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Miami University

Miami University Nursing seal

Department of Nursing

Student Handbook

Miami University Hamilton
1601 University Blvd.
Room 165 University Hall
Hamilton, OH 45011
(513) 785-7752

Miami University Oxford
421 S. Campus Ave.
2101 Clinical Health Science Building
Oxford, OH 45056
(513) 529-0090

Email: nsginfo@MiamiOH.edu

Revised Spring 2023

Introduction

The Department of Nursing Student Handbook is a guide to the policies and procedures for progression through the nursing program. Updates to the handbook will be provided to students electronically, should they occur. This handbook will be used in conjunction with the Miami University Student Guidebook and the   Miami University Policy Library. In addition to the Miami University Department of Nursing Student Handbook, Undergraduate Student Policies shall be enforced. Miami University Publications and Policies are available at   http://miamioh.edu/about-miami/pubs-policies/.

We welcome you to the nursing program and wish you much success in your educational endeavor.

Mission Statement

Empowering tomorrow’s nurse leaders to become exceptional, caring professionals.

Vision Statement

As a program of choice, Miami University’s Department of Nursing will provide a student-centered vibrant, diverse, and inclusive learning environment driven by our department’s values.

Values

Leadership · Integrity · Excellence · Caring · Collaboration

University Statement Asserting Respect for Human Diversity

We view diversity holistically, understanding that the definition is constantly evolving. Our definition of diversity includes but is not limited to race, ethnicity, color, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, class, religion, disability, age, military status, visa status, economic status, geographic location, and language/linguistic ability. Diverse and well-reasoned ideas, approaches, and experiences are also essential parts of inclusion and equity.

Miami University is committed to and fully embraces the philosophy and belief that a diverse academic community is among an institution's greatest strengths. As decades of research and experience have shown, every unit and individual on-campus benefits from diversity when there is an environment where people from a wide variety of backgrounds learn from one another, share ideas, and work collaboratively to ask and solve questions. This is especially important given Miami's commitment to excellence in undergraduate teaching and learning. A diverse and inclusive campus enhances the living, learning, and working environment for every student, staff, and faculty member. Together, these benefits help Miami achieve its special mission as a public institution in Ohio, educating students across the state and preparing them to be leaders in a variety of fields who are ready for the demands of the 21st-century workforce. We , therefore, aspire to attract and retain a broadly diverse group of faculty, staff, and students.

Miami University’s complete Diversity and Inclusion Statement can be found at:   https://www.miamioh.edu/diversity-inclusion/about/statement/index.html

Philosophy

The Department of Nursing supports the University mission to serve society and further knowledge by providing high quality nursing education. As a department, faculty are committed to providing and promoting opportunities for students to continue their formal education. The nursing faculty’s commitment to nursing education is based upon beliefs about humanity, the environment, health, teaching-learning, and nursing.

HUMANITY is composed of individuals who are living systems with biopsychosocial spiritual attributes. Human beings are unique and ever-changing as they progress through stages of growth and development. Individuals’ behavior patterns and ability to function may be affected by many variables. Some behaviors are predictable, based on developmental social and biological norms, while others are specific to the individual. Human beings are accountable for their own actions and decisions. An individual can be part of a family, group, or community system. Culture refers to the values, beliefs, norms, and practices of these systems. Culturally diverse nursing care appreciates the variability in nursing approaches needed to provide culturally competent care.

The  ENVIRONMENT consists of an individual’s internal and external systems, which are in constant interaction. The internal system is composed of the person’s psychological, spiritual, and biological components, while the external system is composed of other individuals, families, groups, and communities as well as the circumstances and physical conditions surrounding the individual.

HEALTH is a process of balancing internal and external systems through the optimal use of available resources to achieve one’s maximum potential. Attainment of these maximum potential results is optimal health whereas imbalance of internal and external systems results in illness. Care that optimizes health is the right of all individuals, families, and communities and is the shared responsibility of health professionals and clients.

TEACHING-LEARNING is a form of scholarship that includes pedagogical and role modeling activities that serve to communicate the teacher’s knowledge effectively to students. Effective teachings empower learners to think critically, apply clinical decision making to clinical situations, become competent, and have a desire for lifelong learning. Reflecting the belief that students learn differently, good teaching incorporates a variety of pedagogical activities and provides flexibility to accommodate different learning styles. While learning sometimes involves careful sequencing of learning that directly builds on prior content, students also learn through experiences that help them relate new knowledge into their professional and clinical repertoire. In a rapidly changing world such as health care, where content becomes quickly outdated, learning experiences must develop students’ abilities to be self-directed, gather and analyze information, and integrate knowledge in the pursuit of answers or creative solutions to intellectual and clinical problems. Consistent with the philosophy of Miami University, the scholarship of teaching is of utmost importance in the Department of Nursing, followed by scholarly activities related to discovery and research, and those scholarly activities that build bridges between theory and practice, such as involvement in clinical practice and professional service linkages to the community.

NURSING integrates biological principles, research, theories of behavior, caring, and nursing, to assist individuals, families, and communities to reach optimal health. Nursing is an art and a science. The nursing process, a method of inquiry and decision making, is used by nurses to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care. Therapeutic communication skills are essential components to the art of nursing which also includes the attitude and approach in which care is delivered. Through genuine caring and sensitivity to the individual’s uniqueness in a culturally diverse society, the nurse assists individuals, families, aggregates, and communities throughout the lifespan. The goal is to promote, maintain, and/or restore health to the client.

NURSING PRACTICE is defined as the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems. There are three roles used by nurses to practice nursing. They include: provider of care, manager of care, and member of the discipline of nursing.

The roles of the baccalaureate level nurse include the following:

Provider of care: The graduate systematically assesses and interprets data about the health and illness of individuals, families and communities; designs systems of care to promote and maintain the health of individuals, families and communities; uses effective communication skills for the purpose of impacting systems; evaluates the nursing care delivery system and promotes goal-directed change to meet client needs; and integrates basic knowledge of nursing theory, nursing research, and clinical practice to maximize the contribution of nursing to improve health.

Manager of care: The graduate uses scientific principles to prioritize, plan, and organize the delivery of comprehensive nursing care; uses time and resources effectively and efficiently; delegates aspects of care to other nursing personnel, consistent with their level of education and expertise; assures adherence to ethical and legal standards; initiates and monitors referrals to appropriate departments and agencies to provide services and promote continuity of care; and assumes a leadership role in health care management to improve client care.

Member of the discipline of nursing: The graduate acts as a healthcare advocate; promotes collegiality and collectivity among nurses; participates in efforts to address social trends and issues that have implications for healthcare; uses interdisciplinary resources to protect and address ethical and legal concerns; applies theory and incorporates research findings into practice by consulting with nurse researchers regarding identified nursing problems; utilizes knowledge of health care policies and finance; uses resources for continuous learning and self- improvement; promotes self-evaluation and peer review processes; provides leadership in organized professional activities; and promotes consumer awareness of nursing contributions to health promotion and health care delivery.

Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework consists of an overarching dimension comprised of theory-based practice, evidence-based practice, and holistic health promotion, which is depicted by the outer dotted circle. The concepts of nursing, health, environment, and client systems form the core of the conceptual framework, seen in the overlapping circles. The concepts define the Baccalaureate curriculums, and delineate the content and learning experiences within the programs. This framework is a conceptualization of the knowledge, attitudes, values, and skills perceived by the faculty as essential for nursing practice.

Nursing

Nurses use critical thinking, a purposeful process that enables the thinker to interpret nursing problems, clarify and analyze issues, make valid inferences, generate and assess solutions, analyze and evaluate arguments and monitor one’s own thinking. Using a framework of functional health patterns, nursing students assess individual variations of human responses to life transitions and actual or potential health problems. Foundation courses provide understanding of health, biophysiological, psychological, sociological, and cultural concepts. Nursing courses facilitate understanding of health, nursing care, and critical thinking through the nursing process. Nurses gather and analyze data, construct and discern relationships, and apply knowledge to improve individual health outcomes. The learning process requires students to understand contexts of nursing and health care that are inclusive of changes in health care delivery. While learning, they will engage with other learners and health care providers to provide nursing care sensitive to individual needs, use creative problem solving to improve health outcomes and make thoughtful decisions about nursing care.

Opportunities are provided for experiential and discovery learning which promote independent thinking and self-direction as well as shared learning. Nurses use effective communication, a process that involves the ability to transmit, receive, and respond to information through written, oral, nonverbal, and electronic means. The nurse interacts with individuals who are experiencing life transitions which impact health. The nurse assists individuals, alone or within the context of families or groups, with the acquisition of knowledge, understanding, skills, and resources necessary to manage their health. Nurses interact with individuals and demonstrate caring by knowing the meaning of events in the other person’s life, being present, doing for, facilitating passage through life transitions and the unfamiliar, and maintaining belief in one’s potential. In this interaction, a relationship is established which values each person and allows both the individual and the nurse to identify accountability and responsibility for actions. Nurses utilize therapeutic nursing interventions which are psychosocial and psychomotor strategies used throughout the lifespan to promote health, prevent disease, and respond to health concerns while practicing within the roles of advocate, facilitator, leader, and teacher.

Environment

Human lives are embedded within a sociocultural, physical and temporal environment that is integral to the experience of health. The environment also encompasses an individual’s psychological, spiritual and biological components. Nurses collaborate with clients to foster internal and external environments that support health. Nursing is practiced in a variety of settings. Nursing students must critically think about how a change in the environment alters the context of nursing care and affects health outcomes. Preschools, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, health centers, and community-based settings may be used as a learning environment. Baccalaureate nurses apply the nursing process to the community and healthcare delivery systems, through population focused care.

Health

Health is an abstract experience, a dynamic state of interaction between the individual and the internal and external environment that causes changes throughout the lifespan. Life transitions can have a positive or negative impact on health and health care delivery. Transitions are identified as developmental, situational, and health related. Developmental transitions are those changes encountered at different stages of life. Situational transitions are often related to life circumstances, societal changes, or environmental changes which affect one’s ability to function, such as loss of job, homelessness, or disasters. Health-illness transitions are changes that arise from individuals who are at risk for health problems, or are seeking assistance with existing acute or chronic health problems encountered in life. Nurses seek to understand the impact of life transitions on health and their meaning to the individual and use available resources to assist the client to achieve attainment of the client’s maximum potential or optimal health. Nurses apply theory and research to help the client achieve optimal health and seek to prevent disease and promote health through a variety of health promotion measures.

Client System

Individuals are living human systems that influence and are influenced by interaction with each other, by life transitions, and by the nature of socioeconomic, political, and environmental forces that impact health and health care delivery. Client systems have functional health patterns that are measurable components of individual health. Baccalaureate nurses view the individual client systems through a holistic perspective and collaborate with the clients to maximize health potential and also provide evidence-based care for the client systems of families, groups, and communities.

A complex Venn Diagram of Miami University Department of Nursing Conceptual Framework.  The outermost circle is marked with three areas: Theory based practice, Enhanced basic practice, and Holistic Health Promotion. Traveling inward are two merged circles that are the people involved.  the top circle is marked Advocate, Facilitator, Leader, Teacher. the bottom circle is labelled Families, Groups, Communities, & Delivery Systems.  At the center are three interconnected circles - Nursing (Provider, Manager, Member) and the words 'thinking, engaging, understanding context, reflection/analysis/action'; Environment (Socioeconomic, Political, Physical, Sociocultural, Temporal); and Client System (Human Physiological, Psychological Social, Spiritual response, Functional health patterns). Where Nursing and Environment overlap are the words 'Standards of Care Setting.' Where Environment and Client System overlap are the words 'Life Transition, Developmental, Situational, Health Illness.' Where Client System and Nursing overlap is the phrase 'Therapeutic relationship.'  Where all three overlap is the underlined word 'Health.'

A complex Venn Diagram of Miami University Department of Nursing Conceptual Framework. The outermost circle is marked with three areas: Theory based practice, Enhanced basic practice, and Holistic Health Promotion. Traveling inward are two merged circles that are the people involved. the top circle is marked Advocate, Facilitator, Leader, Teacher. the bottom circle is labelled Families, Groups, Communities, & Delivery Systems. At the center are three interconnected circles - Nursing (Provider, Manager, Member) and the words 'thinking, engaging, understanding context, reflection/analysis/action'; Environment (Socioeconomic, Political, Physical, Sociocultural, Temporal); and Client System (Human Physiological, Psychological Social, Spiritual response, Functional health patterns). Where Nursing and Environment overlap are the words 'Standards of Care Setting.' Where Environment and Client System overlap are the words 'Life Transition, Developmental, Situational, Health Illness.' Where Client System and Nursing overlap is the phrase 'Therapeutic relationship.' Where all three overlap is the underlined word 'Health.'

Purposes of Miami University Nursing Program

The purpose of the Miami University Nursing Program is to prepare a professional nurse who can implement the nursing process in a variety of settings in order to restore, maintain, and promote health and prevent disease in a multicultural society. The baccalaureate professional nurse is also prepared to utilize research, change, and leadership skills while being accountable to the client, community and self for actions and competencies within the scope of practice; in addition to assuming responsibility for continuing professional growth.

The Baccalaureate Nursing Program prepares a graduate who can function in many different healthcare settings and in various roles. The nursing courses utilize concepts and theories from the social and natural sciences, nursing, research, and leadership to assist clients (individuals, families and communities) in identifying and meeting health needs. The Baccalaureate Nursing Program also provides a foundation for graduate education.

BSN Program Outcomes

The professional nurse graduate of the Baccalaureate Program will be able to:

  1. Synthesize knowledge from liberal education, the sciences, and nursing to address the diverse health needs of individuals, families and communities across the lifespan.
  2. Integrate nursing research, evidence-based practice and quality improvement principles in the provision of patient-centered and population-focused care.
  3. Apply knowledge of health care policy, technology and information management in providing safe care within an evolving healthcare environment.
  4. Employ effective leadership and communication skills that promote interprofessional collaboration and mutually beneficial partnerships.
  5. Practice with accountability and professionalism to promote health, prevent disease, and nursing care across the continuum of healthcare environment

Transfer of Nursing Courses

Students may receive credit for nursing courses taken at an accredited baccalaureate nursing program. Such courses must have a grade of “C” or higher and be comparable in content to courses required for the BSN at Miami. Students must submit a petition to the Nursing Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee requesting consideration of the course(s) for transfer. A copy of their course syllabi must accompany the petition. Decisions about the transfer of credit for nursing courses will be made on a case-by-case basis. The Department Chair and/or the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee will evaluate credit that may apply toward the BSN.

However, not all courses transferred will fulfill specific requirements for all nursing courses. When a transfer student has earned credit at a non-regionally accredited institution, the credit will be transferred only if approved by the Registrar in consultation with the Department Chair of Nursing.

Miami University requires that students must earn 30 credit hours from M.U. to receive a degree from Miami. Students should review   Undergraduate Student Policies   from Miami. (Refer to Academic Regulations: Transfer Credits & Graduation Requirements).

Students are required to submit an official transcript for all work passed or failed at all other colleges universities prior to or after enrolling at Miami.

