BSN Current Students

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.

The Department of Nursing at Miami University strives to ensure that each student has excellent clinical learning experiences. This becomes a challenging goal given today’s complex and competitive health care environment where clinical facilities must meet the needs of learners from a growing number of educational units. Therefore, each semester many factors will impact the locations, dates, and times of clinical course offerings. A few of those factors include availability of faculty, availability of locations/units within a location, and numbers of students.

In order to provide each student with the required learning opportunities, all students must remain flexible and be prepared for clinical placement in a variety of settings, at a variety of times. This preparation must entail the following:

• Plans for transportation independently on clinical days to facilities;
• Plans surrounding clinical travel that include the ability to travel up to 1 1/2 hours one-way to a clinical facility;
• Flexibility to accommodate changes in clinical scheduling, even last minute changes;
• Ability to be at a clinical agency on a variety of days, times of day, evenings or nights, and possible weekends, especially in NSG 464;
• Willingness to adjust times/days of support or elective courses in order to attend assigned nursing classes.
• All of our clinical agencies require us to have on file for each student certain medical information/documentation, proof of CPR certification, insurances, and criminal record checks. If these documents are not on file with the Department of Nursing by the required deadline, the student is NOT permitted to attend Clinical, and is considered absent without excuse.

The Department of Nursing reserves the right to adjust clinical schedules when necessary.

• A student who withdraws from the traditional BSN program for personal or academic reasons must meet the following criteria to be considered for readmission:
  • Complete an exit interview with designated member of the Nursing Department
  • Complete the form: “Withdraw of Student from BSN Program”
  • Apply in writing for readmission to the Nursing Program by published deadlines (February 1st for Fall semester consideration; October 1st for Spring semester consideration)
  • Achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0
  • Submit proof of current liability and health insurance, CPR renewal, TB testing, required immunizations, and fingerprints/criminal background check by due date.
  • If withdraw is for medical reasons, you must submit a new Health Physical form and Return to Clinical/Medical Release form.
  • Follow all policies of the student handbook for the year of readmission
  • Traditional BSN students waiting to re-enter the nursing program may take the following courses early if they wish: NSG 343, 349, 365, and a nursing elective.
  • If a student fails a clinical, but passes the corresponding theory course, the student is encouraged to audit the theory course while retaking the clinical course.
  • Any other Faculty recommendations indicated on withdraw form.
• A returning student must meet the nursing requirements in effect at the time of re-admission.
• A student who has not been enrolled at Miami for a semester or more will need to re-activate his or her enrollment through the “Re-Enrollment” admission process. 

Health, Guidance and Counseling Services

For personal illness, physical or psychosocial, students are encouraged to seek care at the health care provider of their choice. Hamilton and Middletown campuses have counselors available who address both academic issues and personal issues and have resources external to the University for referrals. Appointments may be made with the campus counselors by calling the Office of Counseling Services.

Disability Services

Students with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation.  Office of Disability Services (ODS) registration should be completed prior to the provision of accommodations.  Please contact the Office of Disability Services to request an intake appointment to complete registration and request accommodations.

Students who have completed ODS registration are encouraged to meet with faculty during week 1 of class to discuss accommodation plans for the course.

• Students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average while enrolled in the nursing program.
• A grade of "C" or better must be attained in all required (nursing and non-nursing) courses for the program. A grade of "C" is acceptable for progression. A grade of "C-" in nursing or required non-nursing courses is not acceptable. All required courses must be taken for a letter grade, required courses may not be taken with a credit/no credit status.
• If a student receives below a "C" in two required (nursing or non-nursing) courses (i.e., two different nursing courses, or failing the same course twice), that student cannot continue in their respective Nursing program. A grade of "C-" is not acceptable for progression. 
• In circumstances of medical withdrawal, the student is to contact the Nursing Dept. Chairperson and Student Services.
• Scheduling of courses:
  • It is the student's responsibility to satisfy the required pre- and co-requisites indicated in the course description and based on the curriculum plan.
  • Traditional BSN nursing students are required to progress through the nursing curriculum in an uninterrupted schedule.
  • The University’s Course Repeat Policy does not apply to the required nursing curriculum once a student is admitted to the nursing program, as it would make it impossible to progress in an uninterrupted schedule.
• Students are responsible for meeting all graduation requirements. It is important that students check their DAR each semester to be sure that they are on track to complete both nursing and non-nursing course requirements. Students are advised to schedule an appointment through the department administrative support staff to meet with a nursing advisor. Meeting with a nursing advisor is encouraged once per semester.
• Alterations in progression policies will be considered only by written petition to the Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee.
• Withdrawal from the traditional BSN nursing program/course:
  • A student who withdraws from the nursing program for any reason is required to meet with the Department Chair or designee to discuss continued progression in the program.
  • "Withdrawal of Students from BSN Program" form will be completed.
  • A student withdrawal from a required nursing course (but not the entire program) is encouraged to meet with a Nursing faculty member regarding progression.
• Miami Plan requirements for returning Miami University students: If no college work has been completed at Miami for 10 years, the student will complete the Miami Plan education requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment. An exception to this would be if the student had already completed 75% of the credits for the previous liberal education plan.
• High School Pre-Admission Requirements for students: Students who have not met Miami University pre-admission (High School) requirements may need additional courses in foreign language and math. See the Miami Bulletin under "High School Preparation". A DAR will indicate those courses if needed.