BSN STUDENT HANDBOOK
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
 

At the time of registration and throughout a student’s enrollment at UTASON, it is the student’s responsibility to keep Undergraduate Student Services informed of current contact information in addition to filing a change of address with UT Arlington Undergraduate Admissions and Records.

1.   local address

2.   telephone number

3.   home address and

4.   e-mail address

5.   emergency contact information.

 This is essential in order that schedules, official correspondence, scholarship notification, and emergency messages will not be delayed or lost. Students are held responsible for all communication from the school offices sent to them at the address last given and may not claim indulgence on the plea of having moved their lodgings and, therefore of not having received the communication.

UT Arlington e-mails will be used by faculty and administration to communicate pertinent information.  It is expected that UTA e-mails and WebCT accounts required by many courses will be accessed by all students at least weekly during the semester. Students will be held responsible for information distributed in this manner.

A change of address must be filed with SON Undergraduate Student Services (room 662 Pickard Hall or Holly Woods in PKH 650). Please remember this will not update the official UTA records - that will need to be done in UTA’s Undergraduate Admissions and Records Office.

Advisors are available by appointment 9:00-4:00 Monday thru Friday and are assigned by an alpha system.

UTA is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 - The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.

Faculty members are required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student responsibility primarily rests with informing faculty of their need for accommodation and in providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels.  Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic accommodations can be found at www.uta.edu/disability.   Also, you may visit the Office for Students with Disabilities in room 102 of University Hall or call them at (817) 272-3364.

Requesting an accommodation: Once accepted into the nursing program, any student who believes he or she requires an accommodation as the result of a disability is encouraged to contact the above office and identify his or her needs. This should be done as soon as possible to allow the University time to review and, if possible, to provide a reasonable accommodation.

It is the student’s responsibility to present the letter from the Office for Student Disabilities to the faculty member to inform them of needed accommodations at the beginning of the semester.

A student or prospective student is not obligated to disclose a disability unless he or she requests an accommodation.

APA style manual will be used by the UTASON with some specific requirements for the undergraduate courses.  www.uta.edu/nursing/APAFormat.pdf

Course work mandates classroom/online attendance and active participation by students. Attendance may be taken during class.

Students should not attend clinical experiences if they are febrile or carrying any possibly communicable disease. Students are urged to consult their clinical faculty or lead teacher if they have any questions about whether or not they should attend clinical.

 Clinical Eligibility/Clearance

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BSN Students are required to obtain Clinical Clearance prior to direct patient care contact and scheduled clinical hours.

Clinical Clearance requires written documentation provided by the student to the BSN Secretary by;

§         January 5^th for Spring Semesters

§         August 5^th for Fall Semester

Clinical Assignments will NOT be posted on the UTASON Student Bulletin Boards (including the website) for students lacking Clinical Clearance.

RN to BSN students are required to obtain clinical clearance prior to scheduled clinical hours

Clinical clearance requires written documentation provided by the student to the RN to BSN Administrative Specialist (Pam Smith at 817-272-2776 or pamsmith@uta.edu) by the first day of class for the semester.

Students are expected to demonstrate Clinical Requirement Clearance for the ENTIRE semester prior to the first day of class for the academic semester.

Clinical Clearance includes:

• Hepatitis B Series: (3 immunizations) or immune titer
• TB Test:  Mantoux or PPD Skin Test:

 (Must be current within 1 year AND  renewed ANNUALLY)

• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella:

(history of disease/exposure with positive titer, 2 immunizations if born after 1957, or positive immune titer)

• Tetanus/Diphtheria: (current within 10 years)
• Chickenpox (history of disease/exposure with positive titer, immunizations or positive immune titer)
• CPR: American Heart Association: BLS & AED Healthcare Provider (preferred) OR

American Red Cross: Professional Rescuer (accepted)

• Negative Drug Screen: UTA Student Health Center
• Criminal Background Check from Group I 
• Proof of current health insurance coverage every semester
• DFW Hospital Council Standard Student

            Clinical Orientation and Post-test (annually)

Students are expected to provide a signed release of clinical requirement documentation to requesting clinical facilities.