It is considered a form of academic dishonesty not to declare these enrollments.

Military Credit

Credit for courses taken at U.S. military services schools will be given on the basis of the (ACE) American Council on Education publication, “Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services”. To receive transfer credit, you must submit a Joint Services transcript. Students entering the University fall 2012 or after will also be awarded for military training and experience. Nursing or health related courses will be evaluated on a case by case basis. In compliance with the Ohio Board of Nursing Code: 4723-5-12 and Miami University Military Credit policy, applicants with experience as a Military Medic may petition for course credit. This option applies to NSG 261 and NSG 262. To receive military credit for either of these courses, applicants must complete all tests relevant to each course and achieve an average grade of “C” or higher. Successful completion will earn course completion credit for each respective course.

Department of Nursing Grading Scale

The student must achieve a grade of “C” or better in each nursing program required course (nursing and non-nursing), including those taken prior to admission, to progress through the program. There is no rounding of any grades in any course.

Department of Nursing Grading Scale

  • 97-100 A+
  • 93-96 A
  • 90-92 A
  • 87-89 B+
  • 83-86 B
  • 80-82 B
  • 77-79 C+
  • 73-76 C
  • 70-72 C
  • 67-69 D+
  • 63-66 D
  • 60-62 D
  • 59 or less F

Study Abroad

The nursing department will make every effort to accommodate students requesting a semester abroad in their junior year. However, the department cannot guarantee that accommodations can be made for all student requests. Semester abroad in sophomore or senior year is not feasible unless students wish to delay graduation for an additional year. Early planning is essential for study abroad. Students interested in studying abroad during the fall or spring semester of junior year must meet with their advisor in the spring of their freshman year to discuss options and develop a written progression plan. Students who wish to proceed with semester-long study abroad must submit a petition for Curricular Change to the Nursing Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee and include the written progression plan. The modified progression plan may include courses taken across Miami campuses including Hamilton and Oxford. Study abroad courses taken during summer and winter terms do not require a petition.

Participation in University-sponsored Groups

Students who have required events related to university-sponsored groups must be proactive in notifying all necessary parties (faculty, leaders, coaches, etc). It is the student’s responsibility to appropriately plan for these activities with academic attendance and clinical performance remaining the priority. Nursing students MUST meet all clinical requirements per Ohio Board of Nursing.

Progression and Retention

  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 (Program Requirements by Year).
  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. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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 method 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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 require a “C” or better to pass the course and progress in the nursing program.
      Year One Nursing Program Required Courses: CHM 131, BIO 171, MBI 161 or MBI 111/123, 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. 
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Withdrawal from the BSN nursing program or required nursing course:
    1. Any student withdrawing from a single nursing course or the entire nursing program is required to schedule a meeting with the Chief
    2. Departmental Advisor (CDA) to complete the “Withdrawal of Students from BSN Program” form and to discuss potential progression. b. 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 course at the time of withdrawal, it will count as a course failure.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.

Graduation

  1. Students must apply for graduation according to dates indicated on their DAR. Students should apply for graduation by November 1 to notify the Registrar of your plan to graduate in the following May. Refer to information on your DAR and the Miami University’s “Applying for Graduation” website.
  2. A student must complete all required nursing courses, including electives, and all Miami Plan Liberal Education requirements
  3. A student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
  4. A student must earn a minimum of 124 credits for a Bachelor’s degree
  5. A student must have satisfied all Miami fees

BSN Student Readmission

  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.

Policy for Petitions to Nursing Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee

Petitions may be submitted to the Nursing Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Course credit for NSG 261 and NSG 262 based upon experience as a Military Medic in accordance with Ohio Board of Nursing Code: 4723-5-12 and Miami
  • University Military Credit policy Evaluation of potential transfer of nursing courses from another program
  • Curricular Change for students who wish to proceed with study abroad in
  • accordance with the Miami University Nursing Study Abroad policy Any alteration in curricular progression in consultation with the Chief
  • Departmental Advisor Request for readmission to the BSN program in accordance with the BSN Student Readmission policy. Readmission is not guaranteed
  • Change in progression as a result of a positive drug test result and related rehabilitation in accordance with the Department of Nursing Drug Testing Policy and Procedure. Progression is not guaranteed
  • Change of campus from Oxford to Regionals

Petitions may NOT be submitted to the Nursing Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee for:

  • Requests to extend deadlines or delay program or clinical requirements
  • Clinical placement requests
  • Grievance or request for change of grade

Petitions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis between Aug 1 and June 1. Petitions related to current/previous courses must be submitted within 2 weeks of the final grade posting.

Policy for Criminal Background Checks

The clinical agency affiliates of the Department of Nursing require a criminal record check be completed by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The first criminal record check for pre-licensure students will take place every year beginning in the summer prior to the sophomore level fall semester for students admitted to the BSN program. The criminal record check must be repeated each year in the summer prior to the following fall semester.

Students must understand that Criminal Records Checks may often take extended time to be processed and should plan to complete this requirement early in the summer.

Please note that this process may take over a month to complete so students must plan accordingly.

In the Event a Criminal Record Check is Positive for a Pre - nursing or Currently Enrolled Student, the following actions will take place based on the offense:

  1. In accordance with the Felony Preclusion Rule of the Ohio Revised Code, the Ohio Board of Nursing denies applicants the opportunity to be licensed as a registered nurse for the following criminal activities: aggravated murder, murder, voluntary manslaughter, felonious assault, kidnapping, rape, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, and aggravated arson. If at any point in time a nursing student has a positive criminal record check for any of these named offenses, they will be denied acceptance or dismissed from the program.
  2. In the event a criminal record check for a nursing student seeking to be licensed/take NCLEX is positive for ANY felony, ANY crime involving gross immorality or moral turpitude, ANY misdemeanor drug law violation, and ANY misdemeanor committed in the course of practice, the Ohio Board of Nursing would conduct an investigation and a hearing to determine a course of action. The result of the Board’s investigation may be either denial of licensure or licensure with a permanent and public notation of sanction. Therefore, a positive criminal record check for an incoming or continuing nursing student will be reviewed by the Department of Nursing and a decision made about whether the student may be admitted or must be dismissed from the program due to the inability to progress through clinical courses.

Students who have positive records are advised to seriously consider whether or not to enroll in the nursing program. Miami University has no opportunity to influence the Ohio Board of Nursing’s decision. The Ohio Board of Nursing is unable to give definitive answers regarding its ability to license an applicant prior to entry into or during participation in a nursing program.

Students with positive records are taking a chance that they may be denied licensure by the State of Ohio or any other nursing board even if they successfully complete the nursing program at Miami University.

In addition, despite admittance to Miami Nursing Program, each clinical agency reserves the right to make a final decision regarding acceptance and placement based on the student’s criminal background check. This may prohibit progression through clinical courses and lead to dismissal from the program.

Procedures

Information for students:

  1. Prospective students will be informed of this policy through the following methods
    1. Printed application materials;
    2. Admission letters; and
    3. Student Handbook, Department of Nursing
  2. Current students will be informed through the following methods
    1. Student Handbook, Department of Nursing;
    2. E-mail communication; and
    3. Discussions in the classroom.

Mechanism for conducting criminal record review:

  1. The Department of Nursing will facilitate the review by providing information to students, including fees, related to those vendors and state offices that conduct such a review.
  2. Each student is responsible to obtain the criminal record check and request that it be sent to the Department of Nursing by the due date. Each student will sign a waiver that the department may release all required information to appropriate individuals, institutions, and agencies providing clinical experiences.
  3. Any student whose criminal record check has not been received by the Department of Nursing prior to the start of a required clinical experience will not be permitted to begin said clinical experience. Missed clinical experiences may result in a lower clinical grade or dismissal from the program, according to the Department of Nursing’s Attendance Policy, as found in the department’s Student Handbook.

Type and scope of information to be obtained:

  1. The criminal record check will consist of local and national review of relevant records including county of residence criminal records, residence history, Social Security alert, nationwide sexual offender registry, nationwide healthcare fraud and abuse scan and US Patriot Act violations.

Fees and responsibility of payment

  1. Students are responsible to pay the fee for each criminal record check. Fees are paid to the agency conducting the criminal record check.

Review of criminal record check

  1. Departmental staff or their designees will receive and review all completed criminal record checks.
  2. Negative results (no criminal activity) will be kept in the student’s Department of Nursing electronic records file.
  3. Positive results will be given to the Department Chair to determine any action needed. (i.e.: consultation with any clinical agency personnel, etc.)
  4. Students will be notified by the Department Chair of any positive result and whether the student may continue in the original placement, be changed to a different placement, or is unable to be admitted, re-admitted, or to progress in the nursing program. Consideration will be given to the relationship between the conviction and the student’s role and responsibilities as a nursing student. Restitution and completion of court- mandated counseling or other requirements will be considered as well as any voluntary treatment verified through official records provided by the student.
  5. An official copy of the positive result and student notification will be placed in the student’s file in the department of Nursing.

Confidentiality

  1. A copy of the student’s criminal record results will be kept in the student’s electronic file with the Department of Nursing. The report will be held in the strictest confidence. Only those individuals who have a need to know related to the student’s enrollment and academic progress, e.g., course coordinator, clinical agency, etc. will have access to this information, except in the case of a positive result as addressed in item 4 c: review of positive criminal record result

Student Responsibilities Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is an ethical imperative for the discipline of Nursing. It is adhering to the standards of professional behavior. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in any form. Academic dishonesty is engaging or attempting to engage in any activity that compromises the academic integrity of the institution/nursing department or sabotages the educational process, including completion or assistance in the completion of an academic assignment. An academic assignment is defined as the submission or presentation of any student work for evaluation, grade or academic credit. Academic dishonesty comprises, but not limited to, the following acts.

  1. Cheating:
    1. Possessing or using in any way unauthorized, textbooks, notes, study aids, websites, electronic devices, cheat sheets or soliciting another student’s work during an assignment.
    2. Submitting the same assignment to fulfill requirements of two or more courses or a repeated course without approval of instructor.
    3. Providing answers, information (e.g. Posting of notes on the internet), materials to another student not authorized by the instructor or using own work to participate in completion of another student’s assignment.
  2. Plagiarism:
    1. Submitting material in part or completely, words/ideas or software/devices as one’s own work without accurate and appropriate citations.
  3. Fabrication:
    1. Falsification or manipulation of data, citation, information, grade on an academic assignment.
    2. Changing material on a graded assignment and/or requesting re-grading of a graded for that assignment.
  4. Unauthorized collaboration with:
    1. Working with another individual/s for an academic assignment without permission of instructor.
  5. Misrepresentation:
    1. Signing in another student or requesting another student to sign in for one’s presence or participation in a class/project.
    2. Adding another student’s name or signing one’s own name to a group which did not significantly contribute to that work.
  6. 6. Gaining an unfair advantage:
    1. Taking pictures or making copies of any academic materials without the permission of the instructor.
    2. Retaining or possessing academic assignment materials without permission of instructor.
    3. Not following the requests of the instructor by removing all personal items (cellphones, I-watches, smart devices, hats, purses etc.) from close proximity during test time.
    4. Asking questions during test time.
  7. Possession, distribution, photographing, or posting of any materials containing information about exam questions from the current semester or previous semester.
  8. The unauthorized possession, copying, distribution, sale, or other transfer of all or any part of an academic exercise, or the answers or solutions to an academic exercise, whether or not the exercise has been administered.
  9. Continuing to work on an academic exercise after the specified allotted time has elapsed.
  10. Bribing another person to obtain an academic exercise, including answers to questions of an unadministered academic exercise.
  11. Failing to adhere to standards of professional behavior established by a faculty member, academic program or college in conjunction with an academic course.

The Department of Nursing will comply with the standard and procedures for undergraduate academic integrity and academic dishonesty/misconduct as outlined in the Miami University Student Policy Library (rev July 2019). More information can be found at   http://miamioh.edu/policy-library/students/undergraduate/academic-regulations/academic- integrity.html

  1. First incident of Academic Dishonesty:
    1. A student may be dismissed from the nursing program in extraordinary circumstances, at the discretion of the Department Chair and in consultation with the AP&G Committee.
  2. Second incident of Academic Dishonesty:
    1. A student will be dismissed from the nursing program.

ANY ACADEMIC INTEGRITY ISSUE MAY BE GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL

Student Conduct

The Code of Student Conduct at Miami University is intended to foster and protect the central purpose the University: the Free and open exchange of ideas. This Code applies to Miami’s undergraduate and graduate students, and student organizations, including Greek organizations. Students are subject to this Code of Student Conduct beginning at summer orientation, during academic terms for which they are enrolled, during breaks between terms, during University holidays and vacations, and during periods of suspension. The Code of Student Conduct outlines the rights and responsibilities of students, behaviors prohibited on and off campus, possible sanctions, and the procedural rights of students and student organization.

The Code embraces several important values: the rights of free speech and peaceable assembly; the freedom of inquiry and the right to make constructive criticism; the central importance of honesty to this community; and the desire that all students participate on campus in an environment that respects differences of culture, gender, religion, race, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin and ability. Additionally, while Miami University does not routinely monitor social networking sites and other electronic media, students should be aware that behavior on such sites when reported to the University may be investigated and adjudicated.

If a student, student organization, fraternity or sorority breaks a law that also violates Miami University Standards of conduct, that student may be held accountable by both civil authorities and the University. The University may at its sole discretion elect to pursue disciplinary action against the student in the absence of criminal charges, at the same time as criminal charges are pending, even if the criminal charges involving the same incident are not complete, have been reduced or are dismissed.

Professional Behavior in the Classroom and Harassment Policy

The Nursing Department promotes an atmosphere of mutual respect among members of the academic community; therefore, incidents of harassment in the classroom will not be tolerated (Code of Conduct of MU Policy Library).

Respect for human diversity is an essential element of the Miami University community. Miami University strongly opposes and will not tolerate harassment or discrimination on the basis of sex (including sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking), race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, military status, or veteran status. This prohibition extends to harassment or discrimination, based on the protected status listed above, including the creation of an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working, educational, or living environment. This policy also prohibits discrimination in employment based on genetic information as prohibited by the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). (2020-2021 Miami University Student Guidebook, Page 4)

The rights of both faculty and students to an environment that is conducive to effective teaching-learning need to be protected within the Department of Nursing. Any act or conduct which threatens to interfere with or disrupt the educational process or other legitimate functions of the University or which endangers the health, safety, or property of any member of the Miami campus/community is deemed inappropriate. Your growth as a professional stem from the kinds of behavior you exhibit within both the classroom as well as the clinical settings. Therefore, students need to be mindful to avoid activities during class time that could be distracting for the teacher or student peers such as texting, use of cell phones, side-bar conversations, playing games on the computer, rudeness, etc. When distracting behaviors occur in the classroom, students may be asked to leave the classroom for the remainder of that class period. Students having non-professional, distracting or harassment behaviors in the classroom, lab, clinical or course-related setting may be issued a   Significant Incident.

