INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

OFFICE HOURS

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog

Grading Criteria

 Numeric course grades will be converted to letter grades as follows:

            90-100                         A

            81-89                           B

            75-80                           C

            66-74                           D

            65 and below               F

In order to pass this course, the student:

Must pass the unit exams, final exams, and the written assignments with an average of 75 or higher.

Must pass the math exam with 100% within three tries.

GRADING CRITERIA

Math Competency:  Dosage calculation modules are available on your ATI account.  Clinical Nursing I students are required to take a dosage and calculation test prior to going to the clinical site. The student will have three opportunities to pass the test with a minimum score of 100%. The math exam will consist of 10 questions and the student will be allowed 30 minutes to complete the exam. If the student is not successful on the first or second attempt, he/she will be required to seek remedial math instruction with their clinical instructor or the NCTC math lab and retake the math test within one week after the first math exam. Failure to pass the third math test with a minimum score of 100% will result in an immediate clinical failure and dismissal from the program at that time. If a student misses the math exam that missed exam will be considered a failed attempt.

  Assignments: All assignments listed in the syllabus as well as any additional written assignments given by the clinical instructor must be satisfactorily completed and submitted on or before the assigned due date to the clinical instructor in order to receive a grade on the assignment. Failure to complete and submit assignments by the due dates will result in the student receiving a zero (0) for the assignment. All assignments must be completed and submitted in order to pass the course.

Portfolios:  The student must have a portfolio consisting of all the evaluation forms, clinical competency forms, patient care and documentation forms, and clinical points tool that they will need to bring to clinical each day.  The contents of this portfolio will be submitted with the final evaluation and will be part of the student file. 

TESTING POLICY

As an adult learner, a student nurse and a member of the professional nursing community, I understand that it is my responsibility to demonstrate honesty, integrity, high ethical standards, and to behave in a manner consistent with that of a professional nurse. I acknowledge that as a student in a program of preparation for professional nursing practice, I am expected that I take full responsibility for my actions. I will support the highest academic standards and I will not intentionally or knowingly engage in any activities that support academic dishonesty.  I will neither give nor receive unauthorized help on any examination.  I will not seek assistance when answering questions on an online exam, when such action has been strictly prohibited.

I will not store, receive, and or access course materials (lecture note, textbooks, or learning aids) on a cellular device, computer or other electronic device during online testing. . I will not use the Internet to search for answers during an exam. I understand that test question are confidential and I will not take pictures of any test question and I will not record and test questions or answers during the exam.

I also understand it is my responsibility to report any knowledge or observation of others giving or receiving help.  I am aware that any violation of academic honesty may lead to lead to actions up to and including dismissal from the nursing program. Continuing with the exam indicates that I acknowledge the above and agree to abide by the statements contained within.

   Most exams for clinical will be through ATItesting.com and on campus, in the college computer labs, 2^nd floor

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

Clinical Site Medication Policy and Procedures

Level - CLINICAL I

In order to maintain safety of the patient when students administer medications in contracted hospitals, the faculty at North Central Texas College ADN program has developed the following policies and procedures.

1.         Policy I

a.     The staff nurse has the final responsibility for patient's care.

b.     The Clinical Instructor or RN Preceptor (instructor) has the final responsibility for student medication administration (supervision and delegation of experiences)

c.     This medication policy will be subject to the policy of the clinical facility.

Procedure:

The Clinical Instructor will evaluate the student's assignment for the shift and assess patient, time factor, instructor availability and possible collaboration of a staff nurse. The instructor's decision to delegate the responsibility of medication supervision will be communicated directly to the staff and/or Charge Nurse.

The instructor's discretion will be used as to the student's readiness to do a skill involving medications. While North Central Texas College ADN program appreciates and values the collaboration of hospital staff nurses in this venture, it does not assume that staff nurses will comply. Collaboration will be sought when the instructor cannot be present and only by prior arrangement.  The nursing instructor will request communication concerning agency medication administration policy during student orientation.

2.         Policy II

When a staff nurse has agreed to supervise a student with the Clinical Instructor's discretionary permission, it is requested that the staff nurse check the poured medications for accuracy (the five rights) before the student can administer the medication to the patient. The student is to state the classification, purpose, common side effects, contraindications, and nursing implications of the medications(s) before administering to the patient. The student will document on the medication records and nursing notes ONLY medications they have administered; never prior to actually administering the medication to the patient.

General procedures to be followed:

I.          The students are permitted to administer the following routes of medication as noted in this policy ONLY after making 100% on the math exam AND after successful medication check-off in skills lab.. All medication administration by  students will be supervised. Clinical I students DO NOT administer IV push medications or flushes to saline locks.

1.         Oral medications may be given with direct supervision of the Clinical Instructor or a staff nurse ONLY with approval of the Clinical Instructor.

2.         Intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intradermal medications may be given with direct supervision of the Clinical Instructor or a staff nurse ONLY with approval of the Clinical Instructor.

3.         Medications by any other route including rectal, vaginal, sublingual, buccal, and topical may be given with direct supervision of the Clinical Instructor or a staff nurse ONLY with approval of the Clinical Instructor.

II          The student is to report patient response to prn or stat. dosages of medication to the charge nurse or primary care nurse. The student will document the patient's response to prn or stat dosages of medication within 30 to 60 minutes after administration.

            III         The student will assess and document patient response to all administered medications during the clinical shift.

              IV.     Narcotic administration is at the discretion of the Clinical Instructor.  If the student is administering narcotics, narcotics must be co-signed by the instructor or a licensed staff nurse. Narcotics wasted must be observed and co-signed by the instructor or a licensed staff nurse in accordance with the facility policy.

             V.        Standing and sliding-scale insulin dosages must be checked and co-signed by the primary nurse or the Clinical Instructor. Heparin doses (any route) must be checked and co-signed by the primary nurse or instructor. Aminophylline (any route) must be checked and co-signed by the primary nurse or instructor.

         VI.        The student may observe when chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of cancer are administered by the nursing staff (students are not allowed to administer these agents).

            VII.       The student may NOT initiate blood and blood product administration. Students may observe only when blood or blood products are administered.

      VIII.      Prior to administering any drug, the student will verify that the appropriate dose for the age, weight and condition of the patient is being administered. If there are any questions, the student is to consult with the primary nurse or instructor.

                 IX.     It is the responsibility of the student to clarify, prior to administration of drugs, any questions in regards to this policy with the Clinical Instructor

                  X.     The student will maintain oxygen administration as ordered by the physician.

            XI.     The student will follow standard precautions in the administration of all medications.

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.  A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

NCTC Attendance Policy  https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/academic-policies/index.html   See the ADN Student Handbook regarding specific attendance policies for class and clinical.

The last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is November 1, 2021.

Specifically to RNSG 1261 the attendance requirements are

a. Students are expected to attend clinical on each assigned clinical day.  Each clinical course has a required number of hours that must be completed. There are no allowed or excused clinical absences.

b. If an untoward circumstance arises and the student must miss a clinical day, points will be deducted from the Clinical Points Tool for each clinical day missed.   Any student missing more than two (2) clinical days or clinical labs will have to schedule an appointment with the Program Director and the Clinical Instructor prior to the next clinical day.   The circumstances for the absences will be reviewed and the student may be dismissed from the nursing program or placed on a probationary contract.  The contract will state that any further absences will result in dismissal from the ADN program.  Two (2) days of tardiness of less than 30 minutes will be counted as one (1) absence.  Tardiness of more than 30 minutes is considered an absence. In the event of extreme circumstances, allowing the student to remain at clinical or being sent home will be at the discretion of the clinical instructor.

c. Students must notify the clinical instructor BEFORE the scheduled start time of clinical if he or she is going to be absent or tardy. This includes being late due to weather or traffic conditions.

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

If you feel you have needs for services that the institution provides, please reach out to either Wayne Smith (940) 498-6207 or Yvonne Sandman (940) 668-4321.  Alternative students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

The North Central Texas College (NCTC) Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) is committed to assisting students with accommodations related to all disabilities, including COVID-19. Any student that feels they require accommodations related to COVID-19 are encouraged to contact the OSD office by email at kwsmith@nctc.edu and/or ysandmann@nctc.edu for a virtual intake session. As with all disability related accommodations, documentation is required and reasonable accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis.  North Central Texas College also has a CARES Team and a student can also request advising assistance by contacting cares.nctc.edu or counseling@nctc.edu for information and/or assistance related to special advising and/or counseling referrals.