During enrollment at Lakeview College of Nursing, a variety of clinical opportunities are provided to help students successfully complete course requirements.  Lakeview has extensive clinical affiliation agreements which include acute and extended care facilities and community service agencies. Enrolled students must be able to have independent means to travel to and from clinical assignments. Students traveling in private vehicles to and from clinical assignments assume all related risk and liability. Lakeview College of Nursing is not responsible for injuries or damages that may result.  Clinical opportunities are limited and students are assigned to a clinical time and site. Students who cannot attend the assigned clinical time and location can withdraw and re-enroll in the course the next time it is offered.  Clinical reassignments are not considered.

In accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), all information regarding patients or former patients is considered confidential and protected health information and is to be used solely for clinical purposes as part of the educational curriculum. Students may be required by their assigned clinical placement to complete HIPAA training.

Student must:

1. provide evidence of good physical health (through evidence of a physical from a licensed healthcare provider during the application process);
2. provide evidence of meeting Lakeview’s immunization requirements and keeping them updated as required;
3. provide proof of certification in The American Heart Association-Basic Life Support (CPR & AED Program) or the American Red Cross – Basic Life Support for Health Care Provider and keeping it updated as required;
4. satisfactorily pass a background check prior to the start of classes; and
5. provide proof of health insurance, as applicable.

In order to ensure continuity of patient care, a student must notify the clinical faculty of an absence prior to the start of a clinical experience. Nonhospital clinical students must notify the agency and instructor one hour before the clinical start time. Failure to notify the clinical faculty of an absence in advance of the clinical experience will be documented and the student will receive a written warning for failing to provide proper notification.

Clinical instructors will notify course coordinators of absences the same day the student misses clinical.

In order to maintain patient safety, the faculty may dismiss the student from the clinical area with instructions to remedy the problem if the student is not prepared for the clinical experience. Such dismissal will be documented as an absence.

Clinical absences will be documented and the student will be held accountable to make up the clinical hours missed to meet the required clinical course hours. Hospital-based clinical hours missed will be made up on a 1:1 hour basis either by simulation, demonstrating skills in lab, or a combination of both as determined by the course coordinator and clinical instructor. Non-hospital based clinical hours will be made up as determined by the course coordinator. The course coordinator will notify the lab coordinator of the student assigned clinical make up by initiating the “Clinical Absence Remediation Form for Simulations Lab” within 2 weeks.

Students are required to make up the missed clinical hours within a designated time period as assigned by the course coordinator. If the clinical hours are not made up as assigned by the course coordinator, students may be dropped from the course.

Students must meet all required clinical hours listed on the course syllabus, course and clinical objectives to achieve a “pass” for clinical. 

Missing the first clinical day/clinical orientation of the course may result in a drop from the course.

Clinical Courses with 45 Hours or Less Clinical Absences:	Student Will:
1st Clinical Absence	Student given AIP. Hours missed will be made up.
2nd Clinical Absence	Will be dropped from the course.
Failure to notify faculty of clinical absence	Receive an AIP. Second occurrence will result in being dropped from the course.
Clinical Courses with 46 Hours or More Clinical Absences:	Student Will:
1st Clinical Absence	Student given AIP. Hours missed will be made up.
2nd Clinical Absence	Student given AIP. Hours missed will be made up.
3rd Clinical Absence	Will be dropped from the course.
Failure to notify faculty of clinical absence	Receive an AIP. Second occurrence will result in being dropped from the course.

Refer to withdrawal policy.

How to Decide if you are Too Sick to Attend Clinical (verified with a healthcare provider’s note)

• Fever > 100.4
• Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
• Diarrhea - lasting more than 12 hours
• Group A Strep-culture confirmed or physician diagnosed
• Jaundice - yellowing of the skin which might suggest viral hepatitis
• Cold sores (herpes)
• Active measles, mumps, pertussis, rubella or chicken pox
• Upper respiratory infection (cold)
• Tuberculosis and/or positive TB skin test
• Shingles (chicken pox) or any rash of unknown origin
• Head lice
• Scabies (mites that burrow under the skin causing a rash)
• Any draining wound such as an abscess or boil
• Impetigo (type of skin infection)
• Mononucleosis

 

Lakeview College of Nursing expects professional dress and appearance.  Students are to purchase a student uniform from the approved student uniform vendor designated by the College.  The vendor will be on the College campuses prior to the beginning of students attending clinical/laboratory settings to ensure proper fit. 