Significant Incident

Students may receive a “Significant Incident” report for a single incident or an ongoing pattern of clinical, classroom, or program behavior that is below the expected standard. Disruptive behavior and/or behaviors that are below standards undermine the learning process both in clinical and in the classroom. Additional information about student conduct is found in the Miami University Undergraduate Student Policies at http://miamioh.edu/about-miami/pubs-policies/. Any violation of the Academic Integrity Policy, Student Conduct Policy, or Social Media Policy may result in a Significant Incident being issued.

A Significant Incident is:

Any incident that reflects unsatisfactory performance in providing nursing care, managing care, or as an accountable professional member of the discipline. This behavior may or may not have resulted in immediate harm to an individual but was identified by a faculty member as significant enough to warrant documentation and continued monitoring through a written behavioral modification plan. Examples of an accountable professional can include professional attitude, behavior, and being held accountable to program standards and deadlines.

One significant incident, or a pattern of significant incidents, may result in counseling of the student, remediation of the student’s skills in the Nursing Resource Center, grade reduction, failure of the course, loss of opportunity to request preferences for role transition placement, and/or dismissal from the program. Faculty involved in the situation/teaching of the course in which the problem is identified shall review the student’s overall performance and meet with the student to discuss the incident as well as recommendations for improvement or consequences of the behavior. Documentation of the incident will be reviewed with the student and then placed in the student’s file. The student will also receive a copy. The chair of the Department of Nursing will be notified of Significant Incidents and provide further documentation as needed.

Social Media Policy

Activities on social media sites, private or via group, in any setting whether it is in a clinical or community that are deemed to be defamatory, harassing, obscene, profane, unprofessional, or in violation of any law will not be tolerated and are subject to disciplinary action. Inappropriate social media behaviors are strictly prohibited and will be handled through hearings with the chair of the department and the chair of the Admission, Progression, and Graduation committee.

All students at Miami University are expected to follow the policies outlined in the Miami Student Handbook and to adhere to all applicable university privacy and confidentiality policies. This policy applies specifically to the Department of Nursing and nursing students’ responsibility to protect client privacy and confidentiality at all times through all means of communication which includes social media and other communication channels. Confidential and sensitive information is protected under FERPA and HIPAA. Students are required to follow the protection outlined in these laws and under the guidelines identified in this policy. This policy follows the guidelines outlined in the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s White Paper:   A Nurse’s Guide to Use of Social Media (2018).

Confidentiality and Privacy Policy Guidelines

  • Protect sensitive and confidential client and clinical information at all times. Do not share, disseminate or post information, images, and other information gained in the nurse-client relationship with anyone outside of the immediate clinical requirements. If there is a client care related need to share this information, consult with your clinical faculty member.
  • Pre and Post conferences are learning experiences in which students may share with each other, under the guidance of their faculty member, specific clinical issues. Personal information needs to be protected even in these learning circumstances. It is expected that confidentiality will be maintained during the clinical conference and further discussion in a public forum is not to occur.
  • Pre and Post conferences are learning experiences in which students may share with each other, under the guidance of their faculty member, specific clinical issues. Personal information needs to be protected even in these learning circumstances. It is expected that confidentiality will be maintained during the clinical conference and further discussion in a public forum is not to occur.
  • It is a violation of privacy to transmit by way of electronic media any client-related images. Do not take photos or videos of patients on personal devices, including cell phones.
  • If photographs are taken in the clinical setting/simulation as part of a clinical project, all required permission from the client and agency must be followed and the student must delete any electronic forms of these images. Posting or sharing of any images from a clinical or simulation experience online is not permitted. Students should avoid being in photographs taken by patients and family members while in the clinical setting.
  • Clinical experiences are not to be discussed in public places and via electronic media, even if patient and personal information are not identified; this includes and is not limited to social media sites, email, text, blogs, twitter, and class sites. Limiting access to postings through privacy settings will not ensure privacy.
  • Use of PDAs and other devices employed for social media requires permission from clinical faculty and must not violate privacy and confidentiality.
  • Students must follow the agency’s policy regarding cell phone use in the agency. Cell phones are to be silenced while in the clinical setting. Personal phone calls or texting are not permitted while in the client area.
  • Information concerning clients and their family, as well as, information regarding clinical rotations are not to be posted in any online forum.
  • Identification and discussion of health care institutions, staff, and community resources used in clinical or other nursing courses must be avoided. Any concerns about agencies used in nursing education must be shared with the department or an appropriate faculty member.
  • Defamatory and malicious comments about agencies, the community, and resources within the community are not to be posted in any online forum.
  • Private health care information cannot be removed from the health care setting via paper or electronic devices such as computers, flash drives, PDAs, etc.
  • If a student identifies themselves as a Miami University nursing student on their Facebook or other online site, they should include a disclaimer that the views expressed do not represent Miami University or the Department of Nursing.

Consequences

  • Patient privacy and confidentiality are ethical and legal obligations for nursing students. Students are legally responsible for following the rules outlined in HIPAA and FERPA and are subject to liability if they fail to adhere to these laws.
  • Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action through the Department of Nursing which may include failure in a course and/ or dismissal from the program.
  • Students are legally liable for online posts and commentary deemed harassment, racist, obscene, libelous, defamatory, proprietary, or which violate copyright.
  • Future employers may conduct web searches prior to offering a nursing position. Professionalism in online posts can result in a positive outcome for the nursing applicant.

Changes of Name, Address, and Phone

It is the student’s responsibility to notify both the Nursing Office, One Stop, and Nursing faculty with any name, address, or phone number changes within one week of the change.

Miami Email Policy   (Miami University Publications and Policies)

A Miami University-provided email address (UniqueID@miamioh.edu) is an official means of communication. Students are responsible for all University communication sent to their Miami email address. It is expected that students remain current with University-related communications, students are strongly encouraged to check their email at least two times a week. Students are advised to respond to all official University communications as directed in each communication (e.g., responding in person, by surface mail, or by email). Students should not assume an email response is a satisfactory substitution when directed otherwise. Furthermore, students should follow Miami University’s policy on Responsible Computing Policy Publications and Policies.

Students are subject to this email policy beginning at summer orientation, during academic terms for which they are enrolled, during breaks between terms, during University holidays and vacations, and during periods of suspension.

Students may forward their Miami email to another email address (e.g., @gmail or @hotmail). However, Miami University is not liable for any problems that may result from forwarding Miami email to another account (e.g., problems with spam filters, full mailboxes, or loss of attachments). Students should understand that forwarding their University email may have the unintended consequence of exposing their privacy information to third parties because Internet email is handled in a public fashion. Faculty members determine how they will use email in their classes. Faculty may wish to include their email expectations in the course syllabus. The distribution of mass communications is restricted to University departments and offices for University business. External requests for mass communications will not be honored.

As stated in the policy titled “Responsible Computing Policy”, “The University employs various measures to protect the security of its computing resources and users’ accounts. However, users should be aware that the University does not and cannot guarantee such security.” Furthermore, individuals are advised to exercise caution when sending sensitive or FERPA-protected student information via email. In addition, individuals are reminded that some University information is not appropriate for email communication.

Health and Safety Requirements

Initial Program Requirements

  • Hospitalization Insurance
  • TB Screening - Skin or Blood Test
    If positive skin test, then obtain blood test. If positive blood test, obtain chest x-ray. Submit all submit.
  • Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis (TDAP. Adacel) Immunization Proof *See below
  • Rubella Immunization Proof
  • Mumps Immunization
  • Rubeola Immunization Proof
  • Hepatitis Series (Completed by start of 2nd semester)
  • Chickenpox History, Titer, or Proof of Immunization
  • Seasonal Influenza, Vaccine by designated date
  • 10 Panel Urine Drug Testing
  • Physical Exam (indicating fit for duty and free from communicate diseases)
  • CPR Certification (See approved courses)
  • Criminal Background Checks (state and federal)

Recurring Program Requirements

  • Hospitalization Insurance
  • TB Screening - Skin or Blood Test
  • Seasonal Influenze Vaccine
  • CPR Certification
  • Criminal Background Check
  • 10 Panel Urine Drug Testing
  • Annual Physical Exam (Inducting fit for duty and free from communicable diseases)

While Miami University is no longer requiring the COVID 19 vaccine, our clinical agencies may require proof of vaccination or exemption for each student. If a student is unvaccinated they must contact the Clinical Placement Coordinator for the current exemption process of their assigned clinical agency. Each individual agency has the right to approve or deny an exemption request possibly affecting the student’s progression through the program

Our clinical agencies require us to have on file for each student certain medical information/documentation, proof of current CPR certification, insurances, drug screening, and criminal record check

If these documents are not on file electronically with the Department of Nursing by the required deadline, the student may be issued a Significant Incident and is NOT permitted to attend clinical or lab and may receive a grade deduction.

Requirements must be submitted by the designated due date.

*Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis: Choose one of the following options to fulfill the TDAP

Option 1: Previous primary vaccine series as a child (DTP or DTaP) & 1 dose of acellular pertussis (TDAP) as an adolescent or adult. TDAP is a one-time adult dose. It can be given at any interval after Tetanus-Diphtheria Vaccine. TDAP was not available prior to 9/2005. TD, and DTaP will not fulfill this requirement.

Option 2: Td Tetanus-Diphtheria immunization every 10 years following the adult cellular vaccine TDAP).

Program requirements are subject to change and are based on agency requirements. Your ability to participate in clinicals and successfully progress in the program depends upon your completion of all agency and program requirements.

Dress code for Clinical Experiences

All students must be professionally appearing and attired in the clinical setting. Dress / uniform requirements may change from course to course depending on the clinical agency policies for attire and appearance, for example: piercings, tattoos, artificial nails, etc. Faculty will inform the students as to the acceptable attire and professional appearance for each agency permits. Scrub caps must be black or red. Students will receive full details on the specific, approved uniform colors and styles and should not purchase uniforms until this time.

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance is provided by Miami University for students during their pre- licensure course assignments. This policy does not cover students if they are working for an organization.

Student Health

After acceptance into the pre-licensure program, students must present a Miami University Department of Nursing Medical History Form with physical examination results from a healthcare provider regarding health status. The Department of Nursing medical history form is included with the orientation materials, and must be completed and submitted electronically to the nursing department by the designated due date.

Students must comply with complete immunization requirements as set forth by the Department of Nursing and clinical agencies. Program requirements may change following publication of this handbook; students will be required to comply with the directives of the program.

CPR Certification

Students must successfully maintain CPR certification while enrolled in the Department of Nursing. The CPR course should be one of the following:

  • Basic Life Support for HealthCare Provider (BLS) by the American Red Cross
  • Basic Life Support(BLS Provider) by the American Heart Association
  • Basic Life Support (BLS - RQI Program) by the American Heart Association
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) by the American Safety and Health Institute

It is required that pre-licensure students show annual proof of CPR certification in the Health Care Provider level of CPR training. Students must submit their proof of CPR certification electronically by the designated due date. This proof will be either a scanned copy of the student’s CPR certification card or a signed form by an authorizing person (i.e., a staff development instructor from the hospital) indicating that the student successfully completed the applicable CPR certification program. This form is included in the new student orientation packet. The CPR requirement will be waived for those students holding a current CPR Instructor Certification.

Department of Nursing-Drug Testing Policy and Procedure

Miami University is committed to the safety of its students, staff, faculty in all facets of their education, including clinical and field placements. Safety in the delivery of care to patient/client populations is of paramount importance. The use of “alcohol and other substances potentially places patients, the public, and nurses themselves at risk for serious injury or death” (International Nurses Society on Addictions, 2017). Protecting patients from potential harm caused by an impaired nurse is a professional responsibility, as indicated in the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, Provision 3.6 (ANA, 2015).

This policy applies to all Miami University (“University”) students admitted to the Nursing Program (“Program”) and is effective immediately. All University students admitted to the Program are required to complete clinical coursework at a hospital, clinic, nursing home, or other healthcare facility in order to complete their degree requirements. The purpose of this Policy is to notify students and faculty of the Clinical agencies affiliated with the University have drug and alcohol policies and require that nursing students comply with their drug testing policies in the same manner as their employees (e.g. 10 drug panel testing). Clinical sites have the right to refuse any student for clinical placement based on concerns about that student’s ability to deliver safe practice.

It is the policy of Miami University to comply with federal and state laws and regulations dealing with the usage and detection of drugs. This Policy is subject to change at the sole discretion of the University and is meant to supplement other relevant University policies.

This Policy is in addition to any drug and alcohol testing policies and procedures at the clinical sites, and while students are engaging in clinical activities at hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or other facilities on behalf of the Program, the drug and alcohol testing policies and procedures of the hospital, clinic, nursing home, or facility will also govern.

Definitions-
For the purposes of this Policy, the following terms shall have the following

  1. “Drugs” means all of those drugs that may be tested for. These include, but are not limited to: amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, Cannabinoids, methadones, methaqualone, opiates (Codeine, Morphine, Heroin, etc.) , oxycodone, phencyclidine (PCP) , propoxyphene and tramadol. Some clinical site guidelines may be more stringent and require 12 panel drug screening tests.
  2. “Student” means any student enrolled in the Program at the University.
  3. “Medical Review Officer (MRO)” is a nationally certified, licensed medical doctor or osteopath responsible for receiving laboratory results under this policy who has knowledge of substance abuse disorders and has appropriate medical training to interpret and evaluate confirmed positive test results, medical history, and any other relevant biomedical information. Access to the MRO is through the Agency contracted to complete the testing.
  4. “Test Positive for Drugs” is the level identified by the MRO in accordance with guidelines established for healthcare workers.

Policy and Procedures

Prior to participating in any clinical course students in the program will be required to complete an acknowledgement and Consent to Testing Form (see Appendix A), submit to a drug screen through a designated lab at the designated time and place and at the expense of the student, and test negative for drugs before engaging in any Clinical Activity.

The testing policies and procedures of the testing facility are to be followed for specimens. If the testing is at a Miami University facility, the testing will be completed by an outside contracted agency according to their established procedures.

University’s requirement that all students in the Program submit to an annual drug screen as outlined in this policy and test negative before engaging in clinical activity associated with the Program (“Clinical Activity” or “Clinical Activities”).

The specimens will be sent to the laboratory for testing. The laboratory will test the primary specimen for drugs, and if it tests positive based on cut-off levels established by the lab, the lab will perform a confirmation test of the primary specimen. If the confirmation test is positive, the lab will report the positive test result to the MRO describing which drugs were detected. The MRO will contact the student who tested positive, and the student may provide an explanation for the positive test result. The MRO may request verification for any prescription medications.

If the student declines the opportunity to discuss a positive test result with the MRO or fails to contact the MRO within three days of notification, the MRO may report the drug test as positive to the department of nursing. If the MRO is not able to contact the student within ten calendar days of the date on which the MRO received the confirmed positive test result from the laboratory, the MRO may report the drug test as positive to the Department of Nursing. In all of these cases after receiving notification from the MRO, the Department of Nursing will contact the student to confirm that they have received notification from the MRO, refer the student to this policy and clarify the student’s plans to respond.