  Criminal

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A student with a positive criminal background screen will not be admitted into the program without a Declaratory Order from the Board of Nursing for the State of Texas stating that the individual has been granted permission to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN Examination) upon completion of the requirements for graduation and payment of any required fees.  Eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN Examination may be affected by any inaccuracies in the petition, and any subsequent violations of the Nursing Practice Act that may affect eligibility to sit for the examination or the later revocation of a license obtained through misrepresentation.

Link to Declaratory Order Form   Catalog Reference

Students in all programs should make every attempt to resolve any disputes regarding academic matters with the faculty involved. Students should follow this order of contact: when disputes are not resolved at the level of the individual teacher:

• make an appointment with the lead teacher. If not resolved;
• make an appointment with the program director. If not resolved;
• make an appointment with the associate dean.

More specific information on this is available elsewhere in this handbook using this link Grievance.

Current UTA undergraduate student uniforms are navy blue scrubs with a UTA insignia patch sewn on the left upper sleeve of scrub top. White long or short sleeved turtleneck or crew neck T-shirts without logo’s or advertisements may be worn under scrub shirts. 

o        Uniforms are to be clean and not wrinkled

o        No sweaters with hoods may be worn with the uniform. 

o        A thigh-length white lab coat with a UTA insignia patch sewn on the left upper sleeve may be worn with the scrubs. 

o        Undergarments and/or cleavage should not show when leaning or bending over.  Low-rise scrub pants and rolling down the waist band of scrub pants is prohibited.

o        Professional attire is expected.  Jeans/western cut pants, sweatshirts, shirts of underwear type, see-through clothing, sleeveless shirts or any clothing which exposes a bare midriff, back, chest or underwear are prohibited.  Tattoos must be covered.  Skirt length must be knee length or longer.  Appearance must be clean and neat.  Students in agencies where scrubs are provided should follow the above standards prior to changing into scrubs.

o        Students involved in pre-planning activities at a clinical site must wear a lab coat and UTA ID.
 

·     The UTA Student Picture ID is to be worn above the waist and in clear view when in uniform. 

A negative urine drug screen is required prior to SON admission and if there is a break in attendance for a semester or more. Drug screens are conducted by the UTA Student Health Center.  Those with a positive drug screen will be denied admission to the UTA School of Nursing.

Drug Screen Policy for NON-RN Nursing Students
Confirmation of a positive drug screening will result in removal from clinical courses for a period of one calendar year. Upon returning to the program, random drug screenings will be conducted throughout the program. A second positive test will render the student ineligible to continue in the program.
Random drug screens are at the student's expense and must be conducted at the UT Arlington Health Center. Failure to undergo a drug screen on the designated day will result in immediate withdrawal from the nursing program.

Pre-licensure policy www.uta.edu/nursing/handbook/BSNdrugpolicy.pdf 

  Gift Policy

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See information on Medical Insurance and Professional Liability Insurance elsewhere in this handbook

·          Criminal conviction (includes DWI)

·          Mental illness

·          Chemical dependence

If you have reason to believe you may be ineligible for licensure, you may petition the Board of Nurse Examiners for a Declaratory Order, prior to enrolling in UTASON.  More detailed information on ineligibility is available in the UT Arlington Undergraduate Catalog http://www.uta.edu/catalog

All UTA Nursing Students are required to provide Verification of Medical Insurance Coverage that includes Emergency Department coverage and follow-up treatment for needle sticks and bloodborne diseases starting with Junior I admission.  This mandatory requirement has been approved by the UT System Board of Regents. Clinical course  records must be updated annually.

Students who have been unsuccessful in completing all UTASON courses and/or other graduation requirements, will not be permitted to participate in the pinning ceremony.   This includes courses in which an incomplete has been assigned.  Students who have not yet successfully completed the Evolve Reach Exit HESI exam requirement and are enrolled in N3237 during either the Summer or Winter Intersession will be permitted to participate in the pinning ceremony. 

All nursing students enrolled in clinical nursing courses are required to have professional liability insurance coverage for a minimum of $1,000,000 limit each claim and $3,000,000 limit aggregate. The charge for coverage will be assessed as a UTA SON mandatory fee of $7.25 per semester at the time of registration for undergraduate students, or $16. (Medical insurance requirement is discussed under the clinical requirements section)

The Nursing Students Code of Ethics adopted by the School of Nursing should be reviewed and adhered to www.uta.edu/nursing/handbook/ETHICS.pdf

Other issues of ethical behavior (such as Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism) are covered elsewhere in this handbook

  Student Information

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