Armstrong Atlantic State University

Department Of Nursing

BSN Student Handbook

• Mission Statement

• Faculty's Philosophy Statement

• Educational Objectives

• Educational Outcomes

• Accreditation Statement

• Grading Policy

• General Student Policies and Guidelines

Armstrong Atlantic State University
Department of Nursing

I. Mission Statement

Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU) was founded as a city college and continues to fulfill an urban mission, teaching a diverse population of traditional and non-traditional students from Southeast Georgia. The overall purpose of the University is to bring students to a better realization of their own intellectual, emotional, and spiritual potential. Consistent with this mission and population focus, the mission of the Department of Nursing at AASU is to educate nurses who are able to address and provide for the health care needs of the people of Southeast Georgia and the coastal region. This mission is accomplished through a multifaceted approach, which incorporates education, research, and service. The vision for the Department of Nursing is to facilitate the development of competent, committed, and caring professional nurses at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

II. Faculty's Philosophy Statement

The foundation for the beliefs of the nursing faculty is the value placed on the holistic nature of human beings and concern for the quality of human life.

Education: The Faculty believe:

Baccalaureate nursing education builds upon a strong scientific, theoretical, and liberal arts base.
Baccalaureate nursing education is the basis for entry into professional nursing practice and the foundation for graduate nursing education.
Learning is a lifelong process that is enabled by curiosity and experiential learning which enables students to reach their individual potential.
Students, as self-directed learners, must actively participate in their learning process
The teaching-learning process provides the environment, which prepares students to utilize information technologies in evidence-based practice and the provision of patient care.
Faculty/student interactions are imperative for the development of caring and knowledgeable nurse leaders
Teaching is enhanced by faculty practice, continuing education, and mentoring.
Students bring diverse, experiential knowledge of acquired beliefs, values, behaviors, and a willingness to change and grow personally and professionally
Academic excellence is produced through commitment of students and faculty.
Distance learning enhances access to nursing education through flexible course scheduling and development of off campus sites
Graduate nursing education refines existing skills, expands the current knowledge base, and develops competencies required to participate in advance nursing practice.
Graduate nursing education extends the role and the practice of professional nursing.
Graduate nursing education provides the foundation for doctoral education

Environment: The Faculty believe:

The global environment in which health care is provided is composed of ever changing internal and external forces that influence the life of an individual, family, aggregate, or community.
Health care delivery system environments contain social, political and professional forces, which influence health policy.

Health: The Faculty believe:

Health is a state of well-being that is dynamic and interactive with the environment. Health is individually and collectively perceived and determined. Although levels of health may vary, client well-being is consonant with an optimal state of health.

Person: The Faculty believe:

Each client is unique and diverse biological, psychological, and sociological system. The client's developmental level, culture, socioeconomic status, value system, and religion influence his/her perceptions of health care and his/her ability to adapt t the environment. The client may be understood as an individual, family, aggregate, or community.

Professional Nursing Practice: The Faculty believe:

Professional nursing practice is an autonomous, caring, and collaborative practice.
Professional nursing is responsible and accountable to self, clients, society, and the nursing profession in accordance with professional standards of governance.
Professional nursing practice focuses upon therapeutic nursing interventions to provide health promotion, health maintenance, illness prevention, and health restoration.
Professional nurses utilize effective communication skills to develop partnerships with clients and the interdisciplinary health team for the design, implementation, and evaluation of health strategies for the individual, family, aggregate, or population.
Professional nurses utilize critical thinking skills for self-directed judgments and act independently within the framework of the nurse practice act.
Professional nursing roles include: practitioner, leader, educator, advocate, researcher, consultant, and change agent.

Scholarship: The Faculty believe:

Scholarship includes the scholarship of discovery, integration, application and learning.
Research, as scholarship of discovery, represents one component of the total spectrum of scholarship.
Consistent with the University's position, applied research is the focus of most nursing research projects.
Research activities are directly responsive to regional health care needs .
Research activities contribute to the knowledge base of nursing.
A theoretical framework guides research activities.

Service: The Faculty believe:

Relationships and service opportunities are vital to the advancement of nursing care.
The service mission is met in a variety of ways including professional practice, consultation, and collaboration.
Service opportunities assist in the improvement of health in Southeast Georgia.
The nursing faculty serve as resource persons to the University, the community, and clinical agencies found within the University's population focus.