If a Student provides an explanation for a positive Drug test result, the MRO will determine whether a valid medical explanation exists. If a determination is made in the MRO’s discretion that there is a legitimate medical explanation, the Drug test results will be recorded as negative and reported to the Department of Nursing. If the MRO determines that there is not a legitimate medical explanation, the Drug test results will be recorded as positive and reported to the Department of Nursing. By participating in the Drug screening process, the Student is authorizing release of the Drug test results in accordance with this policy.

Consequences

  1. Refusal to Test - If a student fails to produce the requested sample by the date and time designated, the student will be treated as if the test result was positive.
  2. Negative Test Result - If the drug test is negative , the student will be allowed to participate in clinical activities
  3. Positive Test Result - Any Student who engages in conduct prohibited by this policy, tests positive for Drugs, and does not comply with any notice, request, or procedure provided for hereunder, will be withdrawn from all clinical courses and corresponding co-requisite courses, and may be dismissed from the Program. Even if the Student is not dismissed from the Program, the Student will not be permitted to participate in Clinical Activities until the Student undergoes the rehabilitation process set forth below.

Rehabilitation

If the student is not dismissed from the Program, the Student will be required to sign a Student Agreement (See Appendix B) to undergo a professional evaluation by a mutually agreed upon independent, certified drug and alcohol counselor for evaluation and treatment at the Student’s expense.

If the Student refuses to obtain a substance use evaluation or sign the Student Agreement allowing the Program access to recommendations from the evaluation, this will result in the inability to continue in clinical Program in any affiliated agency until these are completed.

Students for whom no treatment recommendations are made will be required to be retested for drugs at the student’s expense, and will require a negative drug screen prior to a return to a clinical placement or an activity in an affiliated agency. The department chair or designee will review the certified alcohol and drug counselor’s evaluation and repeat drug screening results and determine the student’s ability to continue their clinical activities at that point in time.

In the case of a Student that receives a recommendation to complete treatment, the Student must complete the treatment prescribed by the approved counselor at the Student’s expense. Upon completion of the treatment plan, the counselor must conduct a follow-up evaluation and issue a report to the Department Chair. If the counselor reports that the Student successfully completed the treatment plan and is ready to engage in Clinical Activities, the Student will be retested for Drugs at the Student’s expense. If the Drug test is positive, the Student will be dismissed from the Program.

A return to any clinical placement or activity in an affiliated agency will require a negative drug screen and satisfactory recommendations by the certified drug and alcohol counselor to resume clinical studies. If the Drug test result is negative and the student receives the positive recommendation of the health care provider to resume clinical studies, the Student can submit a written request to engage in Clinical Activities and will be eligible to enroll in clinical coursework depending on Chair of the Nursing Program review, GPA, compliance with Nursing Program Requirements, space availability, and acceptance by clinical sites.

Because of the time that is required to complete treatment and testing, it is possible that the Student will be delayed and need to re-work his/her progression. As provided in the Progression and Retention section of the Miami University Dept of Nursing Student Handbook, the Student will meet with the Chief Departmental Advisor to review a potential revised progression plan and then submit a petition to the Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee to determine if the revised plan will be accepted and the Student’s progression will continue.

Once a Student has completed the required treatment plan prescribed by the health care provider, has a negative Drug screen and is participating in Clinical Activities, unannounced Drug testing may occur periodically until the Student graduates from the Program. The Student will be notified of the designated time and place for the Drug screening which will be completed, at the Student’s expense, on the day of notification.

If a positive Drug screen occurs, or if the Student fails to complete a Drug test as requested or otherwise comply with this policy, the Student will be dismissed from the Program. An unlicensed Student may need to report violations of this policy in accordance with applicable laws in the state in which the Student is seeking licensure. Any professional licensed Student who violates this policy may be reported to the Ohio Board of Nursing.

Confidentiality- The University will take reasonable measures to ensure individual privacy under this Policy including, without limitation, keeping all Drug test results confidential to the extent possible. Drug test results will be released in accordance with this policy and applicable federal and state laws and regulations. Impaired practice violates the Nurse Practice Act (Ohio Revised Code 4723.28) and qualifies for disciplinary action which might include revoking the RN license. Ohio and most other states have established an alternative to discipline program for the chemically dependent nurse: Ohio Revised Code 4723.35 – Substance Abuse Disorder Monitoring Program and Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4723-6 Alternative Program for Chemical-Dependency/Substance Use Disorder Monitoring.

Grievance and Appeal Procedures for Drug Testing

Any Student may seek redress for any complaints related to the application or enforcement of this Policy through applicable University academic grievance policies and procedures.

If a student is unable to progress in the program in an uninterrupted manner, as required, they may be dismissed/forced to withdraw from the program. Students impacted by a positive Urine Drug Screening should refer to program policies on the following topics within this Student Handbook: 1) Progression and Retention, 2) BSN Student Readmission, and 3) Students’ Rights.

Access to Records of Drug Testing

The university will maintain records relating to this policy as required by law. Upon Written request to the department chair, a student will be provided copies of records pertaining to their drug tests.

Appendix A

MIAMI UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

Acknowledgement and Consent to Testing and Information Sharing 

I , acknowledge that by enrolling in the Miami University Nursing Program (Program) that I am required to complete clinical coursework at a hospital, clinic, nursing home or other health care facility in order to complete my degree requirements and that a negative drug test is required for clinical placement. I hereby agree and consent to giving the University’s drug testing agency a urine sample for drug testing. I understand that the drugs I may be tested for include but are not limited to amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, cannabinoids, methadone, methaqualone, opiates (Codeine, Morphine, Heroin, etc.), oxycodone, phencyclidine (PCP), propoxyphene and tramadol. I further acknowledge and understand that some clinical site guidelines may be more stringent and require 12 panel drug screening tests.

I understand that if I receive a positive drug test, I may not be allowed to participate in any Clinical Activities, may be withdrawn from all clinical courses and the corresponding co-requisite courses, which may affect my progression through the nursing curriculum. I also understand that I may be dismissed from the Program and may be subject to discipline, up to and including dismissal from the University under the Code of Student Conduct.

I understand that per the “Progression and Retention” section of the Miami University Department of Nursing Student Handbook that nursing students are required to progress through the nursing curriculum in an uninterrupted schedule. I understand that withdrawal from clinical courses and the corresponding co-requisites would result in an interruption of my progression. I understand that I can petition to request a change in my progression, but it will be at the discretion of the Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee and that I should reference the Handbook for policies and procedures. I understand that my readmission to the Nursing program is not guaranteed.

I understand that if I am permitted readmission by the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee, I will need to sign an agreement outlining the requirements for an evaluation to determine treatment is required by a certified drug and alcohol counselor, at my own expense. I understand that I will need to demonstrate that I have successfully completed any recommended treatments or programs.

I consent to the University sharing the results of my drug test with any clinical placement for the purposes of making or terminating any clinical placement.

Student Signature: _______________________________________ Date: _______________

Printed Name: ___________________________________________

APPENDIX B

MIAMI UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

Nursing Student Agreement

Pursuant to the Department of Nursing’s Student Drug Testing Policy Prior to Participation in Clinical Activities (“Policy”), because of a positive drug test or other violation of the Policy, I agree to undergo a professional evaluation by a certified drug counselor to determine drug dependency and to participate in a recommended treatment plan.

I understand that payment for the evaluation, treatment, and follow-up care will be my responsibility. If no treatment is recommended by the counselor, I will submit written evidence of such to the Department Chair or designee as defined in the Policy. If this process cannot be completed in time for the start of the Clinical Activities, I understand that I will need to collaborate with the Chief Departmental Advisor to develop a petition for change in progression plan that has to be submitted for approval to the Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee.

If the counselor recommends a treatment plan, I understand that I must complete the plan and then submit a written request to engage in Clinical Activities, written evidence of completion of the treatment plan, acknowledgment from the counselor that I am able to safely engage in Clinical Activities, completion of a urine drug screening at my expense and the terms of any required follow- up care to the Department Chair or designee. I understand that I will not be allowed to be registered for clinical courses and corresponding co-requisites during my treatment. If this process cannot be completed in time for the start of the Clinical Activities, I understand that I will need to collaborate with the Chief Departmental Advisor to develop a petition for change in progression plan that has to be submitted for approval to the Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee.

I realize that a second positive drug test or further violation of the policy will result in dismissal from the program.

Student Signature: ______________________________________________ Date: ____________

Printed Name: _________________________________________________

Witness Signature: _____________________________________________ Date:

Printed Name: _________________________________________________

Professional Accountability for Program Requirements

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 at least 2 hours prior to the start of 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 (other) missed clinical/sim hours are required to be (made-up) completed during flex days as deemed by the course coordinator. Flex days/time will be utilized for make-ups when possible.

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

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.

Faculty have 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. Direct someone to call 911
    2. Render first aid / CPR if properly trained
  2. In case of Medical Emergency in the Clinical setting
    1. Follow clinical agency policy and procedure
  3. In case of Medical Non-emergency illness or injury occurs in the classroom, clinical or laboratory settings
    1. Students are responsible for immediately reporting non-emergency 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.
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 or 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 occurrence 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 Returning to Participation in Clinical Experiences

  1. Clinical Experiences
    1. Any student returning to participate in a clinical experience following an incident that alters their physical or mental ability is required to submit written documentation from a health care provider (Physician, Certified Physician Assistant, Certified Nurse PRactitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife) with details of their return status.
      1. These incidences include, but are not limited to:
        1. Bodily injury
        2. Hospitalization
        3. Surgical procedure
        4. Significant mental health concern
      1. The health care provider must verify per written documentation that the student is functionally able to safely perform nursing care.
      2. Documentation must be on official office, clinic or hospital forms and must include:
        1. Student’s name and date seen
        2. Name, credentials, address and phone number of healthcare provider
        3. If the student is permitted to return and must state with or without restrictions/accommodations. Accommodations must be specific and include an end date or follow-up plan.
      3. Course Coordinator to place on file in the Department of Nursing prior to the first day of the student's next clinical experience.
    1. Failure to inform faculty and submit proper documentation of the incident will result in the student being unable to attend clinical, thereby resulting in a clinical absence.
      1. See Clinical Attendance policy under Professional Accountability for Program Requirements.
  2. Lab and Simulation Experiences
    1. Any student returning to participate in a lab or simulation experience following an incident that alters their physical or mental ability is required to inform faculty of the change in health status.
      1. These incidences include, but are not limited to:
        1. Bodily injury
        2. Hospitalization
        3. Surgical procedure
        4. Significant mental illness

Proper instructor notification ensures the student is able to safely practice nursing care within the lab and simulation setting.

Clinical Placement Information

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;
  • 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.

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

Scheduling requests will be processed on a case by case basis: here are some examples of what we try to accommodate but cannot guarantee:

  • Medical / disability restrictions
  • Participation in University athletics
  • Participation in ROTC or other official University programs that require courses

Here are some examples of requests that we do not accommodate:

  • Requests based on work schedules
  • Requests based on carpool groups / roommates
  • Requests based on clubs / organizations

Safe Practice in the Clinical Laboratory Courses

Department Policy Regarding Safe Practices

Providing care for clients is a privilege and requires attention to matters of safety. The Department has adopted the following policy to assure safe patient care is delivered by nursing students in the clinical experiences:

A student who reports to the clinical unit unable to perform safely will be dismissed from the clinical   experience site and issued a Significant Incident.

Faculty may also be required to follow agency policies as specified by clinical agreements.

Ohio State Law Regarding Student Conduct While Providing Nursing Care

(Taken from Rules Promulgated from the law regulating the practice of nursing - Ohio Board of Nursing, 4723-5-12.)

  1. A student shall, in a complete, accurate, and timely manner, report and document nursing assessments or observations, the care provided by the student for the patient, and the patient’s response to that care.
  2. A student shall, in an accurate and timely manner, report to the appropriate practitioner errors in or deviations from the current valid order.
  3. A student shall not falsify any patient record or any other document prepared or utilized in the course of, or in conjunction with, nursing practice. This includes, but is not limited to, case management documents or reports, or time records, or reports, and other documents related to billing for nursing services.
  4. A student shall implement measures to promote a safe environment for each patient.
  5. A student shall delineate, establish, and maintain professional boundaries with each patient.
  6. At all times when a student is providing direct nursing care to a patient, the student shall:
    1. Provide privacy during examination or treatment and in the care of personal or bodily needs; and
    2. Treat each patient with courtesy, respect, and with full recognition of dignity and individuality.
  7. A student shall practice within the appropriate scope of practice as set forth in division (B) of section 4723.01 and division (B) (20) of section 4723.28 of the Revised Code for a registered nurse, and division (F) of section 4723.01 and division (B) (21) of section 4723.28 of the Revised Code for a practical nurse;
  8. A student shall use universal and standard precautions established by Chapter 4723.20 of the Administrative Code;
  9. A student shall not:
    1. Engage in behavior that causes or may cause physical, verbal, mental or emotional abuse to a patient;
    2. Engage in behavior toward a patient that may reasonably be interpreted as physical, verbal, mental or emotional abuse;
  10. A student shall not misappropriate a patient’s property or:
    1. Engage in behavior to seek or obtain personal gain at the patient’s expense;
    2. Engage in behavior that may reasonably be interpreted as behavior to seek or obtain personal gain at the patient’s expense;
    3. Engage in behavior that constitutes inappropriate involvement in the patient’s personal relationships; or
    4. Engage in behavior that may reasonably be interpreted as inappropriate involvement in the patient’s personal relationships;
For the purpose of this paragraph, the patient is always presumed incapable of giving free, full, or consent to the behaviors by the student set forth in this paragraph.
  1. A student shall not:
    1. Engage in sexual conduct with a patient;
    2. Engage in conduct in the course of practice that may reasonably be interpreted as sexual;
    3. Engage in any verbal behavior that is seductive or sexually demeaning to a patient;
    4. Engage in verbal behavior that may reasonably be interpreted as seductive or sexually demeaning to a patient;

For the purpose of this paragraph, the patient is always presumed incapable of giving free, full, or informed consent to the behaviors by the student set forth in this paragraph.

