College of Nursing All Student Handbook
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is committed to providing equitable access to our programs for students with disabilities (e.g., psychological, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, and physical).
To engage in a confidential conversation about the process for requesting reasonable accommodations in the classroom and clinical settings please contact The Office of Disability, Access, and Inclusion at: disabilityaccess@cuanschutz.edu or begin the process via the Office & Disability Access & Inclusion website. Accommodations are not provided retroactively; therefore, students are encouraged to begin this process early.CU College of Nursing recognizes that students admitted to one or more of its degree programs have both rights and responsibilities. Students are encouraged to develop the capacity for critical judgment and engage in a sustained and independent search for truth. The freedom of faculty members to teach and the freedom of students to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom.
Students should exercise their freedoms in a responsible manner. This institution has a duty to develop policies and procedures, which provide and safeguard students' freedom to learn. The student body has clearly defined means to, and is encouraged to, participate in the formulation and application of institutional policy affecting academic and student affairs, i.e., through the CU College of Nursing's Student Affairs Committee (SAC), the CU AMC Student Senate, CU College of Nursing student organization membership, or representation on other CU College of Nursing committees.
The institution has an obligation to clarify those standards of behavior, e.g., Professional Role Behaviors (PRB) or the Student Honor and Conduct Code (SHCC), which it considers essential to its educational mission, its community life, or its objectives and philosophy.
Just as students enjoy rights/freedoms as citizens and members of an academic community, students are also responsible for being aware of their obligations as citizens of CU College of Nursing, the greater Anschutz Medical Campus (AMC) community, and the even-greater CU community.
A faculty advisor will be assigned to each student upon entering the academic program. Students in the undergraduate program will be advised by a faculty member in addition to their academic advisor from the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs, and the Specialty Lead Advisor when a potential or actual interruption in the student’s original program plan is identified. Students in the graduate program will be advised by the Graduate Student Advisor and the appropriate Graduate Specialty Director or Program Director. Each student will be given the name of their advisor via their student portal. In the MS program, the Specialty Directors will serve as student advisors along with the Graduate Student Advisor in the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs. DNP students will have a faculty advisor.
Advisors will first refer a student to course faculty should a student have concerns in a specific course. If the concern involves a course grade, the advisor will refer the student to the Course Failure and/or Academic Progression Appeals Policy or the Grade Appeal Unrelated to Progression Policy. If the student feels the issue is not resolved with course faculty or the academic advisor, the advisor will refer the student to the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate, Graduate, DNP, and PhD Programs, or Graduate Specialty Director.
Advisors are available to assist students as they progress through the academic program, but each student is ultimately responsible for their own education and for contacting their advisor as needed. Students are responsible for knowing and completing all curricular requirements and assuming the following responsibilities:
In the event that performance is not meeting program or course outcomes, the faculty, clinical scholar/instructor, Graduate Specialty Director, preceptor or appropriate Assistant Dean who observes the behavior or concerning performance is responsible for discussing it directly with the student in a timely manner. In the case of clinical performance, the specific behavior and action for required improvement will be clearly conveyed using the clinical evaluation tool. In some cases, this discussion will be accompanied by the completion of a Student Advising Notice (SAN). The student's understanding of the concern and commitment for improvement will be verified. A specific action plan will be documented, including criteria and timeframes for improvement or continuation in the clinical, consequences for continued violation, and the potential for suspension from the clinical setting.
Meetings and discussions with students should be documented on a SAN. The SAN should be completed by the faculty and shared with the student, and the SAN must include a plan for course success. Copies of the SAN will be sent electronically to the Undergraduate or Graduate Program Manager and to the appropriate Assistant Dean. The program manager will file the SAN in the On-Base (CU Nursing’s student records system).
The SAN is used as a summative and formative tool to evaluate professional behavior as related to course and program outcomes. In addition, the SAN is used to determine appropriate recommended consequences of unprofessional conduct, including action plans for continuation in class, clinical, lab, and simulated learning experiences. An inability to meet elements outlined in the SAN may result in Suspension or Dismissal from the program, course failure or recommendation for course withdrawal, required additional assignment, or consultation or referral as appropriate.
The Clinical Evaluation Tool (CET; Baccalaureate students) or Competency Preceptor Evaluation tool (CPE; graduate students) for every course will include standardized reference to the Critical Elements of PRB as an outcome competency.
