Pre-Licensure Clinical Expectations & Policies

Attendance

All clinical and laboratory (includes simulation and XR) are mandatory, as scheduled.  Clinical and laboratory hours planned and delivered are submitted to the Ohio Board of Nursing. Any missed hours must be made up to meet the course and Ohio Board of Nursing requirements.

Students missing assigned clinical hours extending past one week may not be able to pass the course*. Missed clinical and lab hours must be completed to meet requirements of the course. Limited opportunity for make-up hours are available and student may risk progression in the program if clinical/lab hours are not completed. Due to holiday schedules and other circumstances, make-up clinical/lab experiences may be outside of the regularly scheduled clinical/lab day.

*example – If a course has 6 hours of clinical scheduled a week and a student misses more than 6 hours, the student may not be able to pass the course due to needing an extensive amount of make-up hours to complete the clinical time required

It is recognized that extenuating circumstances do occur that are unforeseen and/or unavoidable. This may include serious illness, hospitalization, accident, military duty, etc. and these situations will be reviewed with the Director of Prelicensure Programs. Events NOT considered extenuating, include but are not limited to work, vacations, weddings, airline flights, etc.

If you have on-going health issues that may impede your ability to attend clinicals as scheduled, you are encouraged to make an appointment with Student Life Disability Services (SLDS).

Tardiness

If you arrive late or unprepared for a clinical/lab/simulation session, you will be considered tardy and based on patient safety and/or the amount of time missed, you may be prohibited from participating in the learning activities for the day. This missed time will count as a clinical/lab/simulation absence and will be made up according to the Attendance Policy.

Dress code

The dress code policy for students is the policy established by The Ohio State University Hospitals for its employees.  All students must adhere to the dress code policy when a uniform is needed for clinical study.  Personal appearance must demonstrate neatness, cleanliness, and good hygiene. Extremes in appearance or accessory attire potentially interfering with patient care or perception are not acceptable. Anyone in violation of this policy will be required to leave the clinical unit.

  1. Student identification badge must be worn at all times.
    1. Identification badges are to be clearly visible, above the waist.
    2. Student photographs on identification badges must be worn face out, with no defacement (pins, stickers).
    3. When caring for inmates in any patient care area, employees may tape over (cover) their last name.
    4. Lanyards to hold your identification badge may be worn meeting the following criteria:
      1. Must be breakaway, for your protection.
      2. No more than five professional pins may be worn at one time.
      3. The Lanyard must not interfere with patient care.
      4. The lanyard should be cleaned when visibly soiled.
      5. If lanyards are worn they should be secured by means to prevent them from coming into direct contact with the patient or near the patient environment.
      6. Identification badge holders may be worn meeting the following criteria:
        1. Must be solid in color or with hospital logo.
  2. Hair must be clean, neatly groomed and controlled.
    1. Long hair must be secured away from the face.
    2. Hair decorations must be kept plain and simple.
    3. Extreme styles and colors are not permitted.
    4. Facial hair must be kept neat and well-trimmed.
    5. Fashion headscarves or skullcaps are not permitted.
    6. Hairbands are permitted if they are white, or match scrubs or hair color.
  3. Nails must be neat, clean, and support the functional use of hands and fingers.
    1. Artificial fingernails are prohibited for all staff who touch or transport patients.
    2. Nail polish/gel/dip and decorative designs are prohibited.
    3. Length of natural nails will be kept at less than ¼ inch long.
  4. Jewelry must be plain and inconspicuous. Jewelry must not interfere with patient care or present a hazard to the student.
    1. Up to two pairs of small post earrings that do not dangle from the earlobes are permitted.
    2. No necklaces are permitted.
    3. Bracelets or armbands are not permitted unless they are a Medical Alert bracelet.
    4. Only one ring or ring set is allowed.
    5. A form fitting wrist watch/fitness band is permitted.
    6. Facial piercing jewelry (i.e. eyebrow, nose, tongue, lip, etc.) is prohibited.
    7. Exception: If a nose ring is worn for religious purposes, the student must supply the instructor with proper documentation to support this.
  1. Fragrances must be minimally evident. With some patient care populations, fragrances (purfume/cologne/after shave/strong scents) may not be worn. Please do wear deodorant or antiperspirant.
  2. All tattoos must be covered.
  3. Footwear should be clean, appropriate for clothing, protective and fit securely.
    1. Shoes should be non-permeable entirely white or black.
    2. Shoes must have a closed toe and closed heel.
    3. Canvas shoes or “crocs” with holes are not permitted in patient care areas.
    4. Shoes and shoelaces must be kept clean. Shoelaces must be white or match shoes.
    5. Students must wear hose or socks at all times
  1. Uniform accessories:
    1. Buttons, hats, pins (or other types of insignia) are prohibited.
    2. Organizational belt/adjustable belt pack (“fanny packs”) must be a solid color, reasonable size, washable, and free of logos.
    3. Cloth stethoscope covers or decorative items attached to stethoscope are not permitted.
    4. Cell phones may only be used to access clinically related applications out of sight of patients &/or family. Personal cell phone use for calls, texting, or accessing social media/non-clinically related data, apps or websites is not be used during clinical.
    5. Pens worn around the neck are prohibited.
  1. Uniform/Clothing Standards:
    1. Undergarments must be worn and inconspicuous under uniform or clothing.
    2. Clothing must be clean and neatly pressed.
    3. Faded/yellowish, discolored or ripped clothing is not acceptable.
    4. All clothing should fit loosely (not skin tight), be non-see through, with no visible cleavage or low rise pants that show the top of the buttocks. No spandex/ tight fitting leggings allowed.
    5. Tops:
      1. True Red scrub top is to be worn in the clinical area.
      2. A solid colored mock turtleneck, turtleneck or tee shirt (long or short sleeves) may be worn under the scrub top. No tee-shirt writing may be visible under scrub top.
      3. The crest of the College of Nursing is a part of the uniform. It is worn on the upper left-hand quadrant of the uniform. The crest must be sewn on or held in place with Velcro. Using safety pins is not appropriate. Crests are not required on lab jackets.
      4. It is strongly suggested that you stand in front of a mirror and raise your hands over your head. If your abdomen is exposed by this movement, your attire is inappropriate – the pants are hanging too low and/or the top is too short.
    6. Pants:
      1. True Red scrub ankle length pants must be worn in the clinical area.
      2. Scrub pant bottoms are not permitted to drag on floor.
      3. Flared hems are permitted; however, the pants must be hemmed.
    7. Scrub Jackets/Lab Coats:
      1. White scrub jackets/coats may be worn.
      2. Scrub jackets must be removed when it can potentially interfere with patient care, for example, sterile dressing changes.
      3. No sweatshirts or hooded sweatshirts (hoodies) may be worn.
    8. Skirts
      1. If a student wishes to wear long skirts to clinical it has been recommended that they order True Red XX large pants from the vendor and alter the material into a skirt.
      2. Length must be at the knee or longer.
      3. Must wear pantyhose with skirts.
    9. Scarfs:
      1. A white, black or red head scarf may be worn as part of the nursing uniform for religious purposes.

