BSN Current Students

Students are expected to attend each assigned lecture, seminar, clinical and campus laboratory experience. Students should review Undergraduate Student Policies, for university policies on pregnancy and the only exception to attendance for religious observations.

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. In the case of university closure/delay and/or cancellation or delay of clinical/sim, Course Coordinators will oversee and communicate any necessary flex days/time that will be utilized.

All missed clinical days and incidents of tardiness are considered occurrences. Two occurrences of any type will lead to a 10% clinical course grade reduction. A third occurrence of any type will lead to an additional 20% clinical course grade reduction; and ultimately a course failure. Listed below are the consequences of occurrences during the clinical course.

Absence Occurrence

• First occurrence = documentation of occurrence, verbal warning, clinical make-up required, points reflected on Clinical Performance Evaluation Tool (CPET) and Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument (C-CEI), if applicable.
• 2nd occurrence= documentation of significant incident, points reflected on CPET, C-CEI and 10% reduction in possible course grade of 100% (i.e. course grade of 94% would become 84%). This will result in the reduction of one letter grade.
• 3rd occurrence= documentation of significant incident, points reflected on CPET, C-CEI and an additional 20% reduction in possible course grade (in addition to the 10% reduction documented on 2nd occurrence).
• More than two absences will result in course failure.
• Any no show, no call occurrence will result in documentation of a significant incident.

Tardy Occurrence

• First occurrence = documentation of occurrence, verbal warning and points reflected on Clinical Performance Evaluation Tool (CPET) and Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument (C-CEI).
• 2nd occurrence= documentation of significant incident, points reflected on CPET, C-CEI and 10% reduction in possible course grade of 100% (i.e. course grade of 94% would become 84%). This will result in the reduction of one letter grade.
• 3rd occurrence= documentation of significant incident, points reflected on CPET, C-CEI and an additional 20% reduction in possible course grade (in addition to the 10% reduction documented on 2nd occurrence).
• More than two tardy occurrences will result in course failure.

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
   1. If a medical emergency arises:
      1. Direct someone to call 911
      2. Render first aid/CPR if properly trained
2. In case of Medical Emergency in the Clinical setting
   1. If a medical emergency arises:
      1. Follow clinical agency policy and procedure
3. Medical Non-emergency illness or injury occurs in the Classroom, Clinical or Laboratory Settings
   1. If a medical non-emergency condition arises in the classroom, clinical or laboratory settings:
      1. Students are responsible for immediately reporting nonemergency medical illnesses or injuries during class, laboratory or clinical time to faculty.
      2. 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.
   2. The student will be allowed to continue with learning activities if the:
      1. illness is not contagious to others.
      2. injury/illness is self-identified by the student as minor and does not require immediate medical attention.
      3. illness or injury does not disrupt learning activities for student or others.
   3. The student will be released from learning activities if the:
      1. illness has the potential of being contagious to others.
      2. illness or injury requires professional health care.
      3. 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 90 miles one-way (from campus) 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.
• Clinical start and end times may vary by 15 minutes based on clinical agency requirements. Students must refer to the course syllabus for designated start and end times. 
• 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 including, but not limited to, proof of CPR certification, drug screening results, 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.
• Students are expected to check their Miami email regularly (weekly at a minimum), including over breaks, for information regarding clinical, including placement, possible schedule changes, and any onboarding requirements before the start of clinical. 
• Clinical agencies may charge a fee to participate in clinicals within their network. The student must pay the fee prior to beginning clinical. 
• Students are required to return all agency badges. If not returned the student is responsible for the fee established by the agency. Non-payment of this fee may result in administrative removal from registered nursing courses. For successful completion of clinical courses, students must return their agency badge.

1. A student who withdraws from the BSN program for personal or academic reasons must meet the following criteria to be considered for readmission:
   1. Submit a petition for readmission to the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee
   2. Achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
   3. Submit proof of current health insurance, annual physical exam, CPR renewal, TB testing, required immunizations, drug screening, and fingerprints/criminal background checks by the due date set by the department
   4. If withdrawal was for medical reasons, submit a new “Student Medical History” form and “Return to Clinical/Medical Release” form
   5. Follow all policies of the student handbook for the year of readmission
   6. Any other faculty recommendations indicated on the withdrawal form
2. A returning student must meet the nursing requirements in effect at the time of readmission.
3. A student who has not been enrolled at Miami for a semester or more will need to re-activate their enrollment through the “Returning Former Student” admission process. This re-enrollment must be completed before a student can register for classes.
4. A returning student who has previously been enrolled as a degree-seeking student at any Miami campus will need to complete the Re-Enrollment Application. This application must be submitted 30 days prior to the start of the semester.
5. All nursing program required courses taken more than 10 years prior to readmission must be repeated.