III. Educational Objectives

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, the graduate will be able to synthesize knowledge from the disciplines of sciences, nursing and the humanities as the basis for decision making for professional nursing practice. The Baccalaureate Program Outcomes are:

Utilize critical thinking skills to provide health promotion, risk reduction, illness prevention and health restoration with clients across the lifespan in a variety of settings.
Employ communication strategies with clients, the interdisciplinary team, and others to meet health needs.
Utilize evidence-based therapeutic nursing interventions to provide health promotion, risk reduction, illness prevention and health restoration with clients across the lifespan in a variety of settings.
Assimilate professional roles into nursing practice in a variety of settings.
Demonstrate behaviors, which contribute to professional growth.
Participate in service activities that contribute to the nursing profession, the university, and the community.

IV. Educational Outcomes

Outcome Criterion	Measurement	Rationale
Critical Thinking:
A creative skill that is practiced and refined over time. It is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information that has been gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication with others.	Apply the Critical Thinking measurement tool in the following course learning activities: *Pre-Licensure :* NURS 4450: Nursing Leadership Clinical Paper *Post-Licensure:* NURS 4006: Synthesis Paper	Learning activities require the student to engage in conceptual inquiry by utilizing data from a variety of sources, analyzing and synthesizing options and strategies, generating pertinent and logical resolutions, formulating conclusions and effecting redesign.
Communication:
Written & Oral: A transitive process, which effectively imparts, confers or transmits thoughts, feelings, or information through verbal and nonverbal gestures with another person or persons.	Apply the Written & Oral Communication Assessment tool in the following course learning activities: Pre-Licensure : Oral -NURS4450:Leadership/Management Presentation Written - NURS 4440: Health Policy Paper *Post-Licensure :* Oral - NURS 4006: Oral Presentation Written - NURS 4006: Synthesis Paper	Learning activities require the student to utilize knowledge from nursing and other related disciplines in the analysis of a problem important to the nursing profession. Students are expected to demonstrate original writing style and synthesis of references, well organized content with introduction and conclusion, appropriate grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and APA format.
Therapeutic Nursing Interventions:
Are based on an ethic of human care that is contextually, socially, culturally, and ethnically relevant to the recipient.	Apply the Therapeutic Nursing Interventions Assessment tool in the following course learning activities: *Pre-Licensure :* NURS 4440: Community Assessment Paper *Post-Licensure :* NURS 4006: Practice Case Study	Learning activities expect the student to define a nursing problem in terms of context, social relevance and ethical significance; collect data; propose strategies based on logical decision making; and implement a plan that is supported by current research an provides for a positive influence on the health of a client.
Service:
Assisting and promoting the interests of others and/or work done for others. Participation by the students in activities that will advance the health of Savannah and the southeastern coastal Atlantic region.	Apply the Service Assessment tool in the following course learning activities: Student Annual Report of Service Activities	This tool is distributed annually to students during the month of April. Periodic assessment of student service activities assists the Department of Nursing faculty to monitor the conduct of academic and community service.

V. Accreditation Statement

The Baccalaureate Nursing Program is approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing. The AASU Department of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Accreditation is an indication of public approbation, attesting to the quality of the educational program and the continued commitment of the sponsoring institution to support the program. For further information about the accreditation of the program, please contact the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education at the following address:

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
(202) 887-6791

VI. Grading Policy

No Rounding of Grades Policy:

Pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing students must achieve a course average of 75.00% in order to earn a grade of C in each nursing course. Grades for all course assignments will be recorded as earned with no mathematical rounding.

This policy allows the faculty of the Department of Nursing to remove uncertainty and ensure integrity in the grading process for all students. Numerical averages will not be rounded up.

A	90.00 --100.00
B	80.00 -- 89.99
C	75.00 -- 79.99
D	70.00 -- 74.99
F	Below 70.00

Program Completion Requirements:

Students must complete the baccalaureate nursing program within four consecutive years from the date of their initial admission to the nursing major. Students who miss a semester, for any reason, must submit a formal request to Department Head, meet with Department Head, and develop a program of study. Students who do not complete the program within this time limit must apply for readmission, meet current criteria for admission, and have their previous credits evaluated. All university core requirements must be met before the student may enroll in the last semester of nursing courses .

Senior nursing students are required to take a comprehensive exit exam prior to graduation.

