Clinical and Simulation Education Policies and Procedures

Clinical Health Clearance

Students in all clinical courses must complete health clearance requirements as determined by College of Mount Saint Vincent, facility administrators and NYS mandated medical requirements for all health care facilities. The School of Nursing uses CastleBranch to facilitate the clearance process. Please refer to the separate CastleBranch handout for further instruction and detail on how to register for CastleBranch. No student is permitted to start clinical until all health clearance requirements are met. If at any time students’ CastleBranch accounts are not compliant students will immediately be withdrawn from the course.

Clearance documents include:

  • Annual yearly physical
  • Seasonal flu documentation
  • COVID vaccination competition and immunity in accordance with CDC guidelines
  • Two-step PPD testing (preferred over QuantiFERON)
  • Immunizations and titers:
    • Measles
    • Mumps
    • Rubella
    • Varicella
    • Hepatitis B and C
    • Tetanus (TDaP)
    • Influenza
  • CPR
  • Fit test
  • Color vision
  • Health insurance
  • Background check
  • Drug test

Refer to the CastleBranch handout that reviews all required medical documentation needed in depth.

Failure to comply with the medical clearance mandates will result in a student being administratively withdrawn from a course.

Falsified medical documents will result in immediate disciplinary action from the College and serves as grounds for dismissal from the program and College.

Students who fail the drug test will also be removed from the nursing program and referred to the Oxley Center for next steps in their academic options.

Uniform Policy

While in any clinical agency or simulation lab, students are expected to dress professionally. Professional dress means all students will wear clothing that is clean, pressed, conservative, and modest.

  • Students need to arrive at clinical in full nursing uniform:
    • White uniform top with College of Mount Saint Vincent patch and navy-blue
      uniform pants from Flynn & O’Hara. No other uniform substitutes will be
      accepted.
    • Black leather sneakers
    • College of Mount Saint Vincent student ID and facility ID
  • Students should come prepared with a stethoscope, pen light, and watch with a second hand. No “smart watches” permitted (i.e.: Apple Watch, Fitbit, etc.).
  • All tattoos must be covered and facial piercings removed
  • Jewelry is limited to one plain wedding band and one set of stud earrings
  • Bracelets, necklaces, hoops or dangling earrings are not allowed
  • Long hair past the shoulders should be tied up neatly in a ponytail or bun
  • Facial hair is to be neat, trimmed, and cleaned
  • No hair scarves or covers are permitted except in the case of religious obligations
  • No artificial nails or long nails. Nails must be clean, cut short, without any nail polish.
  • Minimal makeup (no excessive eyelashes, contour, bright colored makeup, etc.)

Students who do not follow the uniform policy will be dismissed from clinical for the day, which will result in an unexcused absence.

Identification

The following identification must be worn and clearly visible in every clinical setting:
1. CMSV student ID should be worn on your nursing uniform.
2. An institutional ID badge should be worn in any facility that requires and provides one.

Clinical Attendance

Students are required to be present, prepared, and on time each clinical day. This includes all simulation and nursing skills sessions.

Any student that is ill and, as a result, cannot attend clinical that day must notify their clinical instructor and the Course Coordinator prior to the absence and submit appropriate medical documentation.

Students with an excused absence must complete a clinical make-up day. The make-up day will incur a student cost of $350 for 6 clinical hours and $700 for 12 clinical hours. The day and time of the make-up will be determined by the School of Nursing and may include weekends and evenings. All costs associated with the make-up session are solely the student’s responsibility.

Excused, documented medical absences that exceed 2 will result in a medical withdrawal from the course. A medical withdrawal will not count against the program course withdrawal policy. Any unexcused absence will result in failure of the course.

Inclement Weather

If the College is closed due to inclement weather, then the clinical day is cancelled. If the College has a delayed start, clinical has the same delayed start time. If the College is open but it is unsafe for the instructor and students to travel to the site, then the instructor will notify students directly.

Cell Phone Policy

Cell phones must be off and put away at all times during the clinical day. There is a zero tolerance policy for cell phone usage during clinical. Violators will face disciplinary action, which may result in failure of the course and permanent suspension of clinical privileges by the facility.

