For Continuing Nursing Students

Nursing students are responsible for making sure they maintain current CPR certification status and annual TB screening. In addition, immunization status must be updated as necessary. It is the student’s responsibility to monitor the status of these and to submit proper documentation to the School of Nursing in a timely manner. If any of these items expire during the course of the semester, certification must occur before the student may enroll in any clinical courses that semester. Additional requirements may be added as clinical regulations are updated. Clinical agencies have the right to request additional health and safety stipulations.

Documentation of annual TB screening, annual CPR recertification, and up-to-date immunization status must be submitted to the School of Nursing’s student services office no later than August 1 for students enrolled in clinical nursing courses in the fall semester. If the student is enrolled in clinical nursing courses during the fall semester, documentation of CPR recertification, TB screening, and immunizations must be valid through December 20. If the student is enrolled for the spring semester, CPR recertification, immunizations, and TB screening documentation must be submitted to the School of Nursing’s student services office no later than December 1 and must be valid through May 15. For summer these must be valid May 1 to August 20. (For example, if a student’s CPR certification expired on March 1, 2011, the student must successfully complete CPR recertification before he or she is allowed to begin spring 2011 semester classes.) Students who come to class, and are in noncompliance, are not allowed to enter the clinical setting.

For students finishing an incomplete grade in a nursing course with a clinical component, the CPR recertification, immunizations, and TB screening must be valid until the course requirements are complete.

Student Injuries

If a student is injured in a clinical agency, the student must report to the clinical instructor and follow the policy of the agency where the injury occurred. Students should also contact their primary care provider. Follow-up care may be required from the student’s primary care provider at the student’s expense.

Uniforms­­

Strict uniform and appearance code regulations are enforced throughout the student’s clinical experience. Guidelines for uniforms, agency dress codes, and professional appearance are located in the B.S.N. Student Policy Handbook.

Name Pin/IU South Bend Patch

Name pins are required for all clinical experiences, along with individual agency requirements for personal identification. Students are additionally identified as an IU South Bend student by a school patch or embroidery on their uniform. More information can be found in the B.S.N. Student Policy Handbook.

Supplies and Equipment

Students are required to purchase a laboratory skills supply pack and basic assessment equipment for the sophomore-year laboratories and clinicals. See B.S.N. Student Policy Handbook for details and estimated prices.

Health Insurance

The School of Nursing encourages students to carry health insurance and is not liable for any health problems requiring medical treatment. Health insurance information is available upon request.

Professional Liability Insurance­­

All students in the School of Nursing having patient/client contact are covered under the malpractice contract for Indiana University. This liability insurance does not extend to employment outside of course-related activities. The student should know that failure to pay course and other fees results in noncoverage under Indiana University’s malpractice contract. Such noncoverage makes the student ineligible to attend clinical classes.

APA Format

The most recent American Psychological Association (APA) format is the standard used for all written work in all nursing courses. Students should consult course syllabi for specific details.

Remedial Course Requirements

Applicants to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program must successfully complete all developmental courses in which they place.

Students interested in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program should complete courses in mathematics as early as possible to facilitate completion of science prerequisite courses. Academic advisors will assist in identifying appropriate courses based on placement exam results.

Correspondence/Independent Study Courses

All required and elective courses for the nursing major, other than public speaking, available through the Indiana University Independent Study Program, must be taken for credit. Students should contact a School of Nursing academic advisor before enrollment. Students are required to have the academic advisor’s signature for all correspondence courses used to satisfy degree requirements. Correspondence courses with nursing numbers do not satisfy residency requirements. Final examinations in all correspondence courses must be taken no later than six weeks prior to the expected graduation date.

Nursing students shall have completed any correspondence or independent study courses prior to enrollment in their final semester of the program, or register for the on-campus course in that final semester.

Portfolio Option

The portfolio review process is available to all students who believe that their prior experience can meet the learning objectives/competencies required of a specific nursing course within their program of study, subject to faculty approval. The portfolio is a mechanism used to validate the acquisition of knowledge and skills congruent with course expectations and student learning outcomes.

Students may exercise the portfolio option for all B.S.N. major courses listed for the degree as long as it does not interfere with other standing university or school course/credit hour policies related to progression or graduation. Undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours on the campus awarding the degree. Courses/credit hours which are reviewed for portfolio credit do not count toward undergraduate residency requirements. Contact the School of Nursing for portfolio guidelines.

Satisfactory/Fail Option

The School of Nursing, in grading undergraduate clinical nursing courses, uses the Satisfactory/Fail option. Grades are recorded as S or F. Students must demonstrate a satisfactory level of clinical competence and skill to receive a satisfactory grade in these courses. Satisfactory performance standards are stated in each course syllabus and faculty evaluate the quality of student clinical performances by these standards. Inability to receive a grade of S constitutes failure. An S indicates a grade of A, B, or C (2.0). Students receiving an F cannot progress in their Nursing Program until this deficiency is corrected.

Note :: This is a School of Nursing policy for nursing courses and is not the same as the IU South Bend policy for the Pass/Fail option located in the beginning of this publication.

Residency Requirements­­

A student must complete a minimum of 30 upper-division credit hours in the Indiana University School of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing to be eligible for graduation. A maximum of 6 lower-division nursing credit hours may apply toward this residency requirement. Students must petition the appropriate academic officer to apply those lower-division nursing credit hours toward the residency requirement. Credit for correspondence courses and advanced standing by the validation process may not be used to meet residency requirements.

Associate of Science in Nursing Program Articulation

Students wishing to pursue an Associate of Science in Nursing have several local options. IU South Bend and Ivy Tech Community College (South Bend) work closely to provide seamless educational choices. Ivy Tech Community College in South Bend can be contacted at (574) 289-7001, extension 5721, for additional information.

IU South Bend School of Nursing and Southwestern Michigan College have also agreed to work together to make the transfer process as smooth as possible. Students may complete prerequisite courses at IU South Bend, transfer to Southwestern Michigan College for the associate nursing degree, and return to IU South Bend for their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Students interested in this option should contact the nursing department at Southwestern Michigan College at (269) 782-1000.

Photo credit :: Teresa Sheppard