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BSN: Practicum Experience Policies

Dress Code and Uniforms: Uniforms must be ordered through Flagstaff Uniforms, Inc.

The following dress code guidelines are reflective of agency policies. As guests in practicum agencies, students are expected to convey dignity and respect through their dress and behavior.

The JMU nursing student uniform is worn for practicum experiences in designated settings. Nursing insignias, or uniform are NOT to be worn when students work as paid employees of any agency or institution.
The uniform for WOMEN is a pants suit uniform and a JMU dark purple, short sleeved tunic. The uniform for MEN is a white pant and short sleeved purple tunic. An insignia identifying you as a JMU nursing student MUST be sewn on the upper left side of the apron or tunic and worn at all times. Scrub suits are not acceptable attire for practicum courses. The department will provide a nursing student photo ID badge
The nursing student photo ID is to be worn with the uniform, lab coat and street clothes when in a practicum experience. Alternately, an agency may require students to wear their agency ID.
A lab coat with the nursing insignia on the left sleeve, may be worn in lieu of the uniform at designated times. Appropriate street clothes (no jeans, shorts, short skirts, or tank tops) must be worn with the lab coat in practicum settings.
Students are required to purchase a JMU Nursing polo shirt to be worn in designated psychiatric and non-acute practicum settings along with neat, professional street slacks or mid-knee length skirt (no jeans, shorts, cropped pants, or short skirts), closed toe, closed heel, professional street shoes, and name pin, instead of a lab coat or uniform. Underwear should never be visible, either directly or through thin material. All uniforms must be purchased through Flagstaff Uniform, Inc. See website link.
White hose or white socks for pants with low-heeled, comfortable, white, walking shoes are to be worn with the uniform. Tennis shoes or sneakers are acceptable but must be white and not have any bold loops or insignias. Standard nursing clogs that are secure on your feet may be worn. Low heeled, non-white shoes may be worn with lab coats
Jewelry must be simple and in good taste. Only one pair or less of stud-type or small loop earrings may be worn in the ear lobe(s). A simple ring worn on the ring finger of each hand may be worn. No other jewelry is allowed. A watch with a sweep second hand is required.
Body art and body piercing jewelry other than earrings may not be visible. Tongue bars, brow, or nose jewelry may not be worn during practicum experiences.
Nails are to be short in length and well-groomed. Unchipped clear or pale shades of nail polish may be worn. Artificial nails are not allowed during practicum experiences for safety reasons.
Hair must be arranged away from the face and neck. Long hair must be pulled back away from the face. Conservative hair ornaments are to be used as needed. No bandannas are to be used during practicum experiences. Males are to be neatly shaven, mustaches and beards clipped neatly.
Perfume is not to be worn during practicum experiences.
In all clinical settings, the clinical instructor will make the final decision about each student’s professional appearance. If you are not properly attired, you may be sent off the clinical unit, which may negatively impact your course grade.

Equipment:

Students are responsible to secure the following equipment for use in practicum courses:

Watch with a sweep second hand
Bandage scissors
Dual head stethoscope (with bell and diaphragm)
Aneroid sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff)
Penlight
Universal Precautions Spill Kit (to be purchased from the department of nursing)

An equipment kit has been created by the Pi Mu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society for your purchase. Contact department secretary if you have interest in purchasing a kit. Required equipment is also available at uniform stores and in the campus bookstore. In order to comply with federal and state regulations as set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) students are required to purchase a universal precautions spill kit obtained from the Department of Nursing and are required to have that spill kit available during independent clinical practicum experiences, such as independent home visits, where they are not at an OSHA regulated clinical site and are not accompanied by an agency staff member.

Liability Insurance:

JMU through the State of Virginia provides malpractice coverage to the amount required in The Code of Virginia. Coverage is per occurrence for each individual student and covers student practice that is an assigned course-related activity. It will NOT cover student work outside course experiences (eg. as an aide, a volunteer, or a summer extern).

Student may purchase additional insurance beyond the state's policy. Two carriers are Nurses Service Organization (www.nso.com) and Nurses Protection Group (www.npg.com).

Transportation:

All nursing practicum courses involve experiences in hospitals and other health care agencies in diverse settings including home visits. These settings include, but are not limited to Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Page County, Augusta County, Winchester and Charlottesville. There may be occasional experiences in more distant places such as Richmond or Washington, DC.

Students are responsible for all arrangements and expenses for travel to practicum sites and other educational experiences. Students need a car accessible to them; car-pooling may be possible, but cannot be relied on for all required experiences. Some experiences require travel in the morning before sunrise or late evening after sundown, so reliable transportation is needed. Even in the best circumstances, there are dangers inherent in travel. Students are expected to know who to call and what steps to take in the event of a vehicle breakdown or other emergency.
In inclement weather, course faculty make decisions about cancellation of practicum experiences. Each course syllabus contains an inclement weather policy. Students are expected to call faculty to discuss weather conditions before traveling if there are questions of safety. Because our primary concern is the safety of the student, if there is a question about safety, students are asked NOT to travel.
Students often carpool to practicum sites. The faculty recommends that you NOT use your personal vehicle to transport clients; most agencies have a similar policy. It is recommended that you check with your insurance agent for clarity about your coverage for such situations.