  1. A student shall not, regardless of whether the contact or verbal behavior is consensual, engage with a patient other than the spouse of the student in any of the following;
    1. Sexual contact, as defined in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code;
    2. Verbal behavior that is sexually demeaning to the patient or may be reasonably interpreted by the patient as sexually demeaning.
  2. A student shall not self-administer or otherwise take into the body any dangerous drug, as defined in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code, in any way not in accordance with a legal, valid prescription issued for the student, or self-administer or otherwise take into the body any drug that is a schedule 1 controlled substance.
  3. A student shall not habitually indulge in the use of controlled substances, other habit-forming drugs, or alcohol or other chemical substances to an extent that impairs ability to practice.
  4. A student shall not have impairment of the ability to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of safe nursing care because of use of drugs, alcohol, or other chemical substances.
  5. A student shall not have impairment of the ability to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of safe nursing care because of a physical or mental disability.
  6. A student shall not assault or cause harm to a patient or deprive a patient of the means to summon assistance.
  7. A student shall not obtain or attempt to obtain money or anything of value by intentional misrepresentation or material deception in the course of practice.
  8. A student shall not have been adjudicated by a probate court of being mentally ill or mentally incompetent, unless restored to competency by the court.
  9. A student shall not aid and abet a person in that person’s practice of nursing without a license, practice as a dialysis technician without a certificate issued by the board, or administration of medications as a medication aide without a certificate issued by the board.
  10. A student shall not prescribe any drug or device to perform or induce an abortion, or otherwise perform or induce an abortion.
  11. A student shall not assist suicide as defined in section 3795.01 of the Revised Code.
  12. A student shall not submit or cause to be submitted any false, misleading or deceptive statements, information, or document to the nursing program, its administrators, faculty, teaching assistants, preceptors, or to the board.
  13. A student shall maintain the confidentiality of patient information. The student shall communicate patient information with members of the health care team for health care purposes only, shall access patient information only for purposes of patient care or for otherwise fulfilling the student’s assigned clinical responsibilities, and shall not disseminate patient information for purposes other than patient care or for otherwise fulfilling the student’s assigned clinical responsibilities through social media, texting, emailing, or any other form of communication.
  14. To the maximum extent feasible, identifiable patient health care information shall not be disclosed by a student unless the patient has consented to the disclosure of identifiable patient health care information. A patient shall report individually identifiable patient information without written consent in limited circumstances only and in accordance with an authorized law, rule, or other recognized legal authority.
  15. For purposes of paragraphs (C) (5), (C) (6), (C) (9), (C) (10), (C) (11), and (C) (12) of this rule, a student shall not use social media, texting, emailing or other forms of communication with, or about a patient, for non-health care purposes or for purposes other than fulfilling the student’s assigned clinical responsibilities.

For the purpose of this paragraph, the patient is always presumed incapable of giving free, full, or informed consent to sexual activity with the student.

Clinical Performance Evaluation Tool

The Department of Nursing utilizes the Clinical Performance Evaluation Tool (CPET) to evaluate and grade students’ clinical performance. A calculated score is generally reviewed with the student at mid-term and at the end of the course. A passing grade of 73% or higher must be achieved in clinical performance. Grades for other assignments are factored into the final course grade if the student has passed the clinical portion of the course. Categories of performance include: “Not achieving Standards”, “Progressing towards Standards”, “Achieving Standards”, and “Exceeding Standards”.

The Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument (C-CEI®) is an instrument used to gauge the effectiveness of clinical learning in simulation environments. The C-CEI instrument will be used for simulations throughout the curriculum.

Student Injury

Students are responsible for all expenses that occur because of injury or illness. Health insurance is required of all students. In case of injury, serious illness or infectious disease exposure at the clinical site, students must follow the clinical site’s protocols as defined in clinical agreements with Miami University. Students must inform the clinical instructor immediately of any injury, illness or exposure. Emergency treatment and follow-up may be required. Students with questions about clinical site protocols should talk with the clinical faculty member.

Health Services, 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 contacting Regionals Student Life. Contact 513-785-3211 (Hamilton Campus) or 513-727- 3431 (Middletown Campus) or 513-529-4634 Division of Student Life: Student Counseling Service (Oxford) to request an appointment.

Disability Services

Students with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations. Student Disability Services (SDS) registration should be completed prior to the provision of accommodations. Please contact SDS at 513-785-3211 (Hamilton campus) or 513-727-3431 (Middletown campus) or 513-529-1541; 7-1-1 (TTY-TDD); 513-529-8595 (fax) Miller Center for Student Disability Services (Oxford) 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.

Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Protocol

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Education and Management

  1. Prior to any exposure to clients/patients and as prerequisite to clinical preparation, students will receive instruction on universal precautions for blood and body borne infections in accordance with applicable Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Information regarding personal health habits, HBV and HIV prevention, and risk behaviors will also be given. Exposure control education will be provided in the first semester nursing courses and will be continually reinforced. Documentation indicating that each student has been provided this information will be kept on file in departmental offices.
  2. All nursing personnel are ethically and professionally obligated to provide client/patient care with compassion and respect for human dignity. No nursing personnel may ethically refuse to treat a patient solely because the patient is at risk of contracting, or has an infectious disease such as HIV, AIDS, or HBV. Students and faculty should understand and follow rules of confidentiality as stated under Patient Rights in this handbook.
  3. Clinical supervision is to be managed to ensure strict compliance in all clinical learning experiences.

Students who are Hepatitis B (HBV) or HIV Positive

  1. Students who are Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) or HIV positive or who have AIDS must follow the CDC guidelines and universal precautions.
  2. Students who know they are infected should be encouraged to voluntarily inform the Chair of the Department of Nursing. The Chair will begin a process to assess the need for necessary modifications/accommodations in clinical education or job functions. Such modifications will be crafted on a case-by-case basis by the Chair in consultation with the most expert faculty.
  3. Clinical settings that pose additional risk to the personal health of HIV positive students and faculty should be identified. Such persons should be advised of these risks and urged to consult their health care provider to assess the significance of the risks to their own health.
  4. Any modification of clinical activity of HBV positive or HIV positive students will take into account the nature of the clinical activity, the technical expertise of the infected person, the risks posed by HBV or HIV carriage, functional disabilities, and the transmissibility of simultaneously carried infectious agents.

Testing Guidelines for HBV and HIV

Nursing students have ethical responsibilities to know their HBV and HIV status and have an obligation to be tested if they believe they may be at risk for HBV or HIV antibody. While the testing decision should be voluntary for the individual, there may be instances in which testing could be required.

Students may choose where to receive testing. Testing records will be kept separately from academic files and are accessible only on a need-to-know basis with the student’s written consent. Release of data without written consent constitutes cause for disciplinary action.

The Department of Nursing supports the principle of confidentiality and individual rights in conjunction with the CDC guidelines on exposure to bloodborne disease.

Hepatitis B Vaccine Immunization

In accordance with Department of Nursing and Clinical agency policies, all nursing students are required to present documentation of a completed series of HBV immunizations preferably upon admission to the nursing program, or if time does not permit, the first two of a series of three must be completed within the semester after admission. If the student declines to complete the series due to health reasons, a declination form must be signed.

Universal Precautions

Universal Precautions will be followed at all times, including in the Nursing Resource Center. This method of infection control requires the student to assume that all human blood and specified human body fluids are infectious for HBV, HIV and other bloodborne pathogens. Where differentiation of types of body fluids is difficult or impossible, all body fluids are to be considered as potentially infectious.

Post-Exposure Protocol for Prophylaxis of HBV and HIV

The use of personal protective equipment, appropriate engineering controls, and proper work practices must be continually reinforced among faculty and students to prevent exposure incidents to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). However, if an incident occurs, faculty and students should report the incident as soon as possible and be thoroughly familiar with the procedures for testing, evaluation, and treatment. A potential exposure incident can include:

  • Percutaneous inoculation - needle stick or sharps
  • Non-needle percutaneous injury - open cuts or abrasions
  • Direct mucous membrane contact - accidental splash
  • Non-intact skin contact with blood or OPIM

Initial response to Exposure

  1. Immediately apply first aid as appropriate:
    1. Allow to bleed freely; clean with 70% alcohol (for needle stick/puncture injury)
    2. Wash thoroughly with soap and water
    3. Mucous membrane: flush copiously with water
    4. Eyes: irrigate and/or flush copiously with water
  2. Document the incident, including:
    1. Route of exposure
    2. How and when exposure occured
    3. Identify source individual, if known
    4. Report exposure immediately to Nursing Faculty and appropriate supervisor at the clinical agency

Post Exposure Response by Students

In the event a student receives a needle puncture injury or other parenteral contact, the guidelines of the affiliating agency shall be followed. It is the responsibility of the student sustaining the injury / exposure to report and follow the criteria established by the facility. The University will not accept responsibility for expenses incurred.

Such responsibility lies with the student involved. However, all such incidents must be reported to the instructor.

  1. Any student on clinical rotation who has a needle puncture shall be sent to their physician, or if they wish to the Emergency Room or other health care agency.
  2. Student and Instructor should determine immediately if the incident involved a clean or used needle.
  3. Injuries sustained with needles that have not been used on patients or their blood products require careful cleansing. Ice should be applied to the wound if needle contained a vesicant chemotherapeutic agent. Tetanus prophylaxis should be individualized.
  4. If a student reports a potential exposure incident to blood or OPIM, the following CDC guidelines should be followed. A student should be tested for HIV to establish seronegative first, followed by a retest at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year.

The Department of Nursing Accident Blood Borne Pathogens Report should be completed and taken by student to the health care provider for appropriate testing and possible treatment. A copy of the completed Nursing Accident Blood Borne Pathogens Report form shall be kept in a confidential file in the Nursing Office. If the student elects to not follow the guidelines, they must sign the declination statement.

Students’ Rights-Grievance Procedures for Students

For student concerns or a grievance, the first step is at the departmental level. The following is the Academic Grievance Policy that students are to follow at the Department of Nursing level.

  1. Initial Steps for Resolution: If a student approaches the Chair with a grievance, such as a request for a grade review or a charge of violation of the Statement of Good Teaching Practices as stated in the   Miami University Policy Library,   the Chair will ascertain whether the student has discussed the situation with the faculty person involved.
  2. If no discussion has occurred, the Chair will recommend the student do so before proceeding with any grievance procedure. The chair also has the option of meeting with the student and faculty person to help reach a resolution if all parties agree.
  3. Formal Procedure: To initiate a formal grievance procedure, the student will provide the Chair with a signed written statement of the grievance. The Chair will forward a copy of the student’s grievance to the instructor promptly after receiving it, together with a request for information relevant to the situation. The instructor shall also forward to the Chair a written reply to the student’s statement. The written statements and any other relevant materials shall then be forwarded to an Academic Grievance Committee.
    1. Academic Grievance Committee: The Chair shall appoint three representative faculty to serve as the committee and secure an administrator from outside the department to serve as hearing officer if a hearing is deemed necessary. These persons should not be teaching on the same teaching team as the faculty person against whom the complaint was filed.
    2. The Committee shall meet and examine the forwarded materials and determine whether the matter can be decided without a hearing. If a hearing is not required, the committee shall write a recommendation regarding the grievance within a reasonable period of time. The report is then sent to or discussed with the Chair of the Department. The Chair will forward copies of the report to the student and instructor.
    3. In the case of a request for a grade change: If the Academic Grievance Committee believes the grade should be reviewed further or changed, they will make such recommendations to the Chair. The Chair will discuss the recommendations with the instructor.
    4. In the case of a student filing charges of violation of Good Teaching: The Academic Grievance Committee will decide as to whether such practices were violated, and put in writing any recommendations regarding this, which is to be submitted to the Chair. The Chair makes the final departmental decision regarding violation of Good Teaching Practices. The student may appeal the decision to the College of Liberal Arts and Science grievance committee.
  4. If the Academic Grievance Committee determines a hearing necessary, the following procedures will be utilized to conduct the hearing. In addition to the three faculty members on the another person representing the University administration will be asked to conduct the hearing as the department chair designee.
    1. The department chair designee will communicate the date, time, and location of the hearing to all members of the committee, the student, and the faculty member involved in the grievance. If either party is bringing witnesses, the party is responsible to communicate the date, time, and location of the hearing to those witnesses.
    2. The hearing will be closed to only those persons who are members of the Academic Grievance Committee, the department chair designee, the student, the faculty member, and any witnesses or advisors to the student and faculty member.
    3. The student and the faculty member may also bring an advisor who is a member of the University community to the hearing. Said member of the University community must be a faculty member, administrator or Student Affairs staff member. Neither party is permitted to bring an attorney.
    4. The student and the faculty member will submit copies of any documentation they wish the Committee to consider, and a list of witnesses they expect to bring, to the department chair designee at least 5 days prior to the scheduled hearing. The department chair designee will then provide the student and the faculty member with a copy of the documents and witness list submitted by the other.
    5. The student and the faculty member may bring witnesses who are able to provide testimony directly related to the specific issues. Character witnesses whose only purpose is to attest to the student’s personality are not generally necessary and, in the interest of time, may not be permitted to provide testimony. Formal Rules of Evidence will not appl. The Hearing Committee will receive only that information determined to be relevant or important in light of the totality of the circumstances.
    6. At the beginning of the hearing, the department chair designee will advise the student and the faculty member of the following procedures:
      • Each party may make a brief opening statement.
      • The student has the first opportunity to provide information and call witnesses. The members of the Committee and the involved faculty members may ask questions of the student and the witnesses.
      • The faculty member may then provide information and call witnesses. The members of the committee and the student may ask questions of the faculty member and the witnesses.
      • Witnesses will remain outside the hearing room when not providing information or responding to questions.
      • Each party may make a closing statement.
      • The Academic Grievance Committee may deliberate at the close of the hearing or at another time convenient to the members of the committee. The deliberation is not open to the student, the involved faculty member, or any of the witnesses. The department chair designee may sit in during the deliberations at his/her discretion.
      • The Academic Grievance Committee shall produce written findings and recommendations and submit this document to the department chair designee within 5 days of the hearing.
      • The department chair designee shall send the written findings and recommendations to the student, the involved faculty member and the department chair within 2 days of receiving said document. 
  5. Student Appeals Decision: “If the student wishes to appeal the decision beyond the departmental level, the student may submit to the divisional grievance committee a written, dated, and signed complaint stating the name of the instructor, the course, the provision(s) of the Good Teaching Practices alleged to have been violated, a brief description of the incident(s) giving rise to the grievance, and the remedy requested. The student should also provide any materials supportive of the complaint. Within ten working days after receiving this written complaint from the student, the divisional dean will request the chair of the Divisional Academic Appeals Board to convene a committee to consider and investigate the complaint, and to make its recommendations to the instructor within 30 working days after receiving the complaint. A divisional grievance committee will not adjudicate a violation of Good Teaching Practices unless the written complaint is lodged before 5 p.m. Friday of the eleventh week of the fall or spring semester that follows the term in which the alleged violation occurred.” Review the Miami University Policy Library for full information.

Formal Complaint

Those persons who have a complaint related to a topic not addressed by the Student Grievance Policy (above) may initiate a Formal Complaint to the Chair of the Department of Nursing. The complaint must be in writing describing, in detail, the concern, must contain current contact information, and be signed. The formal complaint must be delivered within 15 days of the event.

The Chair will review the complaint and discuss as appropriate with Miami University The chair will follow up with the complainant within 30 days in writing.

Student Accountability

Faculty expect that classroom and clinical learning will be conducted in an environment of mutual respect. Faculty have the right to expect that a student's performance will reflect the identified educational outcomes at the appropriate level. Faculty will adhere to Miami University's regulations on academic conduct as described in   Miami University Policy Library: Code of Student Conduct.

The Department of Nursing expects students enrolled in the program to model the standards, goals, and ideals of the profession held by the American Nurses Association, Ohio Board of Nursing, Miami University, and HIPAA regulations. The Department of Nursing believes that the educational experience, whether academic or clinical, fosters intellectual pursuits, develops socially responsible learners, ensures academic freedom and protects individuals’ rights. All students are expected to act in a manner that is consistent with professional standards.

Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic misconduct will not be tolerated. Professional misconduct, in the manner of lack of student’s integrity, judgment, preparation or performance of safe care as a nursing student, will not be tolerated. A significant incident provides for student/faculty input and defines the follow-up evaluation measures.

Testing Environment

Students must place all belongings along walls; remove hats/caps; place cell phones, smart devices, I-watches, and all other bluetooth devices with other personal belongings along wall.

Computer-based testing

ExamSoft/Examplify is a computer-based program to administer tests, (exams or quizzes are considered as tests).

HESI is a computer-based testing program for standardized testing and final exams.

Students must have a computer with appropriate downloaded software in order to take the administered test. Students are responsible to update the ExamSoft/Examplify software when notices of updates are sent. Students are responsible to run compatibility and performance checks on their own computers.

Students MUST download the ExamSoft assessment or register to take the HESI standardized test prior to scheduled test time as directed by the course faculty. The test is encrypted and when the student enters the testing environment, a password will be given for the test. Passwords are not permitted to leave the testing environment by any means.

Passwords should never be written by the student.

The following will be considered breaches of Academic Integrity and can result in discipline following the Miami University Policy:

  • Communication before and during the test with any other person about the content of the test; which includes exchanging of scratch paper at designated seat
  • Use of any electronic device or resource, except for expected use of the assigned computer/tablet;
  • Any attempt to disable or tamper with exam software security features;
  • Removal from the test room of any test or test question, or transmission either orally, electronically, or in writing of the content of any test question.
  • Sharing of passwords, information about the test contents, or attempting to copy or navigate from the test.
  • Students must bring earbuds/earphones compatible with their computer and used as directed by faculty.

During the exam, students shall report technical issues with the computer or with HESI or Examplify immediately, so as to affect a swift resolution.

Students must complete their Examplify test and upload the test prior to leaving the testing environment or by the time permitted. Faculty should verify that the upload has been received. After a proctor confirms the upload, students shall shut down their computer properly, exit the exam room quietly.

If the faculty uses remediation of tests in a classroom setting, all students will adhere to these same policies and faculty will provide security of all test items.

Students with accommodations for testing will follow the same procedure and policy when using HESI or Examplify in the Test Center Environment. Users who anticipate or encounter a disability related barrier to using Examplify application should contact student Disability Services to arrange reasonable accommodation to access tests.

Students must not attempt to enter a test without being in a proctored environment. In taking the test, student will not discuss questions, answers or content from the test outside the classroom environment without the permission of the faculty. The password will be provided in the proctored environment and should not be recorded, written or memorized. If a student attempts to share or obtain the password or other information regarding the tests, the students could face academic integrity sanctions.

Make-up Tests

Except for extreme circumstances, students are expected to take all course tests during the scheduled time of administration. Students are expected to notify course faculty ahead of time if they must be absent from an exam whether that exam is administered in an online format or via paper and pencil format. It is preferred that one-week notice is provided when possible and appropriate rationale for the absence provided. Notification is required per face-to-face communication, telephone, or through Miami University email. When a student misses an exam without prior notice, faculty reserves the right to award a grade of “0” for that test.

Faculty also reserve the right to administer the makeup test in a different format

Student Resources

Optional Course: NSG 325 - Problem-based Approaches in Nursing

The course uses problem-based approaches to foster critical thinking skills for the provision of safe, effective nursing care. It incorporates strategies to analyze complex nursing applications. Prerequisites: NSG 251 and NSG 252 or permission of the Instructor. Student study resources are also available in HESI.

Student Organizations

Student Representation

The Nursing Department believes that student representation and participation is an important student right, and that this voice should have an important impact upon the activity within the Department. Students are encouraged to participate in the Nursing Student Association, the Student Advisory Council, or other University organizations.

Student Nurses Association (SNA)

The Student Nurses Association is organized to foster an understanding of the nursing program and to stimulate and encourage professional behavior of members. Membership is open to all students interested in nursing. Its goal is to promote fellowship and mentoring of future and current nursing students and to promote health and service on campus and in the local community.

Regional Chapter of American Assembly for Men in Nursing

Men in Nursing is a group which focuses on the diversity in nursing of gender, race, ethnicity, and ideas. The group addresses these issues through the collaborative efforts of all individuals.

Student Advisory Council

The Student Advisory Council consists of volunteer nursing students within the program that are selected for representation of their cohorts. Its goal is to be a formal intermediary platform for direct communication between students and faculty related to curriculum, admissions, progression, and graduation within the Miami Nursing Program. The functions of SAC are as follows:

  1. To provide an official channel of communication and cooperation between students and faculty.
  2. For the faculty in the department of Nursing to seek student input and share issues of mutual interest that include, but are not limited to, academic programs, non-curricular programs, student services, campus facilities, and policies and procedures with direct impact on students.
  3. Students submit recommendations, general student concerns and ideas for improvement to the faculty of the appropriate standing committees. Currently students attend Curriculum Committee Meetings and Admission-Progression-Graduation Meetings; other meetings may be attended at the discretion of the Chair of the Nursing Department.
  4. Two to three students are to attend each faculty meeting - 1 being a Co-Chair and at least one other member. Ideal membership is 3 students per cohort at each level (freshman, sophomore,
  5. junior, senior). The proposed Co-Chairs would be approved by the outgoing Co-Chairs and Faculty Advisor, who then presents the new Co-Chairs to the Faculty Organization and the Department Chair for finalization.
  6. SAC Co-Chairs are to contact nursing students at the beginning of each semester or as needed to encourage committee membership.
  7. The council will meet 3 times per semester and keep minutes of their meetings, which will be sent to the nursing office for record keeping at the end of each semester by the Faculty Advisor.
  8. SAC members will have a Faculty Advisor to assist them in their roles.
  9. The SAC Co-Chairs will compile and submit to the Faculty Advisor, an Annual Report in May of each academic year that summarizes all pertinent details of the council, activities completed, meetings held/attended, active members, and any other applicable information..

Scholarships

Students in the Department of Nursing are eligible for Miami University and Department of Nursing Scholarships annually.

The REGIONAL CAMPUS scholarship awards are made possible through the generous support of donors to Miami University. These awards vary from $100 to $5,000. Awards are made at the discretion of the regional Campus Scholarship committee based on the availability of funds.

The DEPARTMENT OF NURSING scholarship awards are made possible through the generous support of donors and Nursing Alumni. These awards vary based on the availability of funds and are awarded at the discretion of the Department of Nursing Scholarship task force. Students enrolled in Nursing course work will receive email notification of the online application process spring semester.

Nursing students will be assigned to a cohort beginning Junior year. The following four-year curriculum plans offer examples of the specific schedules that will be offered.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Four Year Curriculum Plan

RED Cohort: Sophomore in 2023/Graduating Spring 2026 (Entering as sophomores into Nursing - Regional/Miami Plan Before Fall 2023)
First Year: Fall 2022: 17 CREDITS Spring 2023: 17 Credits
*ENG 111 (MP I) English Composition (3) *MBI 161 (MP IVA) Elementary Medical Microbiology (4)
*CHM 131 (MP IVB) Chemistry of Life Processes (4) *BIO 172 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4)
*BIO 171 Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4) *Miami plan (9) IIA or IIB or III (#1) or III (#2) or V or ICP or AW
*Miami Plan (6) IIA or IIB or III (#1) or III (#2) or V or ICP or AW
Second Year: Fall 2023: 16-17 CREDITS Spring 2024: 16 or 17 CREDITS
**MBI 361 or **BIO 325 Epidemiology (3) or Pathophysiology (4) **MBI 361 or **BIO 325 Epidemiology (3) or Pathophysiology (4)
**PSY 111 (MP IIC) Introduction to Psychology (3) NSG 262 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice (3)
PSY 112 Foundational Experiences (1) NSG 262 L Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice - Lab (1)
NSG 251 Therapeutic Communication in Nursing (2) NSG 265 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice - Clinical (1)
NSG 252 Foundations of Professional Nursing (3) NSG 263 Community Health Nursing (3)
NSG 261 Health and Physical Assessment (3) NSG 432 Population Focused Nursing Care - Clinical (2)
NSG 261 L Health and Physical Assessment Lab (1) *Miami Plan or NE (3) Nursing Elective or IIA or IIB or III (#1) or III (#2) or V or ICP or AW
Third Year: Fall 2024: 17 CREDITS Spring 2025: 14 CREDITS
NSG 349 Introduction to Principles of Pharmacology in Nursing (3) NSG 363 Nursing Care of Children (3)
NSG 365 Nursing Research (3) NSG 364 Nursing Care of Children – Clinical (2)
NSG 351 Nursing of Childbearing Family (3) NSG 353 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations I (3)
NSG 352 Childbearing Family – Clinical (2) NSG 354 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations I – Clinical (3)
NSG 461 Nursing Care of Older Adults (3) °Miami Plan or NE (3) Nursing Elective or IIA or IIB or III (#1) or III (#2) or V or ICP or AW
°Miami Plan or NE (3) Nursing Elective or IIA or IIB or III (#1) or III (#2) or V or ICP or AW
Fourth Year: Fall 2025: 14 CREDITS Spring 2026: 13 CREDITS
NSG 361 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations II (3) NSG 435 (MPC) Challenges in Health Care Delivery (3)
NSG 362 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations II - Clinical (3) NSG 463 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Multi-System Health Alterations (3)
NSG 402 The Professional Nurse Leader (3) NSG 464 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Multi-system Health Alterations - Clinical (5)
NSG 451 Nursing Care of Clients with Mental Health Disorders & Their Families (3) NSG 465 Nursing Senior Seminar (2)
NSG 452 Nursing Care of Clients with Mental Health Disorders & Their Families - Clinical (2)

I = English Composition (3)

IIA = Creative Arts (3), MP IIB = Humanities (3), MP = Social Science (3)

III = Global Perspectives

IVA = Biological Science (3), MPF IVB = Physical (3)

V = Mathematics, Formal Reasoning, Technology (3), **Recommend STA 261 for V if planning on graduate school

MP-ICP = Intercultural Perspectives (3)

AW = Advanced Writing (3)

MPC = Miami Plan Capstone (3)

The Nursing department reserves the right to change the order of course offerings.

*Year one nursing program requirements; must be completed by end of first year

**Year two nursing program requirements; must be completed by end of second year

PSY 112 is not a nursing program requirement, however it is a required co-requisite with PSY 111. Students who do not take PSY 111 as a result of transfer or advanced placement credit are not required to take PSY 112; however, they will need to take an additional credit to reach Miami’s 124 total credits required for graduation.

All Miami Plan requirements must be met, however, there is flexibility regarding when the following are taken: IIA, IIB, III (#1), III (#2), V, ICP, AW. Nursing Elective (3) may be taken once students begin their nursing courses.

The following are Testing Courses: NSG 261, NSG 262, NSG 349, NSG 351, NSG353, NSG 361, NSG 363, NSG 451, NSG 463

*Transfer students entering Miami University in Fall 2023 may have varied catalog years which may impact the curriculum plan. Please refer to your nursing academic advisor and degree audit report for required courses.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Four Year Curriculum Plan

White Cohort: Sophomores in 2024/Graduating Spring 2026 (Entering as sophomores into Nursing - Regional/Miami Plan Before Fall 2023)
First Year: Fall 2022: 17 CREDITS Spring 2023: 17 CREDITS
*ENG 111 English Composition (3) *MBI 161 Elementary Medical Microbiology (4)
*CHM 131 (MP IVB) Chemistry of Life Processes (4) *BIO 172 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4)
*BIO 171 Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4) Miami Plan (9) IIA or IIB or III (#1) or III (#2) or V or ICP or AW
Miami Plan (6) IIA or IIB or III (#1) or III (#2) or V or ICP or AW
Second Year: Fall 2023: 16-17 CREDITS Spring 2024: 16 or 17 CREDITS
**MBI 361 or **BIO 325 Epidemiology (3) or Pathophysiology (4) **MBI 361 or **BIO 325 Epidemiology (3) or Pathophysiology (4)
**PSY 111 (MP IIC) Introduction to Psychology (3) NSG 262 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice (3)
PSY 112 Foundational Experiences (1) NSG 262 L Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice - Lab (1)
NSG 251 Therapeutic Communication in Nursing (2) NSG 265 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice - Clinical (1)
NSG 252 Foundations of Professional Nursing (3) NSG 263 Community Health Nursing (3)
NSG 261 Health and Physical Assessment (3) NSG 432 Population Focused Nursing Care - Clinical (2)
NSG 261 L Health and Physical Assessment Lab (1) Miami Plan or NE (3) Nursing Elective or IIA or IIB or III (#1) or III (#2) or V or ICP or AW
Third Year: Fall 2024: 17 CREDITS Spring 2025: 14
NSG 349 Introduction to Principles of Pharmacology in Nursing (3) NSG 353 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations I (3)
NSG 365 Nursing Research (3) NSG 354 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations I - Clinical (3)
NSG 351 Nursing of Childbearing Family (3) NSG 451 Nursing Care of Clients with Mental Health Disorders & Their Families (3)
NSG 352 Childbearing Family - Clinical (2) NSG 452 Nursing Care of Clients with Mental Health Disorders & Their Families (2)
Miami Plan (6) Nursing Elective or IIA or IIB or III (#1) or III (#2) or V or ICP or AW NSG 461 Nursing Care of Older Adults (3)
Fourth Year: Fall 2025: 14 CREDITS Spring 2026: 13 CREDITS
NSG 361 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations II (3) NSG 435 (MPC) Challenges in Health Care Delivery (3)
NSG 362 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations II - Clinical (3) NSG 463 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Multi-System Health Alterations (3)
NSG 402 The Professional Nurse Leader (3) NSG 464 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Multi-System Health Alterations - Clinical (5)
NSG 363 Nursing Care of Children NSG 465 Nursing Senior Seminar (2)
NSG 364 Nursing Care of Children

I = English Composition (3)

IIA = Creative Arts (3), MP IIB = Humanities (3), MP IIC = Science (3)

MPF III = Global Perspectives (6)

MPF IVA = Biological Science (3), MPF IVB = Physical Science (3)

MPF V = Mathematics, Formal Reasoning, Technology (3), **Recommend STA 261 for MPF V if planning on graduate school

MP-ICP = Intercultural Perspectives (3)

AW = Advanced Writing (3)

MPC = Miami Plan Capstone (3)

The Nursing department reserves the right to change the order of course offerings.

*Year one nursing program requirements; must be completed by end of first year

**Year two nursing program requirements; must be completed by end of second year

PSY 112 is not a nursing program requirement, however it is a required co-requisite with PSY 111. Students who do not take PSY 111 as a result of transfer or advanced placement credit are not required to take PSY 112; however, they will need to take an additional credit to reach Miami’s 124 total credits required for graduation.

All Miami Plan requirements must be met, however, there is flexibility regarding when the following are taken: IIA, IIB, III (#1), III (#2), V, ICP, AW. Nursing Elective (3) may be taken once students begin their nursing courses.