Social Media Policy

Students are not permitted to post anything pertaining to clinical and the facility on any social media platform. Any reference to any experience at a clinical agency is a violation of patience privacy and federal law. Violators of this policy will face disciplinary action, which may result in failure of the course and dismissed from the program.

Appropriate Behavior

Any unsafe or unprofessional behavior must be communicated to the clinical instructor and Course Coordinator immediately.

Unsafe and unprofessional behavior includes, but is not limited to:
1. Performing activities beyond the scope of preparation and ability
2. Ignoring instructor and staff advice regarding client care
3. Refusing a patient care assignment
4. Leaving clinical unit without notifying the instructor
5. Failure to report significant observations to the appropriate staff and instructor
6. Failure to prepare adequately and appropriately for clinical sessions
7. Failure to establish and maintain appropriate communication and interaction with staff/faculty at clinical site and the College
8. Cell phone usage
9. Posting on social media
10. Insubordination
11. Uncivil behavior

Clinical Registration, Placements, and Onboarding Process

Students can be placed at any of the facilities with whom the program has a clinical contract.
Students may have to travel in excess of 30 miles of the College campus to fulfill the clinical portion of their education. Students are not/will not be placed according to their area of residence or means of transportation. Students are responsible for travel, gas, and any parking fees. Clinical placements are nonnegotiable.

Students must be available for every day that clinical is planned on their block schedule and for the entire day. Religious obligations will be honored to the best of the ability of the clinical team and must be communicated to the clinical team one semester in advance during the registration period. Students are not permitted to leave clinical early for evening classes.

Absolutely no exceptions will be made.

When clinical placements are finalized, they will be posted via NURSCENTRAL on Canvas. Separate onboarding emails will be sent to students by the clinical coordinators in regards to their specific placement. It is the sole responsibility of the student to review and complete all necessary facility onboarding paperwork and assignments on time. Failure of the student to comply accordingly will result in forfeiture of placement and a new placement will not be secured.

Simulation Success Day and Clinical Skills

Simulation Success Day and Clinical Skills education are clinical days. All policies that relate to clinical education pertain to Simulation and Clinical Skills (for Simulation and Clinical Skills attendance policy, please see page 21: “Clinical Attendance”). Simulation and Clinical Skills sessions will be outlined in the course syllabus.

Preparation:

  • All students are required to attend in proper clinical attire, a stethoscope, and a watch with a second hand for their simulation session and complete all prep work as directed by the Simulation team.
  • Students should arrive at least 5 minutes before their scheduled session in order to avoid delays in the simulation scenario start time.
  • Students will be considered absent (unexcused) if they arrive more than 10 minutes late for the scheduled session.
  • Students that are not prepared for Simulation Success Day as outlined above are considered unprepared and will be asked to reschedule.

Participant Guidelines:

  • Each session requires a minimum of 2 participants in order to accomplish the simulation’s objectives. Students may be asked to reschedule if they are the only person signed up for a session.
  • Each session also has a maximum of participants allowed. Students should not schedule themselves for a session that has already been filled.
  • If a student signs up for a session that is already filled, they will be removed from the session will be required to reschedule.

Maintaining Integrity:

In order to maintain the integrity of the simulation scenario, students should not discuss details with other students outside of the simulation session.

  • Students are expected to behave in a courteous and respectful manner towards their peers.
  • The simulation lab is a no-judgement zone and students should be allowed to make mistakes without fear of ridicule by their peers.

Cancellations:

  • Last minute cancellations are prohibited as it interferes with the structure of the scenario.
  • If a student is unable to attend Simulation Success Day due to an emergency, they must contact the Simulation Faculty and their course instructor immediately.
  • Students who do not complete their mandatory simulation session by the end of the semester as a result of an approved excused absence will receive an IP (In Progress) in the relevant course until it is successfully completed.

Clinical Skills

In addition to Simulation Success Day, students are mandated to successfully complete additional clinical skills known as “modules.” Students will complete various modules on campus throughout the duration of the course. Students are responsible for completing all modules as indicated in the course syllabus.