Progression Requirements:

1. A "C" or better must be earned in each nursing course.
2. Students who earn less than a "C" in a nursing course must meet with the Department Head or Undergraduate Coordinator to develop an adjusted program of study. Progression is on a space-available basis. No more than one nursing course may be repeated.
3. A minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required to remain in the nursing program.
4. Students who have not taken the Regents' Exam must take the test during the semester of enrollment immediately following the completion of 45 college-level semester credit hours. Students must pass both components of the Regents' Exam prior to graduation. Refer to the AASU Catalog for specific policy guidelines.
5. If a student does not matriculate each semester, excluding Summer semester, the student must apply for readmission to the nursing major.
6. Failure to comply with any of the above requirements while in the nursing program constitutes grounds for dismissal from the program.

Remediation Policy :

All students who score below 75 on a test are expected to:

Participate with faculty in a test review.
Collaborate with faculty to complete a prescriptive learning activity to master the necessary course content.

Repeating Nursing Courses:

A student who fails one nursing course should meet with the appropriate instructors and the Department Head or Undergraduate Coordinator to develop an educational prescription to enhance future chances of success. Copies of the written prescription will be placed in student's file. Failure of selected nursing courses prohibits progression. A student who fails two nursing courses is dismissed from the program .

Withdrawal/Incomplete:

Students who are unable to complete a semester's work due to extenuating circumstances may:

Withdraw before midterm without penalty and receive a "W" for the course.
Withdraw after midterm and receive a "WF" (Withdraw Failing) which is carried in the cumulative GPA as an "F".
Apply for an "I" (incomplete) grade by:
- Notifying the appropriate faculty member of the reason;
- Submitting in writing a plan for meeting course requirements;
- Executing the plan with approval of the faculty member to remove the "I" prior to midterm of the following semester. An "I" grade automatically converts to an "F" if this requirement is not met.
- Receiving an "I" in selected nursing courses prohibits progression to courses that have as a prerequisite a course in which the student has received an "I".
  
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VII. General Student Policies and Guidelines

The student will find the following information beneficial and helpful in having a successful and pleasant experience while in the nursing program. Students must be mindful that at all times they represent the Department of Nursing and the profession of nursing when in the community.
The following guidelines and policies are specific to the Department of Nursing and are supportive or in addition to those outlined by the university.

ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC) Guidelines

Standardized testing occurs throughout the program.
Students are required to pay all fees associated with the ATI process by the beginning of each semester. Fees cover secured test(s), study guides and access to unsecured tests for remediation.
Graduating students are required to take a RN Comprehensive ATI exam.
ATI access codes and questions are not to be shared with other students. Sharing of codes and questions is considered an Honor Code Violation. See the Armstrong Atlantic State University catalog for Honor Code details.
Failure to take any scheduled standardized ATI test will result in dismissal from the program.
ATI Content Mastery exams are course requirements. Failure to take the examinations for a specific course will result in failure (F) in the course and dismissal from program.
Students will be given study guides at the beginning of the semester upon proof of payment. Effective Summer 2007, new students will pay $70.00 per semester for ATI testing.

Exit Exam:

In addition to the AASU exit exam ( The Academic Profile) , students are required to take a Department of Nursing exit exam.

Pre-licensure students:
In order to fully prepare students for writing the NCLEX-RN, graduating seniors are required to take the ATI RN Comprehensive Examination. This examination, used nationally by many baccalaureate programs of nursing, has sufficient data for predictive scoring to determine the likelihood of any individual student's chances for passing the NCLEX-RN.

As a part of this assessment process, the faculty of the Department of Nursing want to provide each student with opportunities for study and learning assistance in order to assist you with your preparation for the NCLEX-RN. Following the ATI RN Comprehensive Examination, each student will receive individual counseling regarding his or her scores, and if needed, an individual plan of remediation will be designed.

Exit Exam Policy:
Students will be required to score 65 percent or better on the ATI RN Comprehensive Exam. All students scoring below 65 percent correct will be required to remediate and retake the exam until they score at least 65 percent. Students will be allowed to graduate, however, they will not be approved to Georgia Board of Nursing until they receive a passing score.

Post licensure students:
Post-licensure students are required to take the ERI Value Added Completion Examination.

Attendance

Attendance at each scheduled class is expected, since the learning process involves group interaction.
Students are expected to adhere to the course policies related to attendance and are responsible for all activities associated with each class.
In accordance with AASU academic policy, instructors may drop students from any course with a grade of W or WF, or, if in their judgment, absences have been excessive (see AASU Catalogue).