The following are Testing Courses: NSG 261, NSG 262, NSG 349, NSG 351, NSG353, NSG 361, NSG 363, NSG 451, NSG 463

*Transfer students entering Miami University in Fall 2023 may have varied catalog years which may impact the curriculum plan. Please refer to your nursing academic advisor and degree audit report for required courses.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Four Year Curriculum Plan

Honor Cohort: Freshman in 2023/Graduating Spring 2027 (entering as freshman into Nursing - Oxford)
First Year: Fall 2023 (17 credits) Spring 2024 (18 credits)
*ENG 111 (PA 1B) English Composition (3) *MBI 111 (PA 2B) Microorganisms and Human Disease (3)
*CHM 131 (PA 2B) Chemistry of Life Processes (4) *MBI 123 Experimenting with Microbes (1)
*BIO 171 (PA 2B) Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4) *BIO 172 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4)
NSG 252 Foundations of Professional Nursing (3) NSG 261 Health and Physical Assessment (3)
Miami Plan (3 credits) PA: 1A or 1C or 2A or 3A or 3B or 4A or 4B or 4C or Signature Inquiries NSG 261L Health and Physical Assessment Lab (1)
Miami Plan (6 credits) PA: 1A or 1C or 2A or 3A or 3B or 4A or 4B or 4C or Signature Inquiries
Second Year: Fall 2024 (13-17 credits) Spring 2025 (13-17 credits)
**BIO 325 Pathophysiology (4) OR -> **BIO 325 Pathophysiology (4)
**PSY 111 (PA 2A) Introduction to Psychology (3) NSG 349 Introduction to Principles of Pharmacology in Nursing (3)
PSY 112 Foundational Experiences (1) NSG 365 Nursing Research (3)
NSG 251 Therapeutic Communication in Nursing (2) NSG 265 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice - Clinical (1)
NSG 262 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice (3) Miami Plan (6 credits) PA: 1A or 1C or 2A or 3A or 3B or 4A or 4B or 4C or Signature Inquiries
NSG 262L Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice Lab (1)
Miami Plan (3 credits) PA: 1A or 1C or 2A or 3A or 3B or 4A or 4B or 4C or Signature Inquiries
Third Year: Fall 2025 (16 credits) Spring 2026 (17 credits)
NSG 351 Nursing of Childbearing Family (3) NSG 353 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations I (3)
NSG 352 NSG 352 Childbearing Family – Clinical (2) NSG 354 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations I – Clinical (3)
NSG 363 Nursing Care of Children (3) NSG 451 Nursing Care of Clients with Mental Health Disorders & Their Families (3)
NSG 364 Nursing Care of Children – Clinical (2) NSG 452 Nursing Care of Clients with Mental Health Disorders & Their Families - Clinical (2)
NSG 461 Nursing Care of Older Adults (3) Miami Plan (6) PA: 1A or 1C or 2A or 3A or 3B or 4A or 4B or 4C or Signature Inquiries
Miami Plan (3) PA: 1A or 1C or 2A or 3A or 3B or 4A or 4B or 4C or Signature Inquiries
Fourth Year: Fall 2026 (14 credits) Spring 2027 (13 credits)
NSG 361 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations II (3) NSG 435 Challenges in Healthcare Delivery (3) Miami Senior Capstone
NSG 362 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations II - Clinical (3) NSG 463 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Multi-System Health Alterations (3)
NSG 402 The Professional Nurse Leader (3) NSG 464 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Multi-System Health Alterations - Clinical (5)
NSG 263 Community Health Nursing (3) NSG 465 Nursing Senior Seminar (2)
NSG 432 Population Focused Nursing Care – Clinical (2)


PA1: Formal Reasoning and Communication

PA 1A = Formal Reasoning and Communication= Mathematics and Formal Reasoning (3 credits) / **Recommend STA 261 if planning on graduate school

PA 1B = Formal Reasoning and Communication= English Composition (3 credits)

PA 1C: Formal Reasoning and Communication= Advanced Writing (3 credits)

PA2: Science and Society

PA 2A = Science and Society/Social Sciences (6 credits) (PSY 111 + 3 credits)

PA 2B = Science and Society/Natural Sciences (6 credits) (CHM 131 & MBI 161 & BIO 171)

PA3: Arts and Humanities

PA 3A: Arts and Humanities/Creative Arts (3 credits)

PA 3B: Arts and Humanities/Humanities (3 credits)

PA4: Global Citizenship

PA 4A: Global Citizenship/Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (3 credits)

PA 4B: Global Citizenship/Intercultural Consciousness (3-6 credits)

PA 4C: Global Citizenship/Global Inquiry (3-6 credits)

Signature Inquiries: Can double-dip with any of PA1, PA2A , PA3 & PA4

The Nursing department reserves the right to change the order of course offerings.

*Year one nursing program requirements; must be completed by end of first year

**Year two nursing program requirements; must be completed by end of second year

PSY 112 is not a nursing program requirement, however it is a required co-requisite with PSY 111. Students who do not take PSY 111 as a result of transfer or advanced placement credit are not required to take PSY 112; however, they will need to take an additional credit to reach Miami’s 124 total credits required for graduation.

All Miami Plan requirements must be met, however, there is flexibility regarding when the following are taken: (PA 1A), (PA 1B), (PA 1C), (PA 2A), (PA 3A), (PA 3B), (PA 4A), (PA 4B), (PA 4C), Signature Inquiries

The following are Testing Courses: NSG 261, NSG 262, NSG 349, NSG 351, NSG 353, NSG 361, NSG 363, NSG 451, NSG 463

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Four Year Curriculum Plan

Love Cohort: Freshman in 2023/Graduating Spring 2027 (entering as freshman into Nursing - Oxford)
First Year: Fall 2023 (17 credits) Spring 2024 (18 credits)
*ENG 111 (PA 1B) English Composition (3) *MBI 111 (PA 2B) Microorganisms and Human Disease (3)
*CHM 131 (PA 2B) Chemistry of Life Processes (4) *MBI 123 Experimenting with Microbes (1)
*BIO 171 (MP 2B) Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4) *BIO 172 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4)
Miami Plan (3 credits) PA: 1A or 1C or 2A or 3A or 3B or 4A or 4B or 4C or Signature Inquiries Miami Plan (6 credits) PA: 1A or 1C or 2A or 3A or 3B or 4A or 4B or 4C or Signature Inquiries
NSG 252 Foundations of Professional Nursing (3) NSG 261 Health and Physical Assessment (3)
NSG 261L Health and Physical Assessment Lab (1)
Second Year: Fall 2024 (13-17 credits) Spring 2025 (13-17 credits)
**BIO 325 Pathophysiology (4) OR -> **BIO 325 Pathophysiology (4)
**PSY 111 (PA 2A) Introduction to Psychology (3) NSG 349 Introduction to Principles of Pharmacology in Nursing (3)
PSY 112 Foundational Experiences (1) NSG 365 Nursing Research (3)
NSG 251 Therapeutic Communication in Nursing (2) NSG 265 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice - Clinical (1)
Miami Plan (3 credits) PA: 1A or 1C or 2A or 3A or 3B or 4A or 4B or 4C or Signature Inquiries Miami Plan (6 credits) PA: 1A or 1C or 2A or 3A or 3B or 4A or 4B or 4C or Signature Inquiries
NSG 262 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice (3)
NSG 262L Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice Lab (1)
Third Year: Fall 2025 (17 credits) Spring 2026 (16 credits)
NSG 263 Community Health Nursing (3) NSG 351 Nursing Care of Childbearing Family (3)
NSG 432 Population Focused Nursing - Clinical (2) NSG 352 Childbearing Family - Clinical (2)
NSG 353 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations I (3) NSG 363 Nursing Care of Children (3)
NSG 354 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations I - Clinical (3) NSG 364 Nursing Care of Children - Clinical (2)
Miami Plan (6 credits) PA: 1A or 1C or 2A or 3A or 3B or 4A or 4B or 4C or Signature Inquiries NSG 461 Nursing Care of Older Adults (3)
Miami Plan (3 credits) PA: 1A or 1C or 2A or 3A or 3B or 4A or 4B or 4C or Signature Inquiries
Fourth Year: Fall 2026 (14 credits) Spring 2027 (13 credits)
NSG 361 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations II (3) NSG 435 Challenges in Healthcare Delivery (3) Miami Senior Capstone
NSG 362 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations II - Clinical (3) NSG 463 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Multi-System Health Alterations (3)
NSG 402 The Professional Nurse Leader (3) NSG 464 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Multi-System Health Alterations - Clinical (5)
NSG 451 Nursing Care of Clients with Mental Health Disorders & Their Families (3) NSG 465 Nursing Senior Seminar (2)
NSG 452 Nursing Care of Clients with Mental Health Disorders & Their Families - Clinical (2)

PA 1A = Formal Reasoning and Communication= Mathematics and Formal Reasoning (3 credits) / **Recommend STA 261 if planning on graduate school

planning on graduate school PA 1B = Formal Reasoning and Communication= English Composition (3 credits)

PA 1C: Formal Reasoning and Communication= Advanced Writing (3 credits)

PA2: Science and Society

PA 2A = Science and Society/Social Sciences (6 credits) (PSY 111 + 3 credits)

PA 2B = Science and Society/Natural Sciences (6 credits) (CHM 131 & MBI 161 & BIO 171)

PA3: Arts and Humanities

PA 3A: Arts and Humanities/Creative Arts (3 credits)

PA 3B: Arts and Humanities/Humanities (3 credits)

PA4: Global Citizenship

PA 4A: Global Citizenship/Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (3 credits)

PA 4B: Global Citizenship/Intercultural Consciousness (3-6 credits)

PA 4C: Global Citizenship/Global Inquiry (3-6 credits)

Signature Inquiries: Can double-dip with any of PA1, PA2A , PA3 & PA4

The Nursing department reserves the right to change the order of course offerings.

*Year one nursing program requirements; must be completed by end of first year

**Year two nursing program requirements; must be completed by end of second year

PSY 112 is not a nursing program requirement, however it is a required co-requisite with PSY 111. Students who do not take PSY 111 as a result of transfer or advanced placement credit are not required to take PSY 112; however, they will need to take an additional credit to reach Miami’s 124 total credits required for graduation.

All Miami Plan requirements must be met, however, there is flexibility regarding when the following are taken: (PA 1A), (PA 1B), (PA 1C), (PA 2A), (PA 3A), (PA 3B), (PA 4A), (PA 4B), (PA 4C), Signature Inquiries

The following are Testing Courses: NSG 261, NSG 262, NSG 349, NSG 351, NSG 353, NSG 361, NSG 363, NSG 451, NSG 463

EXCEPTIONAL CLINICAL EXPERIENCES

Our hospital and clinical agencies are located in the Oxford, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Fairfield, Middletown and Dayton areas, including but not limited to:

  • Atrium Medical Center
  • Bethesda North Hospital
  • Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
  • Dayton Children’s Hospital
  • Kettering Health Network Hospitals
  • Lindner Center of HOPE
  • McCullough-Hyde Memorial
  • Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital
  • Mercy Health West Hospital
  • Miami Valley Hospital
  • The Christ Hospital
  • West Chester Hospital (UC)

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Our students have multiple opportunities to partner with organizations to improve health and safety in the local communities. These include projects to improve mental health access, women’s health and education, and pediatric health screening.

CAREER OPTIONS

All graduates will be qualified to take the National Council Licensing Examination - RN (NCLEX-RN) to become a licensed registered nurse (RN) in Ohio or any other state. The BSN program prepares graduates for roles in all areas of nursing, including acute care settings in medical-surgical, maternal/newborn, operating room, emergency, and intensive care. Other non-acute care settings that attract our graduates include home care, school nursing, rehab facilities, extended care facilities, health clinics, and public health roles. The BSN also provides a pathway for nurse leadership roles and entry into a master’s program in advanced practice nursing. Nurses with a Master’s degree in Nursing may pursue roles as a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, nurse educator, nurse researcher, or nurse administrator.

GRADUATION

Students must earn a minimum of 124 credit hours and achieve an overall GPA of 2.0. The nursing program requires a grade of C or better in all nursing courses and all non-nursing program required courses: BIO171, BIO172, BIO325, ENG111, PSY 111/112, CHM131 (or equivalent) and MBI161 (or equivalent). Students who earn a grade below a C in two or more of these courses will be dismissed from the nursing program. It is expected that students complete required courses by level/year (as outlined above) in order to progress to the next level. It is the student’s responsibility to stay on track with program requirements.

MISCELLANEOUS COSTS

In addition to the fees below which are associated with the Nursing program, individual courses may have additional required materials, subject to change. These estimated fees include, but are not limited to:

Miscellaneous Costs
Nurse Pack $225
Uniform $120
Nursing Books $1,000
Lab Fees $2,000
Health Insurance Variable costs
Immunizations Variable costs
Criminal Record Checks $300
CPR $240
Parking Fees at Clinical Agencies $45
State Licensing Fee $75
NCLEX-RN Exam Fee $200
Castle Branch Program Set-Up Fee $35
Graduation Fee $60
HESI Access across 6 semesters & Includes a 4-day review course at the completion of the program $1,110

CONTACT INFORMATION

Department of Nursing

513-785-7752 (MUH)
nsginfo@MiamiOH.edu
MiamiOH.edu/Regionals/NSG

Office of Advising

513-785-3129 (MUH) | 513-727-3440 (MUM)
regadvising@MiamiOH.edu
MiamiOH.edu/Regionals/Advising

Office of Admission

513-785-3111 (MUH) | 513-727-3216 (MUM)
MURegionalsAdmission@MiamiOH.edu
MiamiOH.edu/Regionals/Admission

Career Services and Progessional Development

513-785-3113 (MUH) | 513-217-4030 (MUM)
miamiregionalscareer@MiamiOH.edu

BSN Program Required Nursing Course Descriptions

NSG 251 Therapeutic Communication in Nursing

Examines and develops skills in communication that the nurse uses in working with clients across the lifespan and with other health care professionals. Consideration is given to factors affecting the nurse-client relationship, including self-awareness and cultural awareness. Theory and evidence are examined as foundations for therapeutic communication in nursing practice.

Prerequisite: sophomore standing as a baccalaureate nursing student

NSG 252 Foundations of Professional Nursing (3)

Introduces the student to the role of the nurse as a partner in health promotion with others within the healthcare system. Nursing is studied in light of its historical roots, educational trends, professional/political power, theory and research, and the profession’s role in the changing health care delivery system. Major theories, concepts, trends, and issues that impact the nursing profession today are addressed. Applications of theories regarding socialization into the professional role are emphasized.

NSG 261 Health & Physical Assessment Theory (3)

Designed to develop transcultural health assessment skills across the lifespan. Content and practice focus on developing cognitive and psychomotor skills associated with obtaining a complete database through history taking and physical assessments. Students will identify assessment findings that fall outside accepted parameters of normal for pediatric, adult, geriatric and pregnant populations.

Prerequisite: BIO 171; Co-requisite: NSG 261L.

