Students are expected to attend each assigned lecture, seminar, clinical and campus laboratory experience. Students should review Undergraduate Student Policies, on exceptions to attendance for religious observances.

Clinical attendance – Clinical and lab hours are mandatory; hours of planned and delivered hours for each course are submitted to the Ohio Board of Nursing. Clinical and laboratory absences must be made up to meet course by course expectations. If circumstances preclude clinical attendance, the student is required to personally speak with their clinical instructor by telephone prior to the clinical experience. Sending a text message to faculty is not acceptable. Following Miami University Policy, onsite clinical make-ups will not be required for University cancellations (i.e.: inclement weather). All other missed clinical hours are required to be made-up.

All missed clinical days and incidents of tardiness are considered occurrences. Listed below are the consequences of occurrences during the clinical course.

• First occurrence = documentation of occurrence, verbal warning and points reflected on CPET.
• Any additional occurrences = documentation of significant incident, points reflected on CPET and 10% reduction in overall clinical course grade per occurrence
• Two or more absences will result in course failure
• Any no show, no call occurrence will result in documentation of a significant incident

Emergent and Non-Emergent Situations – A student who is acutely ill may pose a significant risk to themselves or to others in the clinical unit and classroom. Students who are acutely ill should refrain from attending class, clinical and laboratory experiences. Absences, even for illness, may result in a student's inability to meet course learning objectives and pass a course.

Clinical experiences provide students with opportunities to apply the art and science of nursing with clients and families, and are necessary to fulfill the objectives of the course. Students must make arrangements with clinical faculty to make up clinical absences. Faculty has the right to change/alter the clinical or lab experience for educational effectiveness.

1. In case of Medical Emergency in the Classroom or Laboratory Setting
   • If a medical emergency arises:
     • Direct someone to call 911
     • Render first aid/CPR if properly trained
2. In case of Medical Emergency in the Clinical setting
   • If a medical emergency arises:
     • Follow clinical agency policy and procedure
3. Medical Non-emergency illness or injury occurs in the Classroom, Clinical or Laboratory Settings
   • If a medical non-emergency condition arises in the classroom, clinical or laboratory settings:
     • Students are responsible for immediately reporting nonemergency medical illnesses or injuries during class, laboratory or clinical time to faculty.
     • Within the clinical setting the instructor or lab supervisor will determine in accordance with clinical agency policy if the student may continue with learning activities.
   • The student will be allowed to continue with learning activities if the:
     • illness is not contagious to others
     • injury/illness is self-identified by the student as minor and does not require immediate medical attention
     • illness or injury does not disrupt learning activities for student or others
   • The student will be released from learning activities if the:
     • illness has the potential of being contagious to others
     • illness or injury requires professional health care
     • illness or injury disrupts learning activities for self or others 

When the student is released from class, laboratory or clinical, it is counted as an absence according to the Attendance Policy. The instructor or lab supervisor will recommend a visit to the student’s health care provider. The student will assume financial responsibility for his or her own health care needs. The student is responsible for arranging their own transportation from the clinical setting. As soon as possible, the student should contact the faculty or lab instructor regarding how to make-up the required clinical or laboratory time.

Documentation of Health Status for Participation in Clinical Experiences

Students who have experienced any change in their health status such as illness, surgery, accident, or injury that affects their physical or mental ability are required to notify faculty and submit the "Permission to Return to Clinical Form" to the student's health care provider.  This is also required if this illness, surgery, accident, or injury has occurred during the summer.  The health care provider must verify that the student has the functional abilities to safely perform nursing care. (See Department of Nursing administrative support staff to obtain a form.) This completed form must be on file in the Department of Nursing before the student’s next clinical experience. The Department of Nursing will follow specific clinical agency requirements.