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Progression to the sophomore year of the nursing program is contingent upon:
   1. Cumulative GPA of 2.7 or greater
   2. Completion of all year one nursing program required courses with a grade of C or better.
4. In addition to year-by-year progression requirements, there are semester-by-semester requirements since the content is progressive in nature. 
5. Students must maintain a cumulative 2.0 grade point average while enrolled in the nursing program. If grade point average drops to less than 2.0, the student will be dismissed from the nursing program.
6. Nursing Program Required Courses include BIO 171, BIO 172, MBI 111/123, CHM 131, BIO 325, PSY 111, and all NSG designated courses
7. A grade of “C” or better must be attained in all nursing program required courses (nursing and non-nursing).
   1. A grade of “C” is acceptable for progression.
   2. A grade of “C-” or lower in one nursing program required course is considered a course failure.
   3. In all nursing courses there is no rounding of grades .
   4. With a grade of “C-” or lower in one nursing program required course, the student must meet with the Chief Departmental Advisor regarding progression in the program.
   5. Students may use the Miami University Course Repeat policy to improve their GPA. The University Course Repeat Policy does not dismiss the previous failing grade(s) (“C-” or lower) in courses listed as nursing program required courses.
   6. Students who withdraw from a nursing program required course with a grade of “C-” or lower are recognized as having one course failure in the nursing program.
   7. All nursing program required courses must be taken for a letter grade; these courses may not be taken with a credit/no credit status (PASS/FAIL).
   8. Even if a course is repeated and a passing grade is achieved, the first instance of a grade below "C" counts as an instance of a course failure for progression purposes.
   9. For application/admission/readmission, if a nursing program required a course in which the student received a C- or lower was taken greater than 10 years prior, the previous grade will no longer count as a failure once the course has been repeated successfully.
   10. Undergraduate nursing students who have completed nursing program-required courses for college credit while in high school (i.e. CCP or ECA) must have earned a grade of “C” or better to meet nursing program requirements. If a student earned below a “C” in such a course, the course must be repeated. However, the original course grade will not be counted as a course failure for the purposes of nursing program progression or dismissal policies.
   11. One grade below "C" in any program requirement could delay graduation by a full year.
8. If a student receives below a “C” in two nursing program required courses (nursing or non-nursing) that student will be dismissed from the nursing program and must meet with the Chief Departmental Advisor.
   1. A grade of “C-” is not acceptable for progression.
9. Testing Courses: Courses categorized by the nursing department as testing courses have specific requirements for course grades as follows.
   1. For all course tests combined, the student must achieve a passing grade (73% or greater) on the average score for all course tests.
   2. Grades for non-test methods of evaluation (which may include participation, prep work, papers, etc.) will be factored into the final course grade only if the student has passed the test portion with an average grade of 73% or higher.
   3. The syllabus will identify which methods of evaluation are considered tests and which methods of evaluation are considered non-test.
   4. This policy applies to the following testing courses: NSG 261, 262, 349, 351, 353, 361, 363, 451 and 463.
10. In the event of a change in medical or psychological status during the semester, it is highly recommended to seek guidance from the Chief Departmental Advisor to consider the possibility of a medical withdrawal process.
11. Scheduling of courses:
    1. It is the student's responsibility to schedule and successfully complete the following nursing program required courses in the timeline designated by their curriculum guide. These non-nursing courses and all nursing courses (NSG) require a “C” or better to pass the course and progress in the nursing program.
       Year One Nursing Program Required Courses:
       CHM 131 (or CHM 141/144 equivalent), MBI 111/123, BIO 171 and BIO 172
       
       Year Two Nursing Program Required Courses:
       BIO 325, PSY 111
    2. BSN nursing students are required to progress through the nursing curriculum in an uninterrupted schedule.
    3. The University’s Course Repeat Policy does not apply to the nursing program required courses once a student is admitted to the nursing program, as it would make it impossible to progress in an uninterrupted schedule.
    4. If a student fails a course/clinical, but passes the corresponding co-requisite course, the departmental policy is that the student retakes the co-requisite course/clinical while retaking the previously failed course.
12. Students wishing to alter their curricular progression must submit a letter of petition to the Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee for consideration. In consultation with the Chief Departmental Advisor, the committee will review petitions on a case-by-case basis.
    1. Petitions for changes in curricular progression are submitted by students through consultation with the Chief Departmental Advisor.
    2. Petitions for changes in curricular progression are reviewed by the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee to ensure compliance with progression policies.
13. Students are responsible for meeting all graduation requirements. It is important that students check their DAR each semester to be sure they are on track to complete both nursing program required courses and Miami Plan requirements. Students are advised to schedule an appointment with their nursing advisor once per semester.
14. Withdrawal from the BSN nursing program or “NSG” titled course
    1. Any student withdrawing from an “NSG” titled course or the entire nursing program is required to schedule a meeting with the Chief Departmental Advisor (CDA) to complete the “Withdrawal of Students from BSN Program” form and discuss potential progression.
    2. If the student does not schedule a meeting with the Chief Departmental Advisor, then the CDA will complete the withdrawal form, enter the form into the student’s file, and send a copy to the student.
    3. If a student is not passing a “NSG” titled course at the time of withdrawal, it will count as a course failure.
15. While students have a right to withdraw from courses or to withdraw from the University, students should be aware that they will be required to reapply to the nursing program if seeking readmission.
16. Readmission decisions will be made by the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee. It is the student’s responsibility to submit a letter of petition to the committee for consideration of readmission and potential progression. Readmission is not guaranteed.