Children on Campus

AASU policy prohibits the presence of children during class activities. Children may not be left unattended in any AASU building campus or on AASU grounds.

Clinical/Campus Lab

The clinical/campus lab experience assignments in each course have been designed by the faculty to meet course objectives. Therefore, students are expected to attend every scheduled clinical/lab.
The student should notify the clinical unit or preceptor prior to the beginning of clinical if he/she will be absent. Time missed during the clinical experience will be made up at the discretion of clinical course faculty.
The AASU absence policy applies to clinical/campus lab as well as scheduled course class time.

Professional Behavioral Requirements

Support and promote the activities of fellow students and of health care professionals. Promotion of peers helps furnish a team approach to learning, task completion, problem solving, and patient care.
Be honest, compassionate, ethical, and responsible. The student must be forthright about errors or uncertainty. The students must be able to critically evaluate her or his own performance, accept and act on constructive criticism, and look for ways to improve (i.e.) participate in enriched educational activities.
Show respect for individuals of different age, ethnic background, religion, and/or sexual orientation.
Exercise independent judgment and accept responsibility for own work.
In addition, the student must follow all established policies and procedures of the program and clinical affiliate sites.

AASU Disability Services

Students accepted to Armstrong Atlantic State University who are requesting accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Services.
The student must provide documentation of the disability from a qualified professional and the documentation must support the need for the accommodation being requested.
The Board of Regents has established criteria in regards to documentation of learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder. These criteria are available in the Office of Disability Service.
Persons interested in applying for admission to the nursing program should review the core performance standards to develop a better understanding of the physical abilities and behavioral characteristics necessary to successfully complete the program.
The University complies with the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Therefore, the University will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations for participants with disabilities who are otherwise qualified . Students who need accommodations are required to report to the AASU Director of Disabilities.

ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY
Department of Nursing
Core Performance Standards

All potential and enrolled students in the Department of Nursing must meet intellectual, physical, and social competencies required to provide safe client care.

*ISSUE*	*STANDARD*	*EXAMPLES OF ACTIVITIES*
Critical Thinking Ability	Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment as measured by the Department of Nursing Critical Thinking Tool.	Transfer knowledge from one situation to another. Process information, evaluate outcomes, problem solve and prioritize. Use long and short-term memory, identify cause-effect relationships. Plan activities for others. Synthesize knowledge and skills. Sequence information.
Interpersonal Skills	Interpersonal skills sufficient to interact with individuals, families and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.	Negotiate interpersonal conflict. Respect cultural diversity in clients. Establish rapport with clients and co-workers.
Communication Ability	Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form, organize work and perform multiple tasks within given time constraints and under stressful conditions while maintaining the ability to communicate clearly.	Explain health conditions, diagnostic and treatment procedures and initiate health teaching. Interpret and document client responses to health status. Convey information through written and oral reports.
Mobility	Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces and maintain physical tolerance for repetitive movements and demands of the work shift.	Move within confined spaces. Sit or stand and maintain balance. Reach above shoulders and below waist. Twist, bend, stoop, climb on stool or stairs, and move quickly in response to potential emergencies. Push, pull, lift or support 25 pounds. Use upper body strength. Squeeze with hands and fingers.
Motor Skills	Gross and fine motor skills sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.	Grasp small objects with hands. Manipulate small objects with fingers. Write with a pen. Type on a computer keyboard.
Hearing Ability	Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.	Hear normal and faint voices. Hear faint body sounds such as blood pressure, heartbeat, etc. Hear in situations when not able to read lips. Hear auditory alarms such as monitors, fire alarms and call bells.
Visual Skills	Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary for safe client care.	Visual objects from 20 inches to 20 feet away. Use depth perception and peripheral vision. Distinguish colors and color intensity. Read and understand written documents.
Tactile Ability	Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment.	Feel vibrations to detect pulses, etc. Detect temperature. Feel differences in sizes and shapes and detect surface characteristics.
Emotional Stability	Emotional stability sufficient to tolerate rapidly changing conditions and environmental stress.	Establish therapeutic interpersonal boundaries. Provide clients with emotional support. Adapt to changing environment and stress. Deal with the unexpected. Focus attention on task. Perform multiple tasks concurrently. Handle strong emotions.
Source: Southern Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing (1993) and National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.: Guidelines for Using Results of Functional Abilities Studies and other Resources (1990).

