Professionalism
Students are expected to present themselves in a professional manner at all times by demonstrating integrity, respect, and compassion. While participating in the clinical portion of the program, students should realize that their behavior may positively and/or negatively affect the reputation of Berkeley College. Students are expected to be thoughtful and professional when interacting with faculty, patients and their families, nurses, attending physicians, preceptors, affiliated institutional staff, other students, other members of the healthcare team, and the general public.
It is expected that students will:
- Abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages or any substances in the academic and clinical setting that impair judgment (unprescribed drugs or other legally controlled substances).
- Uphold school policies and regulations related to academic and clinical performance.
- Refrain from performing any technique or procedure for which they have not been adequately trained.
- Refrain from any deliberate action or omission of care in the academic or clinical setting that creates unnecessary risk of injury to the client, self, or others.
- Provide care for the client in a timely, compassionate, and professional manner.
- Communicate client care in a truthful, timely, and accurate manner.
Professional demeanor is also required while students are in virtual sites, such as online social networking sites. Students are required to comply with the Berkeley College Social Media Policy, which governs the use of College and personal social media sites with respect to matters related to the College.
Under no circumstances are students permitted to engage in personal phone conversations or text messaging while participating in the didactic, laboratory, and/or clinical portions of their program. Students are required to familiarize themselves with, and follow, the clinical sites’ policies and procedures regarding cell phone use. Students are in a profession that serves the public – a public that expects a high standard of professionalism.
If, while enrolled in a clinical course, a student's level of professionalism and/or performance presents a potential harm to the welfare of clients, the faculty will determine, based on written and/or oral documentation, whether or not the student will be permitted to continue in the course. If a student’s performance presents an immediate potential harm to either the student or his/her clients, the program faculty and/or preceptors have the responsibility to remove the student immediately from the clinical setting. A student who recognizes that she/he has made a clinical error is obligated to report the situation to their preceptor and faculty immediately and to take necessary measures to ensure subsequent patient safety.
In addition, students enrolled in the MSN program may be suspended, or expelled, from clinical studies for reasons associated with academic misconduct. These reasons include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Failure to follow Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Guidelines by maintaining the confidentiality of patient information and records.
- An act of dishonesty involving clinical work.
- Falsification of credentials.
- Inappropriate use of electronic devices such as, but not limited to photographing, recording, or transmission of patient information or photographs.
As members of the nursing profession, it is imperative that the MSN nursing students recognize their responsibility to society and their patients and exhibit behavior representing high standards, polite etiquette, compassion, and respect for human dignity in both the classroom and clinical settings.
For more general conduct requirements applicable to all Berkeley College students, click here.