Special note: If you are working with a preceptor outside of a clinical area, ask about the expected dress code for the site. For example, if you are a male and the male preceptor wears a tie, you should plan to wear one as well. It is important to present yourself and the College of Nursing in the best possible professional manner.

Students who have clinical experience on units where patients are being treated with radiation therapy may obtain a radiation badge. The radiation badge requisition form should be obtained from the nurse manager on the assigned unit. Students should return the completed form to the nurse manager who will forward it to the Radiation Safety Department. It takes approximately one week to receive the badge from the Department of Radiology.

Student Success Plan (SSP)

A student may be considered for a Student Success Plan (SSP) if the clinical/lab objectives identified on a clinical evaluation tool related to accountability, professionalism, and/or use of the nursing process are not being met. The objective(s) not being met will be identified on the SSP to delineate specific areas that a student must improve to succeed in the program and grow as a developing professional in the practice of nursing. Failure to meet the clinical/lab objectives listed on the clinical evaluation tool will demonstrate a lack of progression in clinical/lab.  A student who is not meeting clinical/lab objectives as identified on the clinical evaluation tool for the course will not pass the course as identified in the syllabus for that course.

Program-Wide Student Success Plan (PW-SSP)

If a student successfully meets the objectives of a previous performance improvement plan, but demonstrates reoccurring patterns of not meeting objectives in a second nursing course, a Program-Wide Student Success Plan (PW-SSP) will be initiated. This plan will be transferred to each nursing course for the remainder of the prelicensure program. Failure to meet the clinical/lab objectives as identified on the PW-SSP or any objectives listed on the clinical evaluation tool, will result in a lack of progression.  A student who is not meeting clinical/lab objectives as identified on the clinical evaluation tool for the course will not pass the course as identified in the syllabus for that course.

Probationary Progression SSP (PP-SSP)

A student may be considered for a probationary progression SSP if they are not meeting clinical or lab performance objective(s) in the course where there is insufficient time to establish a pattern of satisfactory performance. Any behavior related to safety concerns would not be eligible for a PP-SSP and may result in an immediate clinical failure.

The PP-SSP will transfer to the next clinical course only. A student who is not progressing satisfactorily or meeting the clinical/lab objective(s) in the subsequent clinical course may not pass the clinical course in which they are enrolled. A student who progresses satisfactorily and meets the clinical/lab objective(s) in the subsequent clinical course will have met the requirements of the PP-SSP.

Remediation

A student who failed the course based on clinical performance will be required to complete remediation prior to repeating the course. Based upon student learning needs, the Director for Prelicensure Programs will recommend a remediation plan to the Graduate Studies Committee. The student will be required to successfully complete the remediation plan to progress in the program. The remediation plan may include activities to be completed prior to the start of the semester and/or a 1 credit-hour independent study course.

Athletes’ and Military or other Authorized University Group Clinical Attendance/Absence Policy

The Ohio State University College of Nursing recognizes that requirements set forth by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), or obligations related to service in the military or other groups may result in scheduled clinical absences. In order to abide by Ohio Board of Nursing Regulatory stadards, students in good academic standing will be permitted to make-up all scheduled clinical absences due to events based on the excused absence policies. If opportunities to make-up clinical absences during the semester are available, students will be scheduled for these clinical make-up days during the semester. Failure to attend the makeup session on the assigned dates will result in application of the Attendance Policy. Grades will not be administered until the make-up clinical dates are successfully completed.  Students are required to provide a letter from their coach outlining the dates and times of required athletic absences at the beginning of the semester. Any absences that occur without prior approval may result in failure of a course.