Basic Knowledge, Attitudes, and Technical Standards

Professionalism - is expected from all nursing students at all times while in the nursing program. Professionalism is reflected by life-long learning, appearance and demeanor, respectful communication, punctuality in attendance and assignments, providing service to the community, and engaging in activities that promote nursing.

Punctuality - Is consistently demonstrating promptness when meeting scheduled class, clinical, lab, and simulated learning experiences. Demonstrates initiative, enthusiasm, and active engagement in learning assignments and clinical experiences. Students are expected to attend class regularly. Specific requirements for class attendance and consequences for tardiness/absences can be found in the Student Handbook. The clinical, lab, and simulated learning experiences, attendance as scheduled is required and tardiness is unacceptable. A reasonable expectation is to arrive at the clinical site a minimum of 15 minutes prior to the start of the assigned clinical time. Tardiness necessitates a plan of action initiated by the clinical instructor or preceptor that requires the student’s commitment to be punctual for subsequent scheduled activities. A pattern of tardiness may result in a failing grade for the class, lab, clinical, or simulated learning experience since a lack of personal accountability is inconsistent with professional nursing and safe patient care.

Conflict Management - Demonstrates collaborative problem solving skills in the event or conflict relevant to the course, clinical, lab or simulation experience occurs. Conflict management skills include: engaging in timely and constructive dialogue with the immediate participants to clarify the issue; consulting in a timely fashion with advisor, clinical scholar/instructor, or preceptor; accurately identifying the negotiable and non-negotiable issues; and determining an effective strategy to achieve mutual goals, and follow through respectfully with the decision.

Constructively uses opportunities throughout the course to communicate questions and concerns relevant to course/assignment outcome competencies. Comments on course, faculty, and preceptor evaluations are specific, and include constructive feedback on effective teaching and learning strategies, as well as recommendations for improvement.

Disrespectful behaviors, including making demands, blaming others for one’s own mistakes, or demeaning others, are considered unprofessional and are unacceptable in the context of a collaborative and positive learning environment. Unprofessional conduct will be referred to the Dean, who will consult with faculty, Lakeview College of Nursing administration, and representatives from the affiliating clinical agency, as appropriate, to determine subsequent action, which may include referral to the Student Affairs Committee.

Students of Lakeview College of Nursing are guests in affiliating clinical agencies or practice sites. A positive working relationship between the College and affiliating clinical agencies is imperative to assure quality placements in sufficient numbers for all students across clinical courses. Unprofessional communication or behavior reflects poorly on the Lakeview College of Nursing student body and jeopardizes future clinical placements. Deceleration, suspension, withdrawal are options for students who determine that clinical placements/schedules are unacceptable to them. Students are accountable for all information sent by the Lakeview College of Nursing email, and must commit to checking for updated information as frequently as needed to identify new and changing information.

Respect - Courtesy, consideration, respect and positive regard are conditions for learning. Demonstrates attentiveness, politeness, consideration for others in all learning environments and with patients, peers, health care providers, faculty, and staff. Refrains from intruding, interrupting, distracting, or otherwise limiting the opportunities for learning. Interacts with all others with demonstrations of respect, tolerance, and caring. Body language, nonverbal behaviors, including voice tone, and personal opinion must at all times demonstrate professionalism and collegiality. Demonstrates respect for diversity of race, ethnicity, religion, political opinion, sexual orientation, gender, age, socio-economic status of patients, peers, and other care providers.

A student may be removed from the class, clinical, lab, or simulated learning experiences for disrespecting the learning or working environment and interfering with the learning or work of others. Return to the class, clinical, lab, or simulated learning experience is dependent on commitment to demonstrate civility.

Confidentiality – Demonstrates respect for patient confidentiality within and outside the agency. Maintains patient confidentiality in all communication, including use of electronic media. Extreme caution must be exhibited in relaying information about clinical experiences in any social networking media (e.g. blogs, Facebook) by never referencing clinical information that identifies people, place, or specific events. Well-intentioned reflection can jeopardize patient rights and your professional standing if perceived as violating ethical and legal parameters of confidentiality, patient privacy rights, and health privacy laws.