Dress Regulations/Uniform requirements:

1. Identification
   Lakeview College of Nursing issued identification badge should be attached to the upper right collar area and worn at all times.
2. Uniform
   Pants: Navy uniform pants.  The waist of the uniform pants should not be rolled down.  The cuff of the pant should not be slit up the side for a flared look.
   Shirt: White, short sleeved, V neck scrub top specified by the College with the LCN patch sewn on the left side of the scrub top in order for patch to sit just above the heart.  Students who prefer a long sleeve may wear the pre-approved navy shirt purchased from the Student Government Association.  This is a lightweight long sleeved shirt with crew neck and the College name embroidered on the right sleeve.  This is the only accepted top to be worn under the scrub top.   
   Lab Coat: White lab coat with LCN patch sewn on the left sleeve.
   Socks: White/neutral stockings or white socks (mid-calf or knee length). Socks must cover ankle.
   Shoes: White nurse’s shoes or white leather tennis shoes must be worn (closed heel and toe).  Shoes worn in clinical areas must cover the entire foot.  Shoes must be kept clean/polished.
3. Watch with a second hand.
4. Stethoscope with bell and diaphragm.

Additional required supplies:

• Penlight
• Bandage scissors
• Small Notepad
• Black ball-point pen

Students are expected to dress and present themselves professionally whenever they are in the clinical area.  Whenever students are representing the College, student should be in uniform.   Professional attire and appearance is an expectation not an option.  Clinical Instructors have the authority to ask you to leave the clinical setting if you are not properly attired. This will be counted as a clinical absence.

Additional Requirements:

Nails:  Natural nails may not extend beyond fingertips/nail polish and artificial nails are not permitted.

Hair:  Hair must be kept off the face and above the collar or pulled back neatly (tight pony tail, braid, or bun). Decorative clips, bows, bun pins, hair extensions and other ornate hair accessories are not permitted in clinical settings.  Tousled/disheveled hairstyles and hair color that cannot be grown naturally is not permitted. Mustaches and beards are permitted but must be clean, trimmed, and well-groomed.

Headgear: Religious dress/headwear (free of decorative items – solid white or black) is permitted but must allow the student to use a stethoscope and other medical instruments and must not interfere with patient exams or etc. Other caps, hats, bandanas, and headwear are not permitted in clinical settings.

Cosmetics: Make-up may be worn in moderation, applied lightly and in a non-threatening manner. Scented products and products containing glitters should be avoided.

Jewelry/Accessories:  These are the only acceptable accessories;

• One pair of stud earrings, in each ear lobe.
• One plain ring/ring set on one finger...In some clinical areas all jewelry must be removed.
• Watch with second hand.

Undergarments:  No garments or markings on garments should be visible underneath any part of the uniform.  This includes short sleeved and long sleeved T-shirts or camisoles worn under the shirt.

Perfume or Cologne:  No perfume or cologne or smell of smoking is permitted during clinical time.

Certain clinical agencies may have additional dress regulations and uniform requirements. The policies of an affiliated clinical agency hosting students for rotation may be different and always supersede Lakeview College of Nursing’s dress code. However, if the agency allows staff to wear jeans, shorts, mini-skirts, t-shirts, or sweatshirts, it is never acceptable for BSN students to wear these items during a clinical experience.

Students injured during clinical and need immediate attention should be taken to the Emergency Services for care. Any expense that is incurred is the student's responsibility.  If the injury does not need immediate attention, the student should see his or her own physician. Students are responsible for carrying his/her own health insurance.  Faculty are required to complete an Incident Report, http://www.lakeviewcol.edu/incident_report/form, for Lakeview as well as the clinical agency where the accident occurred.

Needlestick Injury
Needlestick or any other injuries are required to be reported and investigated by the agency (where the incident occurred). When a needlestick occurs, the student should be taken to the nearest emergency room.  The emergency room's policy/procedure on needlestick injuries should be followed.  Any expense that is incurred is the student's responsibility. 

In addition to the clinical sites procedure the Lakeview College of Nursing’s form, http://www.lakeviewcol.edu/incident_report/form is required to be completed. In case of an emergency, members of the College community will be transported by car or ambulance to the nearest appropriate facility.

1. Expectations - It is understood that throughout the courses in the program nursing care will be given:
   1. Safely - so that the patient is not endangered by: environment; treatments and medications; by lack of knowledge of the student; or by disregard of agency policies.
   2. Honestly - so that in every interaction between student and patient, health care team member, and instructor, the student’s communicates ethically and truthfully.
   3. Professionally so that in all actions a student follows policies and procedures.  Maintains appropriate boundaries and communicates clearly and effectively.
2. Evaluations
   1. Each student will receive a weekly written evaluation of clinical performance.
   2. Each student will receive a mid-term and final evaluation of clinical performance.
   3. Each student will have the opportunity to discuss the evaluation with the clinical instructor.
   4. Each student who receives an unsatisfactory final clinical/lab evaluation will fail the clinical portion of the course.
3. Remediation
   1. An AIP will be completed for any student who has unsatisfactory weekly or mid-term evaluations for future clinical settings.
   2. It is the student’s responsibility to follow through with remediation recommendations on the AIP.