NSG 261L Health and Physical Assessment Lab (1)

Designed to develop transcultural health assessment skills across the lifespan. Content and practice focus on developing cognitive psychomotor skills associated with obtaining a complete database through history taking and physical assessments. Students will identify assessment findings that fall outside accepted parameters of normal for pediatric, adult, geriatric and pregnant populations. Lab. (BSN program).

Prerequisite: BIO 171; Co-requisite: NSG 261.

NSG 262 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice (3)

Develops skills in nursing therapeutics and evidence based practice to promote holistic health. Through use of critical thinking skills, students will apply psychomotor skills and nursing therapeutic interventions. Theory.

Prerequisites: NSG 261 and NSG 261L; Co-requisite: NSG 262L

NSG 262L Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice Lab (1)

Develops skills in nursing therapeutics and evidence-based practice to promote holistic health. Through use of critical thinking skills, students will apply psychomotor skills and nursing therapeutic interventions.

Prerequisites: NSG 261 and NSG 261L; Co-requisite: NSG 262.

NSG 263 Community Health Nursing (3)

This course provides theoretical background in community health nursing. The course is based on the synthesis of nursing theory and the public health sciences. Emphasis is on the promotion, preservation, and maintenance of the health of populations. This course focuses on the professional role of the community/public health nurse working with aggregates, vulnerable populations, populations with health problems, community partners, and health officials to promote a healthier community. The student will use skills in community health assessment, program planning as well as interventions to help identified populations attain and maintain their optimum level of health. This course provides a foundation for designing nursing strategies for individuals, families, and population by integrating health-promotion disease prevention concepts.

NSG 265 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice Clinical (1)

Develops skills in nursing therapeutics and evidence-based practice to promote holistic health. Through use of critical thinking skills, students will apply psychomotor skills and nursing therapeutic interventions. Lab.

Prerequisites or Co-requisites: NSG 262, NSG 262L.

NSG 349 Introduction to Principles of Pharmacology in Nursing Practice (3)

Introduces the student to the nursing application of basic pharmacology throughout the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on the application of pharmacological knowledge through clinical decision making in nursing practice.

Prerequisites: NSG 251, NSG 252, and NSG 261

NSG 351 Nursing of Childbearing Family (3)

Examines theory and evidence-based practice as the basis for planning care for the childbearing family. Emphasis is placed on health promotion integration for families in transition, acknowledging physiological, sociocultural, political and economic forces within the healthcare system.

Prerequisite: junior standing as a baccalaureate nursing student. Co-requisite: NSG 352.

NSG 352 Childbearing Family Clinical (2)

NSG 352 Childbearing Family Clinical (2) Addresses the nursing role as provider of care for childbearing families. Theoretical principles and evidence-based practice are applied to the planning of and providing care for the childbearing family. Emphasis is placed on health promotion integration for childbearing families.

Prerequisite: junior standing as a baccalaureate nursing student. Co-requisite: NSG 351.

NSG 353 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations I (3)

Examines holistic nursing care of adults. Emphasis is on therapeutic nursing care to promote, maintain, and restore health in adults within the context of the family and community. Focus is on medical-surgical health alterations common to adults.

Prerequisite: NSG 262; Co-requisite: NSG

NSG 354 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations I Clinical (3)

Addresses providing holistic nursing care to adults and their families in a variety of settings. Students will focus on health promotion, risk reduction, and health restoration activities in examining medical- surgical health alterations common to adults.

Prerequisite: NSG 262; Co-requisite: NSG

NSG 361 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations II (3)

Examines holistic nursing care of adults and their families. Emphasis is on therapeutic nursing care to promote, maintain, and restore health in adults within the context of the family and community. Focuses on medical-surgical health alterations common to adults.

Prerequisites: NSG 353 and NSG 354; Co-requisite: NSG 362.

NSG 362 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations II Clinical (3)

Addresses providing holistic nursing care to adults and their families in a variety of settings. Students will focus on health promotion, risk reduction, and health restoration activities in examining medical- surgical health alterations common to adults.

Prerequisites: NSG 353 and NSG 354; Co-requisite: NSG 361.

NSG 363 Nursing Care of Children (3)

Examines theory and evidence-based practice as the basis for planning nursing care for the child within the context of family and community. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, psychological and physiological needs as well as the dynamic interplay of culture, socioeconomic, ethical and legal issues, and spiritual beliefs.

Prerequisite: junior standing as a baccalaureate nursing student Co-requisite: NSG 364.

NSG 364 Nursing Care of Children Clinical (2)

Addresses application of theory and evidence-based practice in caring for the child within the context of family and community. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, psychological and physiological needs as well as the dynamic interplay of culture, socioeconomic, ethical and legal issues, and spiritual beliefs.

Prerequisite: junior standing as a baccalaureate nursing student. Co-requisite: NSG 363.

NSG 365 Nursing Research (3)

This course introduces the baccalaureate nursing student to the research process and its application in the discipline of nursing. Emphasis will be placed on critiquing published studies, understanding the research process, and developing skills to apply research findings in the practice setting.

NSG 402 The Professional Nurse Leader (3)

Synthesizes roles and responsibilities of the baccalaureate nurse by establishing a theoretical foundation for developing leadership skills applicable in all areas of the healthcare system.

NSG 432 Population-Focused Nursing Care Clinical (2)

The purpose of the clinical experience is for students to apply theory, engage in the principles of population-focused care, and demonstrate skills as an emerging leader in the nursing profession. For this clinical, students will examine public health issues relevant to a specified vulnerable or disenfranchised population. Students will use data, information technology, and input from community members to assess the health needs of populations. Based on assessment data, students will collaborate with community and organizational leaders to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based nursing interventions.

NSG 435 Challenges in Health Care Delivery (3)

NSG 435 Challenges in Health Care Delivery (3) Provides opportunity to synthesize and apply accumulated knowledge to a specific topic or project related to health care delivery. Students with varying academic and experiential backgrounds work in small groups to research and analyze a topic or situation from various perspectives. Each group develops one of the following: a position paper, a manuscript ready for submission for publication, or a plan for action relative to a specific situation or problem.

Prerequisite: senior standing.

NSG 451 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Mental Health Disorders and Their Families (2/3)

Examines theory and evidence-based practice in the nursing care of clients experiencing mental health disorders and their families. Emphasizes application of the nursing process and therapeutic communication skills in the promotion of mental health. Concepts of group dynamics and family are addressed.

Prerequisite: junior or senior standing as a baccalaureate nursing student; Co-requisite: NSG 452.

NSG 452 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Mental Health Disorders and Their Families (2/3)

Addresses providing care to clients experiencing mental health disorders and their families in a variety settings. Emphasis is on application of the nursing process and therapeutic communication skills. Promotion of mental health, concepts of group dynamics and family systems are addressed.

Prerequisite: junior or senior standing as a baccalaureate nursing student; Co-requisite: NSG 451.

NSG 461 Nursing Care of Older Adults (3)

Examines holistic nursing care of the aging client. Health and wellness needs of the older adult and the impact of aging on the individual, family, and community are evaluated. Focus is on promoting functional ability and quality of life of the older adult.

Prerequisite: junior or senior standing as a baccalaureate nursing student.

NSG 463 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Multi-System Health Alterations (3)

Examines multi-system health alterations that affect individuals and families across the life span. Students will synthesize prior learning as they analyze the multiple factors contributing to major health alterations. Emphasizes the way in which individuals as members of families and other social groups adapt to the trajectory of the disease process and complex health alterations. The student is guided to examine the role of the nurse as a member of the interdisciplinary team that provides services for disease prevention, health restoration and rehabilitation.

Prerequisites: NSG 361 and NSG 362.; Co-requisites: NSG 464 and NSG 465.

NSG 464 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Multi-System Health Alterations Clinical (5)

NSG 464 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Multi-System Health Alterations Clinical (5) Addresses providing care to groups of clients with multi-system health alterations and their families. Focuses on refining clinical decision-making skills, implementing evidence-based interventions, and measuring client outcomes in evaluating the therapeutic effectiveness of care provided. Facilitates the transition from student to graduate nurse through preceptor experiences and faculty guidance.

Prerequisites: NSG 361 and NSG 362.; Co-requisites: NSG 463 and NSG 465.

NSG 465 Nursing Senior Seminar (2)

Seminar course designed to assist the graduating senior nursing student to transition from student role to registered nurse (RN) role. The course utilizes a nationally normed standardized testing product in preparation for the RN licensure examination. This course focuses on assisting the student to evaluate his/her results and develop individualized remediation plans to foster success on the licensure examination. The course incorporates a comprehensive review. Prerequisite: last semester of senior BSN program.

Prerequisite: last semester of senior BSN program.; Co-requisites: NSG 463 and NSG 464.

Miami University BSN Curriculum Plan (Beginning Fall 2023)
Nursing Course Semester Credits Theory Clock Hours Laboratory Clock Hours Clinical Clock Hours Total Clock Hours
NSG 251 Therapeutic Communication in Nursing 2 25 0 0 25
NSG 252 Foundations of Professional Nursing 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 261 Health & Physical Assessment 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 261 L Health & Physical Assessment Lab 1 0 25 0 25
NSG 262 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 262 L Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice Lab 1 0 25 0 25
NSG 265 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice-Clinical 1 4 0 21 25
NSG 263 Community Health Nursing 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 349 Introduction to Principles of Pharmacology in Nursing Practice 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 351 Nursing Care of Childbearing Family 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 352 Nursing Care of Childbearing Family Clinical 2 5 20 25 50
NSG 353 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations I 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 354 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations I Clinical 3 5 6 64 75
NSG 361 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations II 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 362 Nursing Care of Adult Clients with Health Alterations II Clinical 3 5 6 64 75
NSG 363 Nursing Care of Children 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 364 Nursing Care of Children Clinical 2 6 12 32 50
NSG 365 Nursing Research 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 402 The Professional Nurse Leader 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 432 Population-Focused Nursing Care Clinical 2 14 12 24 50
NSG 435 Challenges in Health Care Delivery 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 451 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Mental Health Disorders and Their Families 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 452 Nursing Care of Clients Experiencing Mental Health Disorders and Their Families Clinical 2 7 13 30 50
NSG 461 Nursing Care of Older Adults 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 463 Nursing Care of Clients with Multi-System Health Alterations 3 37.5 0 0 37.5
NSG 464 Nursing Care of Clients with Multi-System Health Alterations Clinical 5 6 4 115 125
NSG 465 Nursing Senior Seminar 2 25 0 0 25
Total Clock Hours for Lab/Clinical Courses N/A 664.5 123 375 N/A
Total Program Clock Hours N/A N/A N/A N/A 1162.5

 

BSN Program

Nursing Elective Options - Course Descriptions

NSG 111 Introduction to Miami (1)

This 1-credit course will serve to support first year nursing students during their transition into their program of study. Content introduced will orient students to the nursing profession, Miami requirements and will review available resources and opportunities in the nursing program. It will also provide an introduction to stress reduction techniques and cognitive-behavioral skills to help students succeed during their course of study at Miami University.

NSG 301 Theory-Based Nursing Practice (3)

Students are introduced to major theories, concepts, trends, and social policy issues that impact the nursing profession today as well as influence its future. Role socialization, application, and integration of theoretical concepts into the RN professional role are emphasized. The profession's historical roots, education trends, and role evolution, theory and research focus, health and social policy power issues are examined in light of the nation's changing health care delivery system. NSG 301 is specifically designed for the Miami University Advanced Writing requirement, with assignments speaking to various types of writing used by nurses (Elective for BSN). ADVW. (Open to all nursing and non-nursing majors).

Prerequisite: Miami Plan Foundation I English.

NSG 302 Intermediate Clinical Nursing Practicum (3)

This course provides students with a concentrated clinical experience at a local health care facility that will focus on improving their skills to plan, implement, and evaluate the nursing care they provide. Students care for a group of clients over consecutive days and have a nurse mentor thus fostering collegial and interdisciplinary relationships. The faculty member will evaluate the student more in-depth in the application of knowledge, selection of priorities and consistency of care. (Elective for BSN).

Prerequisite: NSG 261 and 262.

NSG 303 Clinical Practicum: Acute Care Nursing Roles (3-5 credit hours)

This course provides opportunities for nursing students to enhance knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide whole-person care in the acute care setting. Exploration of acute care nursing roles, development of critical thinking skills is enhanced through interactive activities and discussion of clinically relevant topics and current nursing issues.

NSG 306 Health Care Delivery in Central America: Belize (3-6 credit hours)

This Miami University Workshop (3 to 6 credit hours) will enable students interested in nursing and other health professions to work besides physicians and health care workers in Belize caring for residents in a local clinic. The students will participate in village triage; assess communities and issues that affect health in the Central American country of Belize. Students will practice the Spanish language with the assistance of interpreters. Residents identified that need medical assistance and education will be seen in a neighborhood clinic. Students will participate in caring for those individuals at various levels based on  prior experiences and knowledge. Students will also experience the culture and people of Belize along with the beautiful scenery with the rich cultural tours planned. This is an experiential opportunity that will fulfill the Miami Plan Global Citizenship: Global Inquiry and Experiential Learning requirements and the required nursing major elective.

NSG 311 Health Promotion Across the Lifespan (3)

Helps baccalaureate nursing students shift their focus from illness-oriented care to health and wellness promotion. Students are introduced to content about assessment for wellness and intervention for health promotion throughout the lifespan. Open to all majors.

NSG 321 – U.S. Health Care System and Culture (3)

This course is designed to provide the student with an overview regarding factors that influence health care systems in the United States. A seminar/discussion format will be used to help students examine the culture of health care, various health care delivery systems, as well as roles of providers of care and key stakeholders. Students will also explore select contemporary and legal/ethical issues that arise in the evolving health care system. Open to all majors.

Prerequisite: Junior standing.

NSG 325 Problem-Based Approaches in Nursing (1)

The course uses problem-based approaches to foster critical thinking skills for the provision of safe, effective nursing care. It incorporates strategies to analyze complex nursing applications.

Prerequisites: NSG 251 and NSG 252 or permission of the Instructor.

NSG 341 Caring and Terminal Illness (3)

Elective course that explores concepts of professional nursing care in relation to terminal illness. Foci include symptom control, family support, attitudes towards death and dying, and concept of biomedical ethics.

NSG 399 Caregivers Crisis (3)

This course examines international humanitarian aid organizations' evolution, priorities, and current challenges. Students will examine humanitarian organizations, with special attention given to the role and impact of healthcare workers. The analysis will highlight past challenges and successes in humanitarian aid from the perspective of individuals to organizations to global priorities, with special attention given to the International Red Cross and Doctors without Borders. Course activities will include visits to local and international headquarters in Luxembourg and in Geneva, Switzerland.

NSG 441 Health and Aging: Perspectives and Current (3)

This elective course examines issues of health status and health care delivery for the older population. Topics include perceptions of health, major health problems in later life, strategies for working with older persons experiencing functional and sensory changes of aging, patterns of health-services utilization, projected health needs, and ethical issues related to health care for the elderly. (Elective for BSN)