NURSING PROGRAMS REQUIREMENTS

Students who are enrolled in the nursing programs have increased responsibilities due to their direct contact with clients in health care settings. Certain additional standards for admission and progression through the programs of study, as well as, regular College admission and progression standards are required. For a complete discussion of criteria for admission and progression through each of the programs offered, refer to the discussions on the following pages. Listed below are general

requirements and standards that apply to the nursing programs in the Division of Nursing and Allied Health.

I. Physical, cognitive, psychomotor, affective, and social abilities are required in unique

combinations to provide safe and effective nursing care. The applicant/student must be able to meet the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations throughout the program of learning. Admission, progression, and graduation are contingent upon one’s ability to demonstrate the essential functions delineated for the nursing programs with or without reasonable accommodations. The nursing program and/or its affiliated clinical agencies may identify additional essential functions. The nursing programs reserve the right to amend the essential functions as deemed necessary.

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In order to be admitted and to progress in the nursing program one must possess a functional level of ability to perform the duties required of a nurse. Admission or progression may be denied if a student is unable to demonstrate the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations.

The essential functions delineated are those deemed necessary by the Alabama Community College System nursing programs. No representation regarding industrial standards is implied.

Similarly, any reasonable accommodations made will be determined and applied to the respective nursing program and may vary from reasonable accommodations made by health care employers.

The essential functions delineated below are necessary for nursing program admission, progression, and graduation and for the provision of safe and effective nursing care. The essential functions include, but are not limited to the ability to:

a. Sensory Perception 1. Visual

i. Observe and discern subtle changes in physical conditions and the environment

ii. Visualize different color spectrums and color changes iii. Read fine print in varying levels of light

iv. Read for prolonged periods of time v. Read cursive writing

vi. Read at varying distances

vii. Read data/information displayed on monitors/equipment 2. Auditory

i. Interpret monitoring devices

ii. Distinguish muffled sounds heard through a stethoscope

iii. Hear and discriminate high and low frequency sounds produced by the body and the environment

iv. Effectively hear to communicate with others 3. Tactile

i. Discern tremors, vibrations, pulses, textures, temperature, shapes, size, location, and other physical characteristics

4. Olfactory

i. Detect body odors and odors in the environment

149 b. Communication/Interpersonal Relationships

1. Verbally and in writing, engage in a two-way communication and interact effectively with others, from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds 2. Work effectively in groups

3. Work effectively independently

4. Discern and interpret nonverbal communication 5. Express one’s ideas and feelings clearly

6. Communicate with others accurately in a timely manner 7. Obtain communications from a computer

c. Cognitive/Critical Thinking

1. Effectively read, write, and comprehend the English language

2. Consistently and dependably engage in the process of critical thinking in order to formulate and implement safe and ethical nursing decisions in a variety of health care settings

3. Demonstrate satisfactory performance on written examinations including mathematical computations without a calculator

4. Satisfactorily achieve the program objectives d. Motor Function

1. Handle small delicate equipment/objects without extraneous movement, contamination, or destruction

2. Move, position, turn, transfer, assist with lifting, or lift or carry clients without injury to clients, self, or others

3. Maintain balance from any position 4. Stand on both legs

5. Coordinate hand/eye movements

6. Push/pull heavy objects without injury to client, self, or others

7. Stand, bend, walk, and/or sit for 6-12 hours in a clinical setting performing physical activities requiring energy without jeopardizing the safety of the client, self, or others 8. Walk without a cane, walker, or crutches

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9. Function with hands free for nursing care and transporting items 10. Transport self and client without the use of electrical devices 11. Flex, abduct, and rotate all joints freely

12. Respond rapidly to emergency situations 13. Maneuver in small areas

14. Perform daily care functions for the client

15. Coordinate fine and gross motor hand movements to provide safe effective nursing care

16. Calibrate/use equipment

17. Execute movement required to provide nursing care in all health care settings (Note:

too much space prior to the word settings) 18. Perform CPR and physical assessment 19. Operate a computer

e. Professional Behavior

1. Convey caring, respect, sensitivity, tact, compassion, empathy, tolerance, and a healthy attitude toward others

2. Demonstrate a mentally healthy attitude that is age appropriate in relationship to the client

3. Handle multiple tasks concurrently

4. Perform safe, effective nursing care for clients in a caring context

5. Understand and follow the policies and procedures of the College and clinical agencies 6. Understand the consequences of violating the student code of conduct

7. Understand that posing a direct threat to others is unacceptable and subjects one to discipline

8. Meet qualifications for licensure by examination as stipulated by the Alabama Board of Nursing

9. Not to pose a threat to self or others

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10. Function effectively in situations of uncertainty and stress inherent in providing nursing care

11. Adapt to changing environments and situations 12. Remain free of chemical dependency

13. Report promptly to clinicals and remain for 6-12 hours on the clinical unit 14. Provide nursing care in an appropriate time frame

15. Accept responsibility, accountability, and ownership of one’s actions 16. Seek supervision/consultation in a timely manner

17. Examine and modify one’s own behavior when it interferes with nursing care or learning

Upon admission, an individual who discloses a disability can request reasonable accommodations.