Appropriate consequences of unprofessional conduct will be consistently determined, using the PRB. The process for using the SAN is as follows:
The Board of Regents and the CU College of Nursing accrediting agencies require each unit to conduct student evaluations of courses and instructors. Feedback from students is taken seriously at CU Nursing as we work to improve our courses, curriculum, and mentorship of our faculty. All CU College of Nursing students are asked to complete an anonymous online evaluation of each course and instructor at the end of the instructional period. Students will receive instructions on accessing the evaluations through their CU email account.
The CU College of Nursing is committed to ensuring all students promote an appearance that is professional in order to instill confidence, trust, and respect in patients and their families. It is important that nurses dress in a professional and appropriate manner and are clearly identified as health care professionals.
This policy applies to all CU College of Nursing students who provide direct patient care in off-site or on-site clinical areas. The purpose of this policy is to provide standards of practice as it pertains to professional dress and appearance. Clinical sites may have additional requirements that students must follow. If students are unsure about a clothing choice, they should seek the advice of their course coordinator. Course and clinical faculty are responsible for communicating, interpreting, and adhering to this policy, and determining appropriateness of attire and appearance for their specific course and clinical facility. In addition, students are expected to apply a certain amount of professional judgment in selecting their attire.
Students who fail to adhere to this policy may be asked to leave the clinical area. Make-up time for missed clinical hours associated with leaving the clinical site may not be available. Multiple violations of this policy may result in a course failure.
Undergraduate Scrub Policy – Students are required to wear a specific scrub style as approved by CU College of Nursing. Scrubs must be purchased through the campus bookstore and ordered at orientation. All scrubs are required to have the CU College of Nursing logo embroidered on the upper left area of the scrub top. Students are required to wear CU College of Nursing scrubs when obtaining patient assignment data for clinical preparation.
The following guidelines apply to all students while performing patient care activities at onsite or offsite clinical sites:
Clothing -- Clothing should fit properly, be clean, pressed, in good condition, and of a length and style that does not interfere in performing job duties.
Examples of inappropriate clothing items include, but are not limited to:
For safety purposes, scrub tops or bottoms may not have any zippers, rings, or other accessories directly attached to the scrubs that may be pulled or accessed by patients.
Footwear -- Professional style shoes must be worn in areas where patients are present. Shoes should be clean, well-polished, in good repair, and dedicated to the work setting. Safety, comfort, appearance, and quietness should be the prime considerations in the selection of appropriate footwear.
Jewelry -- Jewelry must not interfere with job performance or safety. Jewelry in the clinical setting should not come in contact with patients, the work area, or pose a danger of becoming caught in machinery or equipment.
Grooming -- Students should exhibit good personal hygiene at all times. This means clean nails, teeth, hair, shoes, body, and clothes. Students must remain free of odors or scents that might be offensive or unhealthy to others, including, but not limited to, cigarette smoke, body odor, bad breath, and excessive use of perfume or cologne.
Tattoos -- Visible tattoos must be covered.
Identification Badge -- A CU College of Nursing identification badge must be worn and remain visible to patients and staff at all times while a student is in the facility.
Accommodations -- Students may request a dress or grooming accommodation, if necessary, through the University or applicable clinical site.
CU use of email. Email is an official means of communication within CU College of Nursing. CU Nursing employs the practice of sending communications to students via email and expects that those communications will be received and read in a timely fashion. All use of email, including use for sensitive or confidential information, will be consistent with the Administrative Policy Statement on Use of Electronic Mail.
CU use of email. Email is an official means for communication within CU Nursing. CU Nursing employs the practice of sending communications to students via email and expects that those communications will be received and read in a timely fashion.
Assignment of the student email address. Information Systems will assign all students an official CU email address. It is to this official address that CU College of Nursing will send email communications; this official address will be the address listed in the CU global address list.
CU email cannot be electronically redirected to another email address. Please contact the Student Email Coordinator or go to the Health Sciences Library for information on how to set up your computer to receive multiple email accounts. Neither CU nor CU Nursing is responsible for the handling of emails by outside vendors.
Not reading email does not absolve a student from the responsibilities associated with communication sent to their official email address. Students are expected to check their official email addresses on a frequent and consistent basis. Students have the responsibility to recognize that certain communications may be time critical.
Educational uses of email. Faculty will determine how email will be used in their classes. If faculty have email requirements/expectations, they will be specified in course syllabi.
All use of email, including use for sensitive or confidential information, will be consistent with the Administrative Policy Statement on Use of Electronic Mail.