Technical Standards

Lakeview College of Nursing is committed to diversity and to attracting and educating students who will make the population of health care professionals representative of the national population. Our core values Adaptability, Caring, Excellence, Integrity, and Service translate into our work with all students, including those with disabilities. Lakeview College of Nursing actively collaborates with students to develop innovative ways to ensure accessibility and creates a respectful, accountable culture through our confidential disability support. Lakeview is committed to excellence in accessibility; we encourage students with disabilities to disclose and seek accommodations.

Lakeview College of Nursing provides the following sample descriptions/examples of technical standards to inform incoming and enrolled students of the performance abilities and characteristics that are necessary to complete the requirements of the nursing curriculum and provide effective and safe health care. To matriculate (enroll) the student must meet technical standards with or without reasonable accommodations and maintain related satisfactory demonstration of these standards for progression through the program.

If you had sufficient education would you be able to perform the following technical standards:

Acquire Information:

• Acquire information from demonstrations and experiences in nursing courses such as lecture, group and physical demonstrations.
• Acquire information from written documents and computer systems (e.g., literature search & data retrieval).
• Identify information presented in images from paper, slides, videos, and transparencies.
• Recognize and assess patient changes in mood, activity, cognition, verbal, and non-verbal communication.

Use and Interpret:

• Use and interpret information from assessment techniques/maneuvers such as those involved in assessing respiratory and cardiac function, blood pressure, blood sugar, neurological status, etc.
• Use and interpret information related to physiologic phenomena generated from diagnostic tools (i.e., sphygmomanometer, otoscope, ophthalmoscope) during a comprehensive examination of a client or patient.

Motor:

• Possess psychomotor skills necessary to provide holistic nursing care and perform or assist with procedures, treatments, and medication administration.
• Practice in a safe manner and appropriately provide care in emergencies and life support procedures and perform universal precautions against contamination.

Communication:

• Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and families.
• Communicate effectively with faculty, preceptors and all members of the healthcare team during practicum and other learning experiences.
• Accurately elicit information including a medical history & other information to adequately and effectively evaluate a client or patient's condition.

Intellectual ability:

• Measure, calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize data related to patient diagnosis and treatment of patients.
• Exercise proper judgment and complete responsibilities in a timely and accurate manner according to the advanced generalist nursing role.
• Synthesize information, problem solve and think critically to judge the most appropriate theory or assessment strategy.
• Ask for help when needed and make proper judgments of when a nursing task can or cannot be carried out alone.

Behavioral:

• Maintain mature, sensitive, effective relationships with clients/patients, families, students, faculty, staff, preceptors and other professionals under all circumstances.
• Exercise skills of diplomacy to advocate for patients in need.
• Possess emotional stability to function under stress and adapt to changing environments inherent to the classroom and practice settings with or without accommodations.

Character:

• Concern for others, integrity, accountability, interest, and motivation, are necessary personal qualities.
• Demonstrate intent and desire to follow the ANA Standards of Care and Nursing Code of Ethics.

Lakeview College of Nursing wishes to ensure that access to its facilities, programs, and services are available to students with disabilities. The College provides reasonable accommodations to students on a nondiscriminatory basis consistent with legal requirements as outlined in the Americans with Disabiliteis Act (ADA) of 1990, the American with Disabilities Act Amendments ACT (ADAAA) of 2008, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to an instructional activity, facility, program or service that enables a qualified student with a disability to have an equal opportunity to participate in all student activities. To be eligible for accommodations, a student must have a documented disability as defined by the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The ADA, the ADAAA and Section 504 all define disability as (a)  a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual; (b) a record of such impairment; or (c) being regarded as having such a condition.

The College uses a case by case, interactive decision-making process to determine reasonable accommodations taking into consideration each student's disability-related needs, disability documentation and program requirements. While Lakeview College of Nursing will make every effort to work with students with disabilities to accommodate their disability-related needs, Lakeview College is not required to provide accommodations that fundamentally alter or waive essential program requirements.

After reviewing the technical standards, students who determine that they require accommodations to engage in the program should contact the Disability Services to discuss their accommodation needs, confidentially. Given the clinical nature of our programs, additional time may be needed to implement accommodations. Accommodations are never retroactive; therefore, timely requests are essential and encouraged.