Health and Safety Policy

All students are to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation of infants and adults. The CPR card must be valid during the entire time students are enrolled in nursing Major Field Courses. In accordance to contractual agreements with health care delivery systems and the Board of Regent's Health Policy students are required to have the following documents on file in the Department of Nursing office:

• Affirmation of ability to meet Core Performance Standards

• CPR Certification - Adult, Child, and Infant

• Annual Medical Report for Faculty & Student

• Annual Proof of Health Insurance – must be provided every semester

• Baccalaureate Program Handbook Acknowledgement

• Immunization And Screening Tests and Hepatitis B Declaration Form

• Meet all clinical facility requirements

Criminal Background Checks and Drug Use

Clinical agencies utilized by the Department of Nursing may require criminal background checks and/or drug testing prior to acceptance of the student into clinical facilities. Students who do not pass the criminal background check and/or drug test may be unable to attend clinical courses and therefore may be unable to complete their program of study. Any fees or cost associated with background checks and/or drug testing are the responsibility of the student.

Infection Control Precautions

Standard Precautions are used to protect against Hepatitis B and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections, as these are significant and growing risks in the United States. Health care workers are especially at risk for developing these diseases due to exposure to needle-sticks and splashed blood/body fluids. Hepatitis B, which infects thousands of health care workers, is preventable by immunization. Hepatitis B and HIV + status can be prevented through the consistent use of STANDARD PRECAUTIONS. There is no known method to prevent the development of infectious diseases. Therefore, it is mandatory that efforts be taken to prevent exposure to these diseases. Standard Precautions must be followed by students and faculty in the clinical settings. Students are encouraged to be immunized against Hepatitis B or must sign a waiver accepting responsibility for potential consequences of not being immunized.

Professional Behavior: Class and Clinical

Students are expected to be prepared for all class and laboratory/clinical assignments. They are expected to attend class and clinical on time.
Students are adults and are responsible for their own behavior and learning. Faculty provide guidance and support for students having difficulty with nursing courses and for those students who seek assistance related to academic improvement.
Students are expected to exhibit appropriate professional conduct in class, lab, and clinical situations.
Civility in the classroom/laboratory will be maintained. Students causing disruption will be dismissed from the classroom/clinical environment.
All students are expected to abide by the Armstrong Atlantic State University Honor Code and Code of Conduct.
Students are considered representatives of AASU when in classes conducted by guest lecturers or on field trips and, therefore, are expected to dress and behave with consideration for the image they project to the general community.
Students must be qualified and acceptable to clinical agencies utilized in the program. Some clinical agencies may require criminal background check and random drug screening.
Confidentiality of patient records and situations will be maintained at all times. No patient chart is to be copied by any technological process. Patient information is not to be removed from any health care agency. Students violating this code will be dismissed from the program.
Students are responsible for maintaining patient privacy and dignity at all times. Professional decorum extends into many aspects of life. Courteous professional behavior toward faculty, peers, patient/client, staff and hospital personnel is expected at all times. The first time a violation comes to the attention of the faculty, the student will be reprimanded, reminded of the code of professional behavior, and the incident will be noted in the student's record. The problem will be discussed with the student. Any further instances of unprofessional or unacceptable behavior will result in dismissal from the Program.

Substance Abuse by Nursing Students

The University policies on alcoholic beverages and drugs are described in the Student Conduct Code, which states in part, "The possession or use of drugs (without a valid medical prescription) controlled by the federal Government is prohibited." In accordance with these policies, the Department of Nursing has adopted the following policy for nursing students in clinical settings:

If a student reports to clinical under the influence of drugs/alcohol, he/she will not be allowed to remain in the clinical setting that day and the matter will be referred to the Undergraduate Coordinator for further evaluation. If the student insists he/she is not impaired, he/she has the option of having a drug/alcohol screen done at his/her expense.
The clinical instructor and the Undergraduate Coordinator will determine when the student can return to clinical, if the student has been asked to leave the clinical setting due to being under the influence of drugs/alcohol.
If deemed necessary by the Undergraduate Coordinator and the clinical instructor, the student will be referred to a certified addiction counselor for evaluation. Further action will depend on the recommendation of the counselor.
If the addiction counselor believes treatment is necessary, the student may have the option of returning to the nursing program upon completion of treatment. A drug/alcohol screening must be performed with negative results within one week of returning to clinical.
If the student does not comply with the above recommendations, he/she will be referred to the Head of the Department of Nursing for further actions.
Based on recommendations of the addiction counselor, the student may need to attend an aftercare program. If such a treatment plan is prescribed, the student must provide the Undergraduate Coordinator with documentation of attendance.
Detailed documentation of the incident(s) will be written by the clinical instructor and signed by the student indicating the student has read it. The documentation will be placed in the student's file.