All CU students are expected to be familiar with and act in accordance with CU System Social Media Guidelines. Social networks are not to be used for posting or communicating anything related to clinical agency patients, patient condition, patient care, or the activities of providers. Any posting or communication on social networks is a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Additionally, students are expected to follow the guidelines for social media use as outlined in the American Nurses Association Social Media Principles and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing White Paper on the use of Social Media.
Overview
The workplace and the classroom are typically not appropriate places for non-student, minor children to be present on a frequent or continuing basis. Children will not be allowed in the CU College of Nursing classrooms on the Anschutz Medical Campus (AMC) or the Legacy Campus (South Denver) Location. This policy exists for the safety of the minor, as well as to foster respect for those students in the classroom attempting to participate in class activities without disruption. The CU College of Nursing ascribes to the CU Boulder policy regarding children in the workplace and/or classroom.
Standard Procedure
CU College of Nursing understands that under certain extreme weather conditions, students cannot and should not attempt to travel to campus or clinical sites. We recognize the Anschutz Medical Campus (AMC) rarely closes due to the nature of its education, practice, and research obligations that emphasize keeping the campus open. Please refer to the AMC-wide policy.
When there is inclement weather:
If a faculty member needs to cancel a class or clinical session due to inability to get to campus:
CU College of Nursing will officially close if the AMC closes. Should this occur:
If the AMC delays opening, CU College of Nursing will delay opening, as well. The following guidelines apply:
Volunteer work allows students the opportunity to gain experience in the clinical and healthcare environment as well as contribute to the community. The CU College of Nursing supports the participation of its students in University approved and community volunteer activities. The purpose of this policy is to set forth the volunteer activities that are covered by the University's Malpractice Insurance Trust, and the conditions students must meet in order to participate in University approved volunteer activities.
This policy applies to volunteer activities in which the student is representing themselves as a CU College of Nursing student.
The purpose of this policy is to set forth the parameters regarding when student volunteer activities are covered by the Trust and therefore permissible.
Clinical volunteer activities performed by students representing themselves as CU Nursing students enrolled at CU Nursing are covered by the Trust if they fall within the scope of the individual’s responsibilities as a nursing student and are approved activities within the official nursing curriculum (see below for a list of approved activities). Students participating in approved volunteer activities may or may not be awarded course credit, however, these activities are covered by the Trust.
All non-approved volunteer activities must be approved, in writing, by the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate or Graduate Programs, or their designee. The exception to this is shadowing and observation activities which do not need to be approved.
The student will submit a request for approval of the event via email to the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate or Graduate Programs, Specialty Director, or their designee 72 hours in advance of the event. The request must contain the following information:
In determining whether a non-approved volunteer activity will be approved, consideration will be given to such factors as: a) whether the volunteer activity incorporates aspects of the College of Nursing curriculum; b) the level of supervision provided to the student. Decisions regarding requests for non-approved volunteer activities will be communicated by the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate or Graduate Program, or the Specialty Director to the student via email within 24 hours of receiving the request for approval.
The CU Nursing has pre-approved a limited number of volunteer activities/locations for student participation. Students who chose to volunteer at these locations will be covered by the Trust for malpractice purposes provided they notify the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate or Graduate Programs or the Associate Dean of Academic Programs prior to their participation.
The approved CU Nursing volunteer activities/locations are:
Shadowing and observation activities include activities designed to promote clinical skill observation or career exploration and may be carried out under the supervision of licensed healthcare professionals. Shadowing is defined as observing a physician, nurse, therapist, technician, and other healthcare providers as they care for patients or perform their day-to-day duties (from UCH Educational Observation Program website: https://www.uchealth.org/give-to-uchealth/volunteer/)
Shadowing and observation activities performed by CU Nursing students are covered by the Trust if they fall within the scope of the individual’s responsibilities as a student (see Professional Role Behaviors and Honor and Conduct Code in Student Handbook). Prior approval is not required for shadowing or observation activities.
Students must comply with the following criteria in order to participate in CU Nursing volunteer activities:
Failure to comply with the above criteria may result in dismissal, suspension, or expulsion from the Nursing program or referral to the Student Affairs Committee.
This handbook is focused on policies, procedures, and information for you as a student, whether undergraduate or graduate. The 2023-2024 handbook is currently under review, however, new and revised policies are being published as they are approved. The policies posted in the 2023-2024 Handbook supersedes policies in the previous year document. Please direct any questions about the handbook to con.studentaffairs@cuanschutz.edu.
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