Individuals will be asked to provide documentation of the disability in order to assist with the provision of appropriate reasonable accommodations. The College will provide reasonable

accommodations, but is not required to substantially alter the requirements or nature of the program or provide accommodations that inflict an undue burden on the College. In order to be admitted one must be able to perform all of the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations. If an individual’s health changes during the program of learning, so that the essential functions cannot be met with or without reasonable accommodations, the student will be withdrawn from the nursing program. The nursing faculty reserves the right at any time to require an additional medical

examination at the student’s expense in order to assist with the evaluation of the student’s ability to perform the essential functions.

Request for reasonable accommodations should be directed to Coordinators of ADA. The ADA Coordinator for the Alexander City campus is Tiffanie Character, who may be reached at 256/215-4269, and the ADA Coordinator for the Childersburg campus and the Talladega Center is the Associate Dean of Students, Glenda Bland who may be reached at 256/378-2004.

II. Students should notify the Associate Dean of Health Science/designee of any significant changes in health, including pregnancy. The nursing faculty reserves the right at any time to require an additional medical examination at the student’s expense in order to evaluate the student’s ability to perform the nursing program essential functions.

III. The 1993 Alabama Infected Health Care Worker Management Act mandates that any health care worker infected with HIV or hepatitis B virus who performs an invasive procedure or any physician caring for an infected HIV or HBV health care worker notify the State Health Officer of the infection. An invasive procedure is defined by the Act as those medical or surgical procedures characterized by the digital palpation of a needle tip in a body cavity or by the simultaneous presence of the health care worker’s fingers and a needle or other sharp instrument or object in a poorly visualized or highly confined anatomic site.

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IV. Maintain current health insurance and current nursing student liability insurance.

V. Submit completed medical forms, with required immunizations including Hepatitis B, by the required date.

VI. Abide by the policies, procedures, regulations, and guidelines set forth by the College, Division of Nursing and Allied Health, and affiliated clinical agencies.

VII. Students in the nursing programs are required to participate in clinical experiences at

affiliated health care agencies. Students will be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to clinicals and for “cause”. Students will be responsible for the cost of such testing.

Students will be required to undergo a criminal background check prior to clinicals. As with the drug and alcohol testing, the student will be responsible for the cost of the criminal background check. Any student denied clinical access by a clinical affiliate will be subject to dismissal from the program.

VIII. During clinical experiences in the affiliated health care agencies, students must abide by the same policies, procedures, regulations, and guidelines as employees of those agencies. These policies, procedures, regulations, and guidelines are in addition to those of Central Alabama Community College and the Division of Nursing and Allied Health. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to clinical agencies.

IX. Maintain current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the health care provider level. Students are responsible for obtaining and maintaining CPR certification at the health care provider level. Certification must be current and verified by the presentation of a CPR card. Online CPR certifications are not accepted.

X. Abide by the regulations set forth in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA) to maintain and safeguard the privacy, security, and confidentiality of protected health information. Students violating HIPPA will be subject to dismissal from the program.

XI. Refrain from conduct that violates the Administrative Code of the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Students should refer to the Alabama Board of Nursing website www.abn.state.al.us for

“Grounds for Denial of a License”. Failure to comply with the Administrative Code of the Alabama Board of Nursing may constitute grounds for dismissal from the nursing program with a grade of “F” for any nursing course(s) in which the student is enrolled at the time of the noncompliance regardless of one’s academic standing. The Alabama Board of Nursing reviews all candidates for their eligibility for initial and continuing licensure. The review includes nine regulation questions on the application for licensure:

a. “Have you ever been arrested for, been charged with, been convicted of, entered a plea of guilty to, entered a pleas of nolo contendere or no contest to, received deferred

prosecution or adjudication for, had judgment withheld for, received pretrial diversion for, or pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity or mental defect of a criminal offense other than a minor moving traffic violation?”

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b. “In the past five years have you abused alcohol, drugs (whether legal or illegal, prescribed or authorized) and or other chemical substances or been treated for or recommended for treatment for dependency to alcohol, drugs or other chemical substances? “

c. “Have you ever been arrested or convicted for driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol?”

d. “In the past five years have you had or do you now have a physical or mental health problem that may impair your ability to provide safe nursing care?”

e. “Has any licensing authority disciplined your nursing and/or occupational license, certification, registration or approval?

f. “Are you currently under investigation?”

g. “Is disciplinary action pending against you?”

h. “Have you ever been placed on a state and/or federal abuse registry?”

i. “Has any branch of the armed services ever administratively discharged you with any characterization other than “honorable” or have you ever been court martialed?”

Application to write the examination may be denied the applicant on the basis of the review and on the basis of the applicant’s answers to the questions, even though one has successfully completed the nursing program. The completion of the academic program in no way assures the student of licensure. These regulations refer specifically to Alabama;

however, other states have similar stipulations regarding licensure.

XII. Students enrolled in the nursing programs will be required to purchase selected standardized testing and resources which are utilized throughout the nursing program. Certain dress code requirements: These requirements will be explained to students upon entry into the program.

XIII. Comply with all progression requirements in order to graduate from the respective program.

XIