College of Nursing Student Handbook
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College of Nursing Student Handbook The College of Nursing Student Handbook is reviewed and updated yearly by the Student Affairs Committee - reviewed May 2021.
Transcript of College of Nursing Student Handbook
College of Nursing Student Handbook
The College of Nursing Student Handbook is reviewed and updated yearly by the Student Affairs Committee - reviewed May 2021.
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Disclaimer
This Handbook is neither a contract nor an offer to make a contract. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information enclosed, the Handbook is updated during the Spring Semester of each year. Texas Woman’s University College of Nursing reserves the right to make changes at any time with respect to course offerings, degree requirements, services, policies, or any other subject addressed in this document. The information enclosed is provided solely for the convenience of the students and other readers. This Handbook supersedes all previous versions of the Handbook. Students are accountable for familiarizing themselves with its contents and for compliance with the policies and procedures contained within. The information provided in this handbook is to assist students in (1) academic program planning and (2) meeting the requirements of the College of Nursing and the Graduate School for completing the BSN degree in nursing. This information is intended to clarify and to supplement - not to replace, the information in the BSN Catalog. Each student should read thoroughly and comply fully with all requirements of the College of Nursing.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK:
This book contains information for the Undergraduate BSN in Nursing Program. All blue underlined text contains a hyperlink to other resources on both TWU websites and public websites. Place your mouse over the text, hold the CTRL button and left click the mouse to navigate to the website. At the time of publication, all hyperlinks work properly.
College of Nursing Student Handbook Verification
Please note: Students are required to complete the handbook acknowledgement form and Submit to the Castlebranch system as part of admission requirement and annual review. The Handbook Acknowledgment Form is located in Castle Branch.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. LETTER FROM THE DEAN ....................................................................... 5 II. MISSSION AND VISION .............................................................................. 6
UNIVERSITY .............................................................................................. 6 COLLEGE OF NURSING ............................................................................... 6 PHILOSOPHY .............................................................................................. 6 FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS ................................................................... 7
III. STUDENT SERVICES AND RESOURCES ............................................... 8 DIVISION OF STUDENT LIFE ........................................................................ 8 MISSION .................................................................................................... 8 OFFICE LOCATIONS ................................................................................... 8 TITLE IX: SEXUAL VIOLENCE EDUCATION ................................................... 9 TITLE IX: PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENTS ....................................... 9 COMMUNICATION ...................................................................................... 9 PIONEER Alert ........................................................................................... 9EMAIL ...................................................................................................... 10CAMPUS CLOSING-SEVERE WEATHER ....................................................... 10 NURSING STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ........................................................ 11 UNIVERSITY-WIDE STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS .......................................... 12 ONLINE COURSES ..................................................................................... 13
IV. UNIVERSITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ..................................... 12 REGISTRATION ......................................................................................... 12
ACADEMIC ADVISORS................................................................................ 13 ACADEMIC CONDUCT AND PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY .............................. 13 ATTENDANCE ........................................................................................... 13 DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................. 14 ACADEMIC APPEAL ................................................................................... 14 CITATION STYLE ....................................................................................... 17
V. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BSN) PROGRAM ....................................... 17 PROGRAM GOALS .................................................................................... 17 EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES ....................................................................... 17 ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ................................................... 18 STANDARDS FOR CONDUCT ..................................................................... 20 ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT ......................................................................... 20 GRADING POLICIES .................................................................................. 21 DISMISSAL ............................................................................................... 22 READMISSION INTO NURSING PROGRAMS ................................................ 22 PRIORITIES FOR CLASS ENROLLMENT ....................................................... 23 CLINICAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ..................................................... 23 REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLLMENT IN CLINICAL NURSING COURSES ..... 24 IMMUNIZATIONS ..................................................................................... 25 CORE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ......................................................... 26
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UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS .................................................................... 27 POLICY FOR PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE/DRESS CODE ...................... 28 SOCIAL MEDIA ...................................................................................... 30 GRADUATION ........................................................................................ 31 UNDERGRADUATE NURSING PIN ........................................................... 32
VI. APPENDIX A ................................................................................................ 33 VII. APPENDIX B ................................................................................................ 36 VIII. APPENDIX C ................................................................................................ 39 IX. APPENDIX D ................................................................................................ 42
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I. Letter from the Dean
Welcome to the College of Nursing’s BSN program at Texas Woman’s University! You are in an elite group of individuals who have excelled in course work, persevered, and secured a seat in either Dallas or Houston for the Traditional or Weekend Program or you have been admitted to the RN-BSN program/blended program in Denton. You have been admitted to a nationally recognized program that consistently has NCLEX pass rates greater than 95%. And we are glad you are here.
Please be familiar with the policies and procedures within the Handbook. There are core policies, and then those that are specific to the BSN program. You will have all the information you need to be successful in the program, answers to commonly asked questions, and how to move from a student to being successful in becoming a Registered Nurse or moving as Registered Nurse to a BSN.
We have an outstanding Honors Program, the largest in the University. These students have extra course work and expectations and often publish and do presentations prior to graduation. They have been recognized by the Board of Regents in the University for their outstanding contributions on more than one occasion.
There are a number of student associations that you may be interested in. You will hear more about these at orientation. There will also be opportunities to volunteer in patient scenarios (giving flu shots for the University), in fundraisers, attendance at professional meetings, and to join a research team.
If you are a returning student, please peruse the Table of Contents to make sure you are up to date on any policies or program changes have been made since last year or your last review. Policies are continuously being updated.
Good luck moving forward.
Best,
Rosalie Mainous, PhD, APRN, FAANP, FAAN Dean and Professor College of Nursing
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II. Mission and Vision.
Texas Woman’s University
Mission Texas Woman’s University cultivates engaged leaders and global citizens by leveraging its historical strengths in health, liberal arts, and education and its standing as the nation’s largest public university primarily for women. Committed to transformational learning, discovery, and service in an inclusive environment that embraces diversity, Texas Woman’s inspires excellence and a pioneering spirit.
College of Nursing
Mission The College of Nursing seeks to support and empower students of all ages and ethnic groups to address the health care needs and issues of the people in Texas, the nation and the world through acquiring nursing knowledge and leadership skills for entry level, advance practice and scientific roles by integrating health promotion and disease prevention within diverse groups in a time of rapid technological and societal change.
Vision Pioneering Nursing’s Future: An Adventure in Excellence
Philosophy The College of Nursing at Texas Woman's University offers a diverse multi campus setting and awards degrees at the Baccalaureate, Master's and Doctoral levels. This philosophy is congruent with the mission of the university and its commitment to prepare students for leadership and service built on a solid liberal education base and quality professional programs. It is consistent with the fundamental beliefs about nursing and nursing’s contract with society as described by the American Nurses Association in Nursing's Social Policy Statement (2010). The preparation of nurses for service and leadership is guided by the current AACN Essentials of Nursing (2008, 2011, 2021) and the Texas Board of Nursing Differentiated Essential Competencies for the Baccalaureate degree.
The faculty of the college of nursing builds this philosophy on our beliefs about the key concepts included in nursing’s predominant theoretical metaparadigm and on our beliefs about education and learning. Individuals are holistic human beings in constant interaction with their environment; each has inherent worth and dignity and is unique in capabilities, beliefs, and interests. Individuals are an integral part of culturally diverse families, groups, communities, and populations. Society influences an individual’s
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perception of health care needs and is charged with the responsibility for aiding the individual, particularly those in vulnerable populations, in the fulfillment of these needs. Society entrusts nurses as competent providers of optimal health care and education. Health is a state of physiological, psychological, socio-cultural, developmental, and spiritual functioning that allows individual members to achieve maximum potential. The health of an individual has a direct effect upon the family, group, community, and population. Health promotion and disease prevention are employed at all societal levels to improve population health.
Nursing is a synthesis of art and science. Practitioners of nursing balance the use of science and technology with the art of caring to achieve optimal outcomes. The science of nursing is based on nursing theories, natural and behavioral sciences, and patient care technologies. This knowledge, together with current evidence, clinical/critical reasoning, and multiple ways of knowing, is used to develop, evaluate, and achieve safe patient care and optimum health outcomes across all environments. The art of nursing, grounded in the human sciences, is exemplified by characteristics of caring such as presence, authenticity, advocacy, empowerment, and connections with people across all cultures in their experiences of health. Nurses interact with individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in collaboration with other healthcare professionals for the purposes of promoting, maintaining, protecting, and restoring health in all stages of the life cycle or supporting a peaceful death. Nurses guide, mentor, support, and lead other nurses to achieve excellence in nursing practice. Nurses are prepared to function in leadership roles and to address the political, social, ethical, economic, and policy issues that affect health care at local, state, national, and international levels. Fundamental to nursing are the values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice.
We, as a community of nurse educators, believe that education, research, and service are the foundation for the practice of professional nursing. Faculty is responsible for contributing to the vitality of the college and the university community and for developing, maintaining, and evaluating educational programs. Faculty is responsible for and committed to providing learning experiences that enable students to cultivate critical thinking, clinical judgment, leadership skills, and the professional nursing values needed to function competently and to cultivate caring practices in an increasingly complex health care system. Faculty is committed to developing supportive learning environments that encourage students to successfully achieve the objectives of the offered program. Faculty is responsible for contributing to an environment conducive to academic freedom, service, and scholarship. Students, as adult learners with multiple roles, are responsible for contributing to the learning environment by being actively involved in the learning process; to seek, to question, and to propose and implement new ideas using peer, faculty, and university resources to further their own learning and to serve the greater community. (Revised and Approved by faculty 8/2012)
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Foundational Documents
The following documents are foundational to the study of nursing. The student is responsible for reading and understanding and acting in accordance with the principles outlined in these documents. The web links are provided for each of the documents.
AACN Essentials of Baccalaureate Education
ANA Standards for Clinical Practice
ANA Code of Ethics
Texas Board of Nursing
Differentiated Education Competencies
III. Student Services and Resources
Division of Student Life
Mission The Division of Student Life actively supports the mission of Texas Woman's University and its learning environment. It is the mission of the Division of Student Life at Texas Woman’s University to support and enhance the student’s academic experience by providing services and programs that holistically develop the student. These programs and services are provided on all campuses and at a distance via a variety of media. The Division of Student Life seeks to provide the environment and support to assist TWU’s students to reach their potential in leadership and community service. Under this division, you will also find multiple resources in the TWU Student Handbook
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Office Locations
Denton Campus
Brackenridge Hall Room 206 P.O. Box 425379
Denton, TX 76204-5379 Phone: 940-898-3615 Fax: 940-898-3629
Dallas Campus
T. Boone Pickens Institute ofHealth Sciences
5500 Southwestern Medical Ave., Suite 3600 Dallas, TX 75235
Phone: 214-689-6696
Houston Campus
Institute of Health Sciences 6700 Fannin St., Suite 2300
Houston, TX 77030 Phone: 713-794-2157
Title IX: Sexual Violence Education
TWU is committed to providing a safe learning environment free of all forms of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Federal laws (Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act) and TWU policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex and therefore prohibit sexual misconduct. As students, if you or someone you know is experiencing sexual harassment, relationship violence, stalking, or sexual assault, there are campus resources available to provide support and assistance. Alleged sexual misconduct can be non-confidentially reported to the Title IX Coordinator at the Report an Incident website (https://twu.edu/civility/report-an-incident/) or at (940) 898-2968. Additionally, please be aware that under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, all employees are required to disclose information about such misconduct to the Title IX Office. Students who wish to speak to a confidential employee who does not have this reporting responsibility, you can contact TWU Counseling and Psychological Services at (940) 898-3801 for the Denton Campus, (214) 689-6655 for the Dallas Campus, and (713)794-2059 for the Houston Campus.
Title IX: Pregnant and Parenting Students Title IX is a federal law which requires schools that receive federal funds to provide reasonable accommodations to students who are pregnant or have pregnancy related conditions. This includes pregnancy, pre-natal doctor appointments, childbirth, false pregnancy, miscarriage, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions. Students who may need academic accommodations due to pregnancy related conditions should complete the Pregnancy Accommodation form to coordinate academic needs.
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Communication
Pioneer Alert
Pioneer Alert is the university’s mass notification system. It is activated when there is an emergency situation on campus that could threaten life and property, Pioneer Alert will notify you with information about the emergency on or near campus.
Pioneer Alerts are sent to:
• Your cell phone (voice and text)• Your TWU email address• TWU desktop computers• TWU Home page
You are automatically enrolled in Pioneer Alert. However, we encourage you to check your information each semester by logging into your Pioneer Portal account.
Your email account is created automatically when you create your Pioneer Portal account. Email is available on and off campus via your Pioneer Portal account.
All TWU communication is sent through your Portal email. If you do not check your Portal email, you MUST forward it to another account. You may do so by logging into Pioneer Portal, clicking "My Settings," then "Forward/Unforward” my email. Always check your spam folder to ensure TWU emails with attachments are not being automatically listed as spam by your system.
To access your email from the web (on and off campus):
• Log in to Pioneer Portal, then click on My Email. You may also click on Webmailfrom the TWU Home Page (bottom left).
• Sign in by using your Pioneer Portal username followed by "@twu.edu". Anexample of the username is: [email protected]. In the "Password:" box, type in yourTWU Pioneer Portal password and click “Sign In.”
TWU will contact students through their TWU email and/or the phone number on file in the College of Nursing. Students are expected to respond to email or phone calls within a 24-hour time period, excluding weekends and holidays. It is imperative that students keep their information current.
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Campus Closing – Severe Weather- Emergency Management
As a student at the university, you are automatically enrolled in the university’s mass notification system called Pioneer Alert. Pioneer Alert can send notifications to your phone by voice and text and can push out notifications through the university’s social media outlets (Ex: @PioneerAlert & @TWUNews).
The Office of Emergency Management will also send out emails to alert the campus of a Severe Thunderstorm approaching the campus. If you receive an email from the Office of Emergency Management, please follow their recommendations and take protective measures.
For information on bad weather closures at TWU, please call the appropriate information number below:
Denton: 940-898-3430
Dallas: 214-689-6631
Houston: 713-794-2310
If a campus is closed, information about the closure will be posted at the appropriate bad weather information number. If the campus remains open, you will receive a general greeting when you call the number.
Campus closure information will also be provided to television and radio stations.
Denton / Dallas Houston
● WFAA (Ch. 8)● KDFW (Ch. 4)● KXAS (Ch. 5)● KTVT (Ch. 11)● WBAP (820 AM)● KERA (90.1 FM)● KRLD (100 AM)● KVIL (1150 AM)● KNTU (88.1 FM)
● KHOU (Ch. 11)● FOX 26 (Ch. 26)● ABC 13 (Ch. 13)● KPRC (Ch. 2)● KTRH (740 AM)● KPRC (950 AM)
Please note: IF THE CAMPUS IS CLOSED, YOU CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THE CLINICAL SETTING. If you are in a clinical setting when the Campus closes, you will be required to leave the site immediately or when it is safe to do so.
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Nursing Student Organizations
Texas Student Nurses Association (TNSA)
Texas Student Nurses Association is a student nursing association dedicated to promoting professionalism and leadership for today's students.
National Student Nurses Association (NSNA)
The National Student Nurses Association’s mission is to mentor students preparing for initial licensure as registered nurses, and to convey the standards, ethics, and skills that students will need as responsible and accountable leaders and members of the profession.
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
Mission – the mission of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International is to support the learning, knowledge, and professional development of nurses committed to making a difference in health worldwide.
Vison – the vision of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma International, is to create a global community of nurses who lead in using knowledge, scholarship, service and learning to improve the health of the world’s people.
Membership is by invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, and to nurse leader exhibiting exceptional achieving in nursing.
TWU Sigma Theta Tau International Beta Beta Chapters
Dallas Campus: https://betabeta-dallas.sigmanursing.org/home Houston Campus: https://betabeta-houston.sigmanursing.org/home
University-Wide Student Organizations
A full list of all student organizations and contact information is located at Pioneer Engage https://pioneerengage.twu.edu/ Government:
• Denton• Dallas• Houston
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Online Courses By state definition and by TWU’s definition, online courses have 51%-100% of their content delivered online. All TWU online courses utilize the Canvas Learning Platform. You must establish a TWU Pioneer Portal account to take a course on Canvas. To learn about Canvas, read the following online pages:
Pioneer Portal
TWU Guide to Online Learning
Canvas Student Guide
Teaching and Learning with Technology
IV. University Policies and Procedures
RegistrationYou will register for your classes through the Pioneer Portal using the Self-Service link or by accessing the Self-Service Log In site directly. You may view or download the instructions at Student -self-Service-and-Planning
Special Instructions for courses with restricted entry If a course is restricted, only the department may provide the approval code for a student to be able to register. You will get the course code from your academic advisor. Follow the steps on page 14 of the Student -self-Service-and-Planning instructions. See your academic advisor for additional information on course holds.
Academic Advisors Each student will be assigned a faculty academic advisor. Academic advisement is primarily provided during individual appointments at the Denton Campus, Houston and Dallas Centers. The Program Directors are available to students who encounter problems or need further assistance.
Academic Conduct and Professional Integrity
Academic Integrity - Academic integrity is the foundation of the academic community. Because each student has the primary responsibility for being academically honest, students are responsible for reading and understanding all sections in the Academic Integrity (The Academic Code of Conduct) component of the Undergraduate University Student Handbook that relate to standards of conduct and academic life. Students who violate University or College of Nursing rules on academic dishonesty are subject to
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disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure or removal from a course, disciplinary probation, and revocation or withholding of a degree and/or dismissal from the College of Nursing and the University.
Definitions: Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, fabrication, falsification, falsifying academic records, or other acts intentionally designed to provide an unfair advantage to the student and/or the attempt to commit such acts.
Plagiarism occurs when a student obtains portions or elements of someone else’s work, including materials prepared by another person or agency, and presents those ideas or words as her or his own academic work. The intentional or unintentional use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement shall constitute plagiarism.
Attendance The University expects students to attend all classes regularly and punctually. It is a policy of the University not to allow a fixed number of “cuts" in any class. The only excused absences are for:
• Illness certified by a licensed health care provider• Serious illness or death in student's immediate family• Being away from the campus with the sanction of the University or for a religious holy
day.• Consistent class attendance is vital to academic success and is expected of all students.• Grades are determined by academic performance, and instructors may give students
written notice that attendance related to specific classroom activities is required.• Absences do not exempt you from academic requirements. Excessive absences, even if
documented, may result in your failing the course.• Instructors may keep a record of class attendance and include it in the semester report
to the Registrar. The total number of absences is to be entered on the grade report at the end of the semester.
• Excused Clinical hours follow the same guideline and if missed, even if excused, must be made up.
Religious Holidays
The state law allows students in Texas Colleges and Universities to make up missed work if they are absent because of a religious holy day. The law requires an institution of higher education to allow a student who is absent from classes for the observance of a religious holy day to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for
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that day at another time. The student must notify the instructor prior to the day of the planned absence. The law defines a "religious holy day" as a day observed by a religion whose place of worship is exempt from property taxation under state law.
If a student plans to be absent for an observance, written notice must be given to each instructor by the 15th day of the semester.
The law, which became effective August 1985, further states that a student who is excused under these conditions, may not be penalized for the absence; but the instructor may appropriately respond if the student fails to satisfactorily complete the assignment or examination.
Disability Support Services
Disability Access Policy Statement Texas Woman's University strives to make all learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers based on your disability (including mental health, chronic, or temporary medical conditions), please contact me via email/phone or during office hours, so that we may privately discuss options. To establish reasonable accommodations, please register with Disability Services for Students (DSS). After registration, contact me as soon as possible to discuss your accommodations so that they may be implemented in a timely fashion. DSS contact information: DSS website ; [email protected]; 940-898-3835; CFO Ste. 106
Academic Appeal
Texas Woman’s University is committed to the fair treatment of all students who have complaints and appeals. The university has traditionally guaranteed students every opportunity for a fair, prompt, and thorough review of complaints and appeals. Students are encouraged to begin resolving a complaint or appeal at the level at which the complaint or appeal originated. Students should follow university procedures and deadlines to advance a complaint or appeal. TWU’s Academic/Administrative Complaints and Appeals policy guides students in the complaint and appeal process.
Complaints or appeals at each level must be made in writing no later than 10 class days after the date of the decision at the previous level unless otherwise stipulated in state or federal law. The 10 days for appeal at each level do not include weekends, holidays, or days between academic sessions. The faculty member or administrator receiving the complaint or appeal will respond within 10 class days, not including weekends, holidays, or days between academic sessions. Review and decision may require a longer period of time.
The TWU Academic/Administrative Complaint and Appeal Form [Word] is to be used for complaints and appeals. To select the appropriate office to begin the process, consult Procedures for Academic/Administrative Complaints and Appeals of TWU Decisions document. The procedures provide directions for the sequence of offices each type of
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complaint or appeal should follow to a final decision. The form may be completed electronically and submitted by email to the appropriate office within 10 days of the occurrence of the complaint. Addendums are permissible to concisely document the complaint and may be attached to the email or delivered to the corresponding office. Please print a copy of the completed document at each level for your records.
See Academic/Administrative Complaint and Appeals Process on the next Page.
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Citation style
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), 7th edition, is used by the CON for citations, references, and papers. Students are expected to comply with this most current formatting style.
V. Bachelor of Science (BSN) Program
Program Goals
The TWU Baccalaureate Curriculum builds upon a foundation of liberal arts, sciences, and nursing to produce a graduate who will be able to:
1) Deliver nursing care focused on caring and competency in professional knowledge, skills andvalues for culturally diverse populations across the lifespan and health continuum.2) Exhibit professional and personal responsibility and accountability in provision of nursing care.3) Demonstrate critical thinking and clinical decision making in the delivery, coordination andcollaboration of nursing care.4) Utilize effective systematic inquiry based on research and best evidence to provide safe patientcentered care and continuous quality improvement.5) Incorporate effective communication, collaboration, and advocacy in working with patients,families, groups, communities, and the health care team for improving health care outcomes.6) Demonstrate beginning leadership and patient-centered care in a health care system that isinfluenced by health policy, finance and regulatory environment.
Approved by Faculty Organization March 2011
Program Educational Outcomes:
1) Apply theories and concepts from nursing science, liberal education, and scientific knowledgeinto competent, caring nursing practice.2) Demonstrate professional accountability and responsibility in nursing judgment and actionswithin an ethical, legal framework and a culture of safety.3) Apply evidence-based nursing practice using sound clinical reasoning with the appropriate useof resources to meet the holistic needs of diverse and global populations.4) Integrate knowledge of health care policy, economic trends, and regulatory environments thatinfluences value-based care and professional nursing practice.5) Demonstrate effective communication skills and interprofessional collaboration in the deliveryof safe, coordinated, and client-centered care.
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6) Facilitate optimal individual, family, and population determinants of health that support healthpromotion, disease prevention, and illness management across the lifespan.7) Integrate principles of leadership, quality improvement, and professional nursing values intopractice.8) Incorporate the use of information technology across care delivery settings to promote thehealth and wellbeing of individuals, families, groups, and populations.
Academic Performance Standards
Essential Elements for Nursing Practice Texas Woman's University is committed to affording equal educational opportunity to all individuals qualified for admission to its academic programs. To succeed, all students must meet specified performance standards of the University and the specific program of study.
The College of Nursing has identified those performance standards that are expected of all students enrolled in the nursing program, and these are attached for your information. The "General Outline for Essential Elements for Nursing" includes the expectations for all University students as well as those specific to nursing. The College of Nursing "Core Performance Standards" gives specific examples of the performance standards that are specific to nursing.
These standards are provided for your information as you begin the nursing program so that you will know what will be expected during the program. If any student requires reasonable accommodation to meet these performance standards, it is the responsibility of the student to register with Disability Support Services. “DSS registered students are required to renew their accommodations through myDSS each semester. Once requested in myDSS, faculty members and the student are emailed an accommodation notification that outlines the approved accommodations for the term. Accommodations are effective immediately. Faculty should contact DSS staff as soon as possible if there are concerns of a fundamental alteration to course objectives when accommodations are implemented. Students are instructed to meet with faculty during office hours or contact faculty via email to discuss the implementation of approved accommodations. If you have questions regarding accommodations, please contact DSS immediately.
Academic Readiness: The student, with or without reasonable accommodations, must be able to:
Demonstrate eligibility for scholarship at the post-secondary level by:
• Satisfying general admission requirements of Texas Woman’s University ∙ Satisfying specificadmission requirements unique to a program selected as an academic major.
• Demonstrate the ability to profit from advanced scholarship by: ∙ Communicating with anacademic advisor
• Planning an academic schedule appropriate to the content area selected as a major.
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Academic Progress: The student, with or without reasonable accommodations, should be able to:
Profit from learning experiences relevant to program objectives, including such means as:
• Attending scheduled class lectures, laboratory sections, simulations, and otherlearning experiences, etc.
• Satisfying specific course/program objectives as specified in the course syllabi.• Demonstrating competencies through evaluation procedures adopted by the
academic program.• Complete degree plans and other student progress records as required by the
program and University.
Demonstrate critical thinking skills deemed appropriate for the academic level and discipline content, including such means as:
• Successfully completing the University Core Curriculum requirements• Reviewing appropriate professional literature and integrating into professional
practice.• Articulating information specific to the academic major.• Demonstrating critical thinking and cognitive abilities sufficient for problem solving
and clinical judgment.
Demonstrate eligibility to assume a professional role at program completion, including such means as:
• Meeting all matriculation requirements specific to the program.• Interacting in a productive manner with individuals, families, and groups from a
variety of social, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.• Demonstrating communications skills sufficient for interaction with others in verbal
and written form. (Method of communication is understandable to others).• Demonstrating mobility sufficient to move independently from room to room and
maneuver in small spaces.• Demonstrating motor skills sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.• Demonstrating visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in
nursing care.• Demonstrating tactile abilities sufficient for physical assessment and therapeutic
interventions.• Completing certification/licensure requirements if needed for employability.
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Standards for Conduct
The student must be able to:
Demonstrate behaviors appropriate to study at the university level, including such means as:
• Abiding by the current University Policies for student conduct.• Interacting professionally with peers, faculty, and the professional community.
Online etiquette or netiquette is the correct or acceptable way of communicating on the Internet. Some guidelines to follow are found here: https://twu.edu/guide-to-online-learning/academic-success-resources/
Academic Advisement Academic advisement is by faculty and/or an Advisor is provided during individual or group advising appointments at the Denton Campus, Houston and Dallas Centers. The Baccalaureate Directors are available to students who encounter problems or need further assistance.
Responsibilities Responsibilities of the Faculty:
• Review the student's permanent file that includes a projected degree plan and dated notesof contacts with student. Must be done annually.
• Be available to students by posting office hours and/or responding to requests forappointments.
• Provide academic advisement regarding course selection, requirements for progressionand graduation, and resources and referrals as needed.
• Identify potential scholarship/awards nominees.• As requested, assist with completion of degree plans.• Program of study must be documented in web advisor.
Responsibilities of the Student • Know the name and contact information of their academic advisor• Maintain a file of transcripts, grade reports, and all communications with the
University.• Obtain and read the most current Texas Woman's University Student Handbook,
Bachelor of Science Nursing Student Handbook, and the most current UniversityCatalog at the time of initial enrollment and annually at TWU. Acknowledgement isrequired.
• Promptly submit transcripts to the Student Records in Denton for courses completed atother colleges/universities.
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• Prior to registration each semester, attend designated group advising sessions and/ormake an appointment with the designated faculty member according to the procedureat each campus.
• Prior to withdrawing from a course, consult with the appropriate faculty and theProgram Director/Associate Dean.
• If encountering difficulties in academic or clinical matters, seek guidance, resourcesand/or referrals from the appropriate faculty and Program Director.
• Review and sign a degree plan at the designated time, one year prior to anticipatedgraduation.
Student must notify the Program Director in writing when: • Part time enrollment will delay progression and graduation.• Requesting to return after withdrawing or failing a nursing course.• A leave of absence is needed for reasons such as personal or family medical issues,
military duty financial or for other reasons. Review the Student Leave of AbsenceRequest Policy and submit the request form to your academic advisor . (Appendix B )
Grading Policies
1. Grading ScaleThe following grading scale is used in the College of Nursing90-100 = A80-89 = B72-79 = C60-71 = D0-59 = F
2. Minimum grade requirement for passing courses
To pass a course, students must pass all exams with an average of 72% BEFORE anyother assignment grades are added in for the final grade.
Example: If your exam grades average 70%, and the other assignment grades bring theoverall grade to a 75%, the student will not pass the course because the exam grade averageis below 72%. In this case, the student would earn a D, which is considered a failing gradein the undergraduate nursing programs.A minimum grade of C is required in pathophysiology
A minimum grade of C is required in all courses in the upper division nursing major. If astudent earns a grade of D or F in a nursing course, including Pathophysiology, that coursemust be repeated. A course in which a grade of less than C (D or F) was earned may berepeated only once.
A student who has earned a grade of less than C (D or F) in two nursing courses (includingPathophysiology) or who has earned a grade less than C (D or F) twice in the same nursing
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course (including Pathophysiology) will be dismissed from the nursing program. There will be no exceptions. For the purpose of removal from the nursing program, a grade of less than C is counted even if the course has been successfully repeated.
Students receiving a grade of I, D, or F in a nursing course may not progress in courses for which that course is a prerequisite
All nursing courses must be completed within a period of five consecutive calendar years from the date of first enrollment in a nursing course. Any current or returning student unable to complete the program within this allotted time frame must apply and compete for admission as a beginning nursing student.
3. Policy on Grade Rounding: It is the policy of the undergraduate program that all facultyuse the following grade-rounding guidelines - approved by UAAC, CON faculty 8/2013
• Rounding is confined to the final course grade.• Grades on individual exams (including comprehensive or HESI specialty exams),
assignments, and projects are recorded in grade book (Canvas) as calculated to: two decimalplaces (84.48; not 85.486 nor 84)
• Final course grades will be rounded to the closest whole number using the 0.5 math rule. Ifthe final course grade is not a whole number, the following rounding rules apply:
o If the number is 0.5 or greater, then round up to the next whole number (>85.50 = 86)o If the number is less than 0.5 (0.49), then round down to the previous whole number
(<85.49 = 85).o The assignment of a final course grade reflects evaluation data as specified in the
syllabus. After the final grade is posted, a student may not complete additional workto change the grade.
Dismissal The College of Nursing reserves the right to dismiss from the nursing program any student who is assessed to be a threat to the welfare of another, is unsafe in clinical practice, or who does not uphold the ethical standards of the profession.
Readmission into Nursing Program If a baccalaureate student, who was in good academic standing, has been absent from the program for more than one year, the procedure for re-entry into the nursing program includes those strategies determined by the faculty to assess the student’s knowledge and skills consistent with re-entry at a specific level in the curriculum. These strategies may include:
o Placement test(s)o Clinical skills assessmento Other assessment strategies identified to measure knowledge, clinical skills, or other
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competencies necessary to progress in the nursing program. o Updated drug screen or background checko Performance in designated assessment strategies will determine the level of re-
entry. Enrollment will be based on the availability of clinical faculty and clinicalspace.
o An individual who has been unsuccessful in meeting the progression requirements,after being admitted into the baccalaureate program in the College of Nursing, iseligible to apply to the College of Nursing and be considered for admission as anew student in the baccalaureate program after a period of five (5) years.
o Individuals must reapply to the university after being out of the program for 2 yearsor more with resubmission of applications to TWU AND the Nursing Program.
Priorities for Class Enrollment Enrollments in nursing courses are limited and are determined by the number of faculty available to teach each course and clinical site availability. Teaching assignments are based on projections of class size for each course, and every attempt is made to assure there are enough faculty to meet projected needs. However, there are times when the number of students seeking enrollment is more than the space available in the class. The College of Nursing has established priorities for determining who may enroll in a course if there is not space for all students. The following groups are listed in order of priority:
• Ongoing full-time students who are in good academic standing.• Ongoing part-time students who are in good academic standing.• Previously enrolled students, less than 1 year off, who were in good standing when they
stopped taking nursing courses.• Ongoing students transferring from one TWU clinical center to another.• Ongoing students in good academic standing previously enrolled in the course who
withdrew.• Students who are seeking to repeat a course because they earned a grade less than C the
first time they took the course.• Students seeking to transfer from another nursing program.• Previously enrolled students, more than 1 year off, who were in good standing when
they stopped taking nursing courses.
Clinical Policies and Procedures
Requirements for enrollment in Clinical Nursing Courses
At the time of enrollment in clinical nursing courses, the student must provide proof of:
Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification (CPR) from the American Heart Association (AHA). Certification must include one person, two person CPR, and choking for infant, child, and Adult, and use of one way valve breathing. It must also include use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) from the American Heart Association (AHA). It must be a healthcare provider course. We will accept online didactic course with a face to face skills check off.
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Immunizations
State law requires all college and university students in health care or ancillary programs to show proof of certain immunizations. These requirements must be met prior to your first clinical course, affiliation, or practicum.
Information for specific requirements is sent with the acceptance letter. Please visit the Student Health Services Web site or call 940.898.3825 for more information about requirements.
Students must provide proof of required immunizations and AHA BLS certification as specified by faculty. Additional requirements may apply based on clinical facility.
Drug testing and criminal background screenings are conducted by vendors designated by the College of Nursing. Students may be required to have additional random drug screening. Please review drug policy at https://twu.edu/media/documents/nursing/Student-Drug Testing-Procedures-a-01-December-2018.pdf
Professional liability insurance will be provided for each student through the TWU student professional liability group policy.
All clinical credentials will be submitted and archived through a vendor identified by the College of Nursing. Students are responsible for submitting credentials prior to the due date so that records will be processed in sufficient time for verification before a clinical placement can occur. If students have any questions they should immediately contact their clinical coordinator or the Program Director. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL STUDENTS KEEP A COPY FOR YOUR OWN RECORDS.
Additional student information during COVID- 19 concerning clinical placements and vaccines – see August 10, 2021 letter from Dean Mainous (Appendix A).
Issue Standards Examples Critical Thinking Cognitive Ability
Critical thinking sufficient for clinical judgment
Ability to handle multiple tasks and problem solve simultaneously. Identify cause-effect relationships in clinical situations; utilize the nursing process in developing nursing care plans; and perform dosage calculations in a time frame to deliver safe care.
Interpersonal Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
Establish rapport and maintain professional demeanor with the patient/client, family, and colleagues.
Communication Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form. Communication is understandable to others.
Explain treatment procedures, initiate health teaching, document, and interpret nursing actions and patient/client responses.
Mobility Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.
Moves around in patient's rooms, work spaces, and treatment areas and can administer cardiopulmonary procedures. Able to coordinate eyes and hands or fingers rapidly and accurately in making precise movements with speed when providing patient care.
Motor Skills Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.
Motor skills of lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling are required. Physical ability to lift and transfer 50 pounds and carrying of objects up to 25 pounds. Physical ability of bending or stooping 1 inch from the floor and of reaching overhead to retrieve or place items on patient/unit shelves; to intermittently push objects over 100 pounds; stand/walk for 8 -12 hours.
Hearing Auditory ability sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.
Hears, with and without background noises, monitor alarms, emergency signals, auscultatory sounds, and cries for help.
Visual Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care.
Assess and observe patient/client responses; able to identify and distinguish colors and shades of the same color; able to successfully perform nursing skills that require visual accuracy such as preparing precise medication doses in syringes, identifying specific medications by visualization, and observing patient monitoring equipment.
Tactile Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessments
Finger dexterity to perform the palpation and percussion functions of the physical examination and/or those related to therapeutic interventions (e.g. insertion of an indwelling catheter). Perceives attributes of objects such as size, shape, temperature, or texture.
Core Performance Standards
Nursing Care must be delivered in a timely fashion for safe and effective nursing care to be given to the patient/client.
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Universal Precautions
All TWU employees and students that have been identified as having exposure to
blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) must receive bloodborne
pathogen training upon initial assignment to a position or task with occupational
exposure, and annually thereafter.
TWU faculty, staff and students may face a significant health risk from
occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).
Blood and OPIM may contain bloodborne pathogens, including the Hepatitis B
virus, causing a serious liver disease; and the human immunodeficiency virus,
which causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Faculty, staff and students who are exposed to blood or OPIM as a necessary part
of their employment or education are covered by TWU’s Bloodborne Pathogen
URP and the TWU Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan which describes
required procedures. Specifically, the Exposure Control Plan covers the following:
• Responsibilities• Exposure determination (listing specific employees and students who are exposed
to bloodborne pathogens)• Methods of compliance including universal precautions, engineering and work
practice controls, personal protective equipment, and waste handling/disposal• Hepatitis B and other vaccinations• Prevention of transmission while providing health care services where applicable• Evaluation and follow-up following accidental exposure to bloodborne pathogens• Communication of hazards to employees (warning labeling)• Training• Annual plan reviews
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Transportation Students are expected to have access to transportation because clinical assignments require travel to various clinical agencies in the community. Requests for special consideration related to transportation may not be granted since transportation is required.
Policy for Professional Appearance/Dress Code
Dress Code: The uniform policy of the agency in which the student practices must be followed. In addition, the student must comply with the TWU Guidelines. When there are questions not specifically addressed in this policy, it is the faculty member’s role to determine what professional appearance is.
Clothing:
1) Uniform: The official undergraduate nursing student uniform is to be specifically ordered fromonly the TWU chosen vendor to maintain professionalism and uniformity. The uniform ismaroon (not wine) colored pants (or skirt) with a maroon (not wine) colored top (or dress)with the Texas Woman's University College of Nursing patch ( or embroidered patch) on theleft sleeve. Each scrub top will be embroidered with the TWU logo on the left front chest areain white in order to discriminate with other hospital employees with similar colored scrubs.Exception: In some clinical courses, (i.e. pediatrics), students may wear scrub or uniform topsthat comply with hospital rules and which are consistent with what is worn in the clinicalagency.
2) Identification: Name badge/patches: Must be worn on uniform and lab coats in clinical, as wellas on campus, for security and identifying purposes. The name tag is to be worn on the RIGHTside of the chest (above the chest level). The name should be followed by "S.N." (StudentNurse) or "R.N." (Registered Nurse), whichever applies? Student Nurse may be spelled outon the second line of the name tag. Texas Woman’s University may be on the third line. TheTWU/clinical facility photo ID should be worn in the center of the chest of the V of the scrubtop.
3) Shoes: Shoes should be clean and free of stains. White or black professional nursing shoes orplain white OR white or black leather–impermeable, (non-mesh), and low top athletic shoesare to be worn with uniform.
4) Hosiery: Sock and support sock colors are solid white, black, tan, or maroon to wear withpants. White or neutral hosiery should be worn with dresses.
5) Optional Jacket or Scrub Jacket: Navy blue (only) standard navy jacket or scrub jacket withTWU patch on left sleeve and TWU embroidered on the left chest.
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Exception: There may be some units that restrict jackets, such as burn units or operating rooms.
6) Preclinical Attire: Appropriate, professional-looking attire is mandatory. (No jeans arepermitted.) Lab coats or the complete uniform will be worn during preclinical visits.
7) Professional-looking attire: includes wearing hose (or socks) and closed toe shoes. As notedbelow, wearing perfumed products is forbidden. Other personal habits (see below) should beobserved for preclinical visits.
8) Laboratory Coats: A white standardized lab coat ¾ inch length and long sleeves, with TWUpatch (on the left sleeve) will be worn for the J1 White Coat Ceremony. This coat can bepurchased at any store desired. In addition, if not in uniform, it may be worn over street clotheswhen the student is in the hospital on school business other than direct patient care.
9) Other Clothing: Faculty will inform students if clothing other than official uniform is to beworn for a clinical experience. An optional white T-shirt (long or short sleeved) may be wornunder clothing for warmth.
General Appearance
1) Clothing: Should be clean and wrinkle free. Skirts should reach the knees. Shirts should be buttoned or zipped. When wearing scrubs, tee- shirts or other undergarments that are worn underneath should be white and not have visible pictures, prints, Logos, etc.
2) Hair: Hair management must conform to infection control guidelines and standards of professional appearance. Hair should be off the collar and pulled back. Hair must be only natural hair colors: no decorative hair colors, etc. Men’s facial hair must be clean and neatly trimmed close to the face unless N95 masks are required in the clinical area- facial hair must not compromise the seal of the mask.
3) Cosmetics: Should be minimal. Do not wear perfumed products.
4) Fingernails: Should be short, neatly trimmed, and clean. (Nails should not extend past fingertips.) No artificial nails or nail polish
5) Jewelry: No jewelry, with the following exceptions: (a) watch, (b) plain wedding band, (c) stud/button style earrings, (d) keepsakes on chains long enough to be concealed under the uniforms.
6) Body Piercing: No more than two (2) studs or button style earrings per ear lobe; no visible body piercings – (that is, no tongue, no eyebrow piercings, nose, etc.)
7) Body Art: No visible tattoos are allowed. All tattoos must be covered.
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Personal Habits 1) Personal Hygiene: Good personal hygiene is mandatory. Unclean, unkempt appearance, unpleasant body or breath odors, including smoke odors, are not acceptable. Strong scents are to be avoided, as noted above.
2) Uniform: The uniform and lab coat are not for street attire. The TWU patch and identification pin may not be worn while working for a salary.
3) Eating: Eating should be confined to appropriate areas. No chewing gum while in uniform and/or in clinical areas.
4) Smoking: Smoking and use of other tobacco products are always discouraged. The use of any tobacco product while in a clinical uniform, or in the clinical setting, is prohibited. If you orthe clinical uniform smells of tobacco use, you may be dismissed from the clinical setting. TWU is a smoke free university.
5) Language: Polite, professional in nature. No profanity or vulgar slang on the campus or inthe clinical setting.
Social Media Social network sites such as Facebook, SnapChat, LinkedIn, Twitter, are digital platforms and distribution mechanisms that facilitate students communicating with other students. Participation in such platforms may have both positive and negative consequences. Students are not restricted from using such platforms, but it is expected that you will follow acceptable social and professional behaviors and comply with all federal government regulations including, but not limited to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines (Appendix B).
• The following are examples of materials absolutely prohibited to post online (e.g.,pictures of patients, patient identifiers, suggestive pictures/content).
• If you identify yourself as a TWU CON Student, everything you post reflects on youand the University. Post wisely.
• You may create a private class page/site, but you may not create a public TWU CONpage.
• Do not share information about tests, clinical sites, patients, or faculty online.• Remember, your future employer will search your Social Media Pages prior to
employment. Only post things that can pass the “Front Page of the Newspaper Test”(Would you be comfortable if your material were on the front page of the newspaper?)• Texas Board of Nursing position statement on Social Media• ANA on Social Med
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Graduation
Degree Plan Any student planning to graduate should make an appointment with his/her faculty advisor and complete a degree verification form to be sent to the Registrar Office at least one year before the intended semester of graduation.
Graduation Application At the beginning of the semester of anticipated graduation, the student must apply for graduation here https://twu.edu/registrar/graduation-and-commencement/application-for-graduation-deadlines/ by the published deadline. (See University Calendar at Academic Calendars - Registrar - Texas Woman's University for deadlines.)
Graduation Ceremonies Graduation ceremonies are held two times each year in Denton at the close of the fall and spring semesters. Graduation ceremonies are held in Houston twice each year in May and December as well.
Graduation with Honors Undergraduate students who have attended TWU at least two semesters with a minimum of 45 hours and who have the following grade point average based on TWU course work are recognized as honor graduates at commencement exercises and on their diplomas:
Summa Cum Laude 4.00 Magna Cum Laude 3.70-3.99 Cum Laude 3.50-3.69
NCLEX-RN Candidate Information
1) Licensure as a Registered Nurse
Upon admission to upper division courses of the College of Nursing, each student is required to review specific rules and regulations of the Texas Board of Nursing. Every student is responsible for reading information regarding application for licensure in the state of Texas. The Texas Board of Nursing determines criteria for eligibility for licensure. Students should access the Board of Nursing website at https://www.bon.texas.gov/ to examine the Nurse Practice Act and its regulations. Detailed information about critical issues in a student’s background may affect eligibility, and the student should contact the Board for information regarding possible submission of a Declaratory Order (Texas Board of Nursing - Declaratory Order). Board approval of candidates who apply for the NCLEX-RN examination to be licensed in the state of Texas is necessary.
2) Application Process
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The application process for initial licensure by examination has several steps. Please contact the Undergraduate Program Director on your campus for specific information.
If you have questions, contact the Texas Board of Nursing at http://www.bon.texas.gov Texas Board of Nursing 333 Guadalupe, #3-460 Austin, Texas 78701 (512) 305-7400
3) Students Desiring to Take the NCLEX-RN- Out-of-StateFor instructions, the student must contact the state board of nursing of the state in which heor she desires to take the exam. The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas doesnot process out-of-state applications.
Undergraduate Nursing Pin
Upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree, you will have the opportunity to purchase and wear the College of Nursing pin through the TWU bookstore. The Texas Woman’s University Nursing Pin reflects the history of the College of Nursing. As an official symbol of the TWU College of Nursing, it cannot be replaced with any other color, wording, or design.
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Appendix A
College of Nursing P.O. Box 425498 Denton, TX 76204-5498 Tel 940-898-2425 FAX 940-898-2437
Pioneering Nursing’s Future: An Adventure in Excellence
August 10, 2021
TO: All students, all programs FROM: Rosalie O. Mainous, PhD, APRN, FAANP, FAAN
Dean and Professor RE: Clinical placements for fall, 2021
On July 29, 2021, Governor Abbot signed an Executive Order (EO) relating to the continued response to the COVID-19 disaster. The EO states that that no governmental entity can compel any individual to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, inquire as to an individual’s vaccination status, or mandate that an individual wear a mask.
As a governmental entity in the state of Texas, a public state institution of higher education, and public servants serving the TWU community, it is TWU’s intention to follow the directives of the EO.
The above notwithstanding, please be informed and aware of policy recommendations coming from professional nursing associations related to the mandating of the COVID-19 vaccine within the profession. Please click on the links below for some related releases:
1. American Association of Colleges of NursingMajor Health Care Professional Organizations Call for COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates forAll Health Workers
College of Nursing, Texas
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https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/press-releases/major-health-care-professional- organizations-call-covid-19-vaccine-mandates-all-health-workers
2. American Academy of Nursing: American Academy of Nursing Position StatementImmunization is Key to Eliminating Vaccine-Preventable Diseases April 30, 2020https://www.aannet.org/news/policy-news/immunizations-position- statement#:~:text=American%20Academy%20of,April%2030%2C%202020
American Nurses Association, ANA Position Statement Approved:
July 22, 2020, updated June 29, 2021
ANA strongly recommends that all registered nurses, health care workers and the public be vaccinated against COVID-19. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/official-position- statements/id/immunizations/
Please be informed that based on the credentialing standards of external affiliated clinical institutions, Texas Woman’s University College of Nursing (CON) is unable to offer a clinical placement for students that have not yet been immunized with the COVID-19 vaccine. Clinical agencies require that CON provide proof of vaccination (if the vaccine requires two does, must include both doses) before a student may be placed in the setting. Proof of vaccination can be uploaded to a student’s Castlebranch account. Students are not required to upload this data. However, as of August 20, Fall, 2021, all students without proof (uploaded vaccination record on file) that meets credentialing standards cannot be accommodated with placement in a clinical setting. Ultimately, students who fail to be placed in a clinical setting may be unable to matriculate through the program and any such students may not be successful in completion of the program. CON will evaluate its Castlebranch records every semester to determine the viability of a student clinical placement.
Please know that the credentialing standard is promulgated by CON’s clinical partners and applicable to TWU’s 900+ contractual arrangements with clinical settings. Each credentialing standard states in some form that all immunization records of students for clinical placement can be requested at any time. As such, it is the CON’s responsibility to meet the contractual arrangements between the external clinical agency and the university.
If it is determined that a student cannot be placed in an agency in order to fulfill the degree requirements, the student will be placed on a one semester Leave of Absence, which may be renewable. The Leave of Absence Form must be used to so that we have on record the stop-out in the program, and if the request is for one or two semesters. Please contact your Program Directors for the form and schedule an advising appointment. A student requesting a Leave of Absence must submit a Leave of Absence Form to their Program Director by August 20, to ensure that each student that needs a clinical placement, receives one.
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If a student is unable to utilize an assigned placement site, a student must notify their program director by August 20, 2021 so the CON may notify the agency and allow them adequate time to adjust for either a new student or no student for that semester.
On behalf of CON, It is my hope that we can move through these difficult times as rapidly as possible and continue to offer the excellent education that we are known for at TWU. We wish success for all students.
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Appendix B
Texas Woman’s University College of Nursing Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and Protected
Health Information in Learning Environments
Policy Statement All Texas Woman’s University (TWU) and College of Nursing (CON) faculty, staff and students who are assigned to work in clinical settings such as hospitals, clinics, and community settings must safeguard the privacy and security of Protected Health Information (PHI) as defined by the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This is an obligation imposed by TWU policy, federal and state law, and our own concern for the wellbeing of the patients. Failure to meet this obligation may lead to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the program as described in this policy.
Guidelines Students are to adhere to all HIPAA policies while in the clinical setting. This includes the Privacy and Security rules as outlined in the training resources. In addition, as clinical courses often require paperwork to be submitted regarding the care of individuals or groups, guidelines set by the CON on the type of information submitted must be followed. All clinical paperwork must be de-identified and submitted through Canvas only. No other means of unsecured submissions are allowed. This includes paperwork turned into unsecured physical locations via email or other electronic means. To be considered “de-identified”, all the 18 HIPAA Identifiers must be removed from the assignment before posting or uploading to the Canvas website. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in disciplinary action and possible removal from the program. All students enrolled in a clinical course must view the HIPAA training video and acknowledge agreement with the TWU CON HIPAA policy.
PHI and HIPAA
Under HIPAA, PHI is any identifiable health information that is used, maintained, stored, or transmitted by a HIPAA-covered entity to include healthcare provider, health plan, health insurer, healthcare clearinghouse or a business associate of a HIPAA-covered entity, in relation to the provision of healthcare or payment for healthcare services. It is not only past and current health information that is considered PHI under HIPAA Rules, but also future information about medical conditions or physical and mental health-related to the provision of care or payment for care. PHI is health information in any form, including physical records, electronic records, or spoken information. Therefore, PHI includes health records, health histories, lab test results, and medical bills. Essentially, all health information is considered PHI when it includes individual identifiers. Demographic information is also considered PHI under HIPAA Rules, as are many common identifiers such as patient names, Social Security numbers, Driver’s license numbers, insurance details, and birth dates, when they are linked with health information.
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The 18 identifiers that make health information PHI are:
Names (includes initials) Dates (such as admission or procedures) Telephone numbers Geographic data FAX numbers Social Security numbers Email addresses Medical record numbers Account numbers Health plan beneficiary numbers Certificate/license numbers Vehicle identifiers and serial numbers including license plates Web URLs Device identifiers and serial numbers Internet protocol addresses Full face photos and comparable images Biometric identifiers (i.e. retinal scan, fingerprints) Any unique identifying number or code Retrieved from: https://www.hipaajournal.com/considered-phi-hipaa/
Disciplinary actions Any form of HIPAA violation will result in disciplinary action. The type of violation, the severity of disciplinary action, and the person responsible for deciding the disciplinary action may vary depending on the situation. Any violation that is deemed severe enough for the host agency to terminate a student’s privileges will result in course failure and possibly removal from the program. The faculty of record must consult with the CON Program Director and Associate Dean prior to disciplinary actions that remove a student from a course or from the program Notification of violations may also be required to the host agency and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Chain of command notification must be done for any infractions (Faculty-Course Manager-Program Director-Associate Dean-Dean). These notifications may result in further sanctions, penalties, or fines.
The CON Program Director in consultation with the Associate Dean will address student related HIPAA incidents on a case-by-case basis. The TWU Privacy Officer and the TWU Security Officer will be notified of any student related HIPAA incidents. An individualized plan of corrective action will be developed depending on the nature and severity of the HIPAA incident.
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Disciplinary action can include one or more of the following:
1. Written warning2. Re-education and processing of the incident3. Reduction or failure of a graded assignment4. Removal from clinical site5. Clinical rotation failure6. Course failure7. Program dismissal
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Appendix C
Student Leave of Absence Request Policy
PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to outline the student leave of absence request process.
POLICY STATEMENT This policy provides instruction on the student leave of absence request
process. A student leave of absence may be granted for reasons such as personal or family medical issues, military duty, financial or for other reasons. The student may request one leave of absence during their program of study. Absent extenuating circumstances, a leave of absence request will generally be granted for no more than one year in duration.
SCOPE This policy applies to the Texas Woman’s University (TWU) College of Nursing (CON) undergraduate and graduate students.
Policy/Procedure Name: Student Leave of Absence Request Policy
Policy/Procedure Number:
Date Passed: April 2021
Date Reviewed: April 2021
Next Review: April 2026
Approved by: CON Faculty Organization Executive Committee
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DEFINITIONS A leave of absence (LOA) is defined as non-enrollment during a fall, spring or summer semester or a withdrawal from all courses at any point during a semester.
PROCEDURE
Leave of Absence Requests The student requesting a LOA should contact their faculty academic advisor to discuss the request. Students anticipating not enrolling in a semester must request a leave of absence prior to the TWU Regular Registration close date which can be found on the TWU Academic Calendar website https://twu.edu/registrar/academic-calendars/.
The Student LOA Request Form must be completed by the student and submitted to the faculty academic advisor. The request will include reason for the request, semester/year requested to begin the LOA and semester/year of intended return from the LOA. The faculty academic advisor will forward the form to the respective Program Director.
The Student LOA Request Form will be reviewed by the respective CON Program Director. The Program Director will make the decision to approve or disapprove the LOA request and forward the Student LOA Request Form to the respective Associate Dean. The student will receive email notification by the Program Director with the decision to approve or disapprove the LOA request, and the faculty academic advisor is to be informed as well.
Withdrawal Request If the student is withdrawing from all classes during the current semester, the student must comply with the university withdrawal procedure and complete the TWU online withdrawal form. The TWU course withdrawal instructions are located on the following web link https://twu.edu/registrar/dropping-courses-or-withdrawing/
Return from Leave of Absence Upon the designated semester for re-enrollment following the LOA, the student will receive an email notification from the respective CON Undergraduate or Graduate Program Office prior to the TWU registration period informing the student to contact the respective Undergraduate or Graduate Program Director to discuss their LOA return and upcoming registration plan.
Failure to Comply with CON Policy If the student does not register for a semester and has not completed the LOA request, the student is deemed not compliant with the CON Student Leave of Absence Request policy. A nursing student who is not compliant with the LOA Request policy after two semesters of no registration of courses will be dismissed from the CON program. After an approved LOA request, failure to enroll in the designated semester and year of return will result in student dismissal from the CON program unless the Program Director has approved a LOA extension for the student. If dismissed from the CON program, the student will have to reapply to the respective CON program during the next application cycle. Acceptance to the program is not guaranteed and is based on available space in the program.
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Student Leave of Absence Request Form
Submit completed form to Faculty Academic Advisor
Student Name: _________________________________________ Student ID #: __________________________________________ Program Enrolled: ______________________________________ Leave of absence (LOA) request: Semester ______________ Year ____________ Are you enrolled in courses during the semester you are requesting the LOA? ___ Yes ___ No I will return to the TWU College of Nursing: Semester _____________ Year __________ Reason for LOA Request: ____ Medical (Medical Withdrawal/Drop Petitions)* ____ Military (Retroactive Withdrawal Petition)* ____ Financial ____ Other (Specify Reason Below) Briefly state the reason for requesting a leave of absence. Include the reason you are not able to register for courses and your plan to return to complete the program.
Student Signature _______________________________ Date: ______________________ Program Director Signature ________________________ Date: ______________________ Leave of Request Status: ___ Approve ____ Disapprove UG term limit _______________________ Grad term limit ________________________ Associate Dean Signature _______________________ Date: _______________________ *Refer to Student Life
Form Approved 4/19/2021/For Internal Use Only Approval: Committee: Faculty Affairs Committee Approved 4/12/2021 Next Scheduled Review by Faculty Affairs Committee: Spring 2026 Date Reviewed/Revised: Issue Date: (Insert Date)
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Appendix D
History of the College of Nursing
1901 An educational institution was created by the State Legislature asa multipurpose institution. It was established as a single-sex institution with enrollment limited to women. Originally named the Girls Industrial College, the first students were admitted in September.
1903 The institution had a dual mission that continues to guide the University today – to provide a liberal education and to prepare young women with a specialized education ―for the practical industries of the age. Since its founding, Texas Woman’s University has made significant contributions to the progress and improvement of higher learning in Texas.
1934 The name of the institution was changed to the Texas State College for Women to describe more accurately the scope of the school.
1953 The Board of Regents encouraged the President of the University to investigate opportunities for the development of a collegiate program in nursing. Preliminary planning with Parkland Hospital administrators and board of managers resulted in contractual agreements between the two agencies in November.
1954 First collegiate nursing students were enrolled.
1958 Full accreditation was granted by the National League for Nursing; first collegiate class was graduated.
1958 Full accreditation was granted by the National League for Nursing; first collegiate class was graduated.
1960-61 Sophomore students registered in Dallas and Houston Centers.
1966 Master’s program with a major in Psychiatric-Mental health Nursing admitted first nursing students.
1968-69 Accreditation was granted by the National League for Nursing for the Master’ program
1970 Sigma Theta Tau, National Honor Society of Nursing, Beta Chapter – Induction of Charter Members from Denton, Dallas, and Houston.
1971 Ph.D. in nursing program (first in the Southwest) admitted students to Denton
1972 The University adopted a new academic organization and established the Institute of Health Sciences. The first in the state, the Institute consisted of the College of Nursing, the Schools of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, and the new School of Health Care Services. In compliance with Titles VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act and Title IX of the Higher Education Act, TWU admissions policy was amended to allow qualified males into the Institute of Health Sciences and Graduate School.
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1974 Denton accepted upper division nursing students.
1975 Dallas Presbyterian opened as a clinical center.
1983 PhD students were admitted to the Houston Center.
1988 The master’s and baccalaureate programs received 8 years of accreditation from the National League for Nursing. The College of Nursing Community Health Master’s Program received an Advance Nurse Education training Grant from the U.S. Department and Human Services, Division of Public Health. The program was funded for 3 years and in 1992 was funded for an additional 2 years. De Madres a Madres (from Mothers to Mothers) was founded with seed grant money from the Houston March of Dimes. This is a community-based organization developed by volunteers living in Houston’s Hispanic north Side Community and Texas Woman’s University College of Nursing faculty and students. The purpose of the organization is to assist neighborhood women to obtain health and social services essential for a healthy pregnancy.
1989 TWU C.A.R.E.S. (Community Assessment Referral and Education Services), a nurse-managed health center located in a low-income housing project in Denton County, was established. It is an example of the Texas Woman’s University College of Nursing’s commitment to prepare students to provide care to the underserved. This center was initially developed through the collaborative efforts of students and faculty of the College of Nursing and Marian Hamilton, Director of the Denton Housing Authority. The center provides a richness of education that cannot be found within the traditional academic settings.
1991 Dr. Shirley S. Charter, President of Texas Woman’s University, was appointed by Governor Ann Richards to chair the Health Policy Task Force, which proposed, in 1992, a comprehensive plan to address the health care needs and health insurance needs of all Texans. The de Madres a Madres organization was funded for 43 years by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
1992 Dr. Judith McFarlane was appointed as Parry Nursing Chair in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. . This was the first endowed nursing chair of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in the nation.
1994 Dr. Carol Surles was selected the University’s ninth president. The Family Nurse
Practitioner program was started in Denton and Houston.
1995 The master’s curriculum was revised. The Family Nurse Practitioner program was started in Dallas.
1997 The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) review resulted in an 8- year reaccreditation of the program.
2000 Dr. Ann Stuart was selected the University’s 10th president.
2004 The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) review resulted in a full ten year accreditation of the program.
2005 The College of Nursing celebrated its 50th Anniversary with continuing education events
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celebrating nursing and festivities with local and state dignitaries and nursing alumni.
2005 The Memorial Hermann Community Foundation provided $500,000 to create a Center for Telenursing and Health Informatics on the Houston Center that would provide teaching through simulation, informatics and telenursing.
2006 The Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing was named within the newly erected Institute of Health Sciences-Houston Center providing a new home and name for the College of Nursing in Houston
2007 A $5 million gift from T. Boone Pickens to Texas Woman’s University helped fund construction of TWU’s new $32 million T. Boone Pickens Institute of Health Sciences-Dallas Mr. Pickens’ donation is the largest single gift from an Individual to TWU. The new building was completed in January, 2011. This new Center houses the physical and occupational therapy programs along with the College of Nursing, combining both the Presbyterian and Parkland Centers into One site at the Parkland Campus.
2007 An acute care nurse practitioner major was approved to begin on the Houston Campus. The program began in the fall semester of 2007.
2014 Carine M. Feyten became the 11th President and Second Chancellor of TWU