Potential Injury:

Persons under stress from physical or emotional ill health often direct feelings on persons in the environment. Students are in settings (community agencies, institutions and homes) where agitation, hostility, anger, sexually inappropriate and other unpredictable behavior can occur and students must learn strategies for dealing with problem behavior.

When making home visits be particularly alert to risks related to the consumption of alcohol, drugs or other substances, dogs or other factors that might be a threat to safety. Be aware of locations that call for special alertness; note lighting, open spaces, shrubs or other structures that might impair vision. Be sure someone knows when and where you are going. Do not take risks. You may go in pairs as a safety measure. When you are uncomfortable with what is happening with a client you are responsible to inform the faculty and/or agency personnel so resolution can be found.

Preparation for Provision of Care and Services:

Nursing students provide services including direct care to individuals, groups and communities in practicum experiences and are liable for all actions taken. Students are expected to provide safe, appropriate, knowledge-based care that meets ethical and legal standards. The well-being of clients is the priority responsibility and students are expected to prepare for all practicum experiences as directed. Unprepared students may be removed from the practicum with or without the option of making it up.

Expectation of Competent Behavior and Performance:

Unsatisfactory or unsafe behaviors - may result in clinical probation or removal from the course (and subsequent failure of the course) at the discretion of the faculty practicum instructor. When a student is placed on clinical probation, the faculty instructor will document the incident or pattern of behavior. The instructor and student will meet to discuss the incident and to establish specific re-evaluation criteria and behavioral goals that will be put in writing and signed by the student and faculty member. Following clinical probation, subsequent unsatisfactory performance in the clinical or laboratory setting will result in faculty review and possible failure of the course.
Physical or mental inability to perform practicum responsibilities - If a student has sustained an injury (e.g. broken bone), illness, or disability after entry into the nursing program that prevents the student from meeting the objectives of a practicum course, the student may need to withdraw from the course. The practicum instructor will determine:
- Whether course objectives can be met within the time frame of the course.
- Whether the student is able to receive an incomplete (I) in the course and satisfy requirements within 3 weeks of the end of the semester; or
- Whether the student will need to withdraw and re-take the course when the problem is resolved. This will affect student progression within the program

Responsibilities to Practicum Sites

The Nursing Department contracts with agencies for practicum courses and both students and faculty are guests in these agencies. Many agencies require that we provide them with documentation relative to CPR certification, criminal record, professional liability insurance, results of TB testing, etc.; the information you provide for us may be shared with them. In addition to other policies relative to practicum experiences, the following expectations relate specifically to practicum sites and personnel:

Students are expected to act in act in a responsible, respectful manner in all interactions with clients and staff.
Nursing students are expected to comply with written policies and procedures governing nursing practice in the practicum agency or institution, including policies and procedures regarding hazardous material, standard precautions and health requirements.
HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act- "The Department of Health and Human Services and all other health care agencies must insure that their customers ( ex: patients, insured individuals, providers and health plans) that the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of electronic protected health information they collect, maintain, use, or transmit is protected." APA ref (Federal Register, 2003, p1). During the first sophomore nursing course orientation week, students will view the JMU Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training tutorial videotape and successfully pass a written test to demonstrate knowledge and establish legal accountability for compliance with HIPAA regulations. Individual practicum sites may require students to attend their own HIPAA training sessions in addition to the JMU HIPAA training.
Students are responsible to notify both the faculty and appropriate agency personnel if they will be absent from an assigned experience due to illness, weather or other reasons.
When students miss practicum experiences as an excused absence (for reasons including inclement weather, death of a family member or illness) the student must “make up” the practicum experience in some manner. The practicum faculty instructor will determine how the student is to make up the experience, in collaboration with the course coordinator and department head as needed.
All information and personal data gained in practicum experiences must be treated confidentially.
Nursing students are expected to dress in accordance with nursing department policy and as acceptable to the agency.
If a student is injured during any clinical experience, the designated agency procedure is to be followed.

CPR Certification:

Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), for both adults and children (Course C), is required of nursing students. Certification must be valid prior to initial enrollment in nursing courses and maintained throughout the nursing program. Students are responsible for securing and maintaining initial and re-certification. A copy of your CPR certification card documenting valid, current certification must be received by the nursing department prior to taking the Sophomore level nursing course and prior to both the junior and senior year in the nursing program. Students will not be allowed to begin practicum courses unless this validation has been received. Courses are offered through many local community agencies including rescue squads, chapters of the American Heart Association, hospitals, wellness centers, the University Recreation Center as well as through health courses at JMU. It is your responsibility to locate a certification course. Courses are not continuously available, so you must plan ahead to meet this requirement.

Driving Record:

A current driving record from the Division of Motor Vehicles in the state in which you hold a current license must be submitted to the department office prior to beginning nursing courses. This may require several weeks to secure so it is important to start early. It is required prior to beginning practicum experiences. Forms can be secured directly from DMV. Additional updates may be required during the program.

Criminal Record:

A criminal check through the State of Virginia must be conducted and sent to the Nursing Department prior to beginning nursing courses. Application forms are available in the Nursing Department office. Your signature must be notarized; the nursing department secretary is a notary and can provide this service for you or you may use a notary of your choice. At least 6 weeks is needed after submitting the form to Richmond so it is important that you begin this process early.

Employment:

If employed by a health care agency while a student in the nursing program, students are expected to perform only those functions defined in the job descriptions for positions they are filling. Such employment is independent of your status as a JMU nursing student.

Master of Science in Nursing at JMU