Transportation

Students are responsible for their own transportation for all clinical experiences and assigned field trips. Students must not provide transportation for clients.

Uniform Standards for Clinical Settings

Uniforms and Patches must be purchased from Meridy's Uniform & Accessory Company at www.meridys.com, or if you do not have a credit card to make online purchases, call their customer service line at 1-800-237-9164.

The purpose of the pre-licensure student uniform standards and regulations is to promote safety, provide a means of identifying the student, and to support the milieu of the clinical environment. These guidelines apply only to the pre- licensure student while in the student role.
Specific variation in uniform and required equipment will be identified in individual nursing course guidelines. It is the student's responsibility to know and conform to uniform standards and bring necessary equipment to the setting in which the student is practicing.
A student violating any of the below guidelines will be dismissed from clinical and receive an unexcused absence.
The DON program faculty reserve the right to interpret the uniform standards and make decisions regarding professional dress and conduct.

An AASU-BSN patch is to be affixed to left upper sleeve on uniforms, lab coats/jackets, and sweaters.
An AASU-Name Pin is to be placed over the left upper chest area of uniform, lab coat/jacket, or sweater.

Uniforms: Clean, standard white uniform: dress, top with slacks or skirts. Slacks are acceptable only when uniform top extends past the hipline. Leggings, scrubs, shorts, white jeans, and fanny packs are not permitted. Undergarments should be a neutral color so not to be visible through clothing. Full coverage undergarments should be neutral color so they are not visible through clothing.

Lab Coats: White lab coat that is either full or three-quarters length is required.

Shoes: Clean, standard white (no trim or colors) nursing shoes or plain white leather athletic shoes are acceptable (no high tops, trim colors, or open toes or open heels.) Hose/Socks: Plain white, full-length hosiery is to be worn with dresses and skirts. Plain white socks, mid-calf length or knee length, may be worn with pants only.

Hair:
Hairstyle: Neat and presents a well-groomed appearance. Hair shoulder-length or longer must be pulled back or put up. Hair accessories must be limited and neutral in color. Hair must be kept out of the face regardless of the length. Hair that is dyed must be a naturally occurring hair color. No faddish hairstyles are allowed.

Facial Hair: Fully developed beard must be neatly trimmed and present a well-groomed appearance. Otherwise, face must be clean shaven.

Personal Grooming:

Nails should be neatly trimmed and should not extend beyond ¼ inch from the fingertip. Neither nail polish nor artificial nails are allowed.
Make-up should not be excessive.
Perfume/cologne/aftershave is prohibited.
A clean uniform must be worn daily.
No gum is to be chewed while in the clinical setting.

Jewelry:

Earrings: One pair of small post earrings. Only one earring per ear is permitted.
Body piercing jewelry in visible areas other than ears is not permitted. Tongue rings and studs are not permitted.
Chains/necklaces: Must not be visible.
Arm and ankle bracelets: None.
Rings: Plain wedding bands only.

Tattooing:

Tattoos must be covered.

Uniform Guidelines for non-clinical visits to a health care facility in the role of student nurse:

Full-length or ¾ length lab coat with AASU/BSN patch.
AASU/BSN name pin and clinical agency requirements.

Appropriate dress: Slacks, dress, skirt, or uniform. No jeans (or any denim fabric clothing), shorts, midriffs, sweats, athletic clothes are permitted. High heeled, platform or open toe shoes are not permitted.

Required Equipment:

Watch with a second hand
Stethoscope
Pen light
Bandage scissors
Reflex hammer
Hemostat

Optional Equipment:

Manual Blood pressure cuff

Personal Equipment:

Clinical agencies to not provide storage for books/wallets and personal items.

Use of Cell Phones and Pagers

Cell phones and pagers must be in the silent mode during class, or lab activities, and turned off during tests/exams. Audible communication devices are not permitted.
Students using personal audible communication devices will be dismissed from the class, or lab. Cell phones and personal pagers are not allowed in the clinical settings.
Students using personal cell phones and personal pagers will be dismissed with an unexcused absence from the clinical settings.
It is a violation of the AASU honor code for cell phones to go off.

Revised October 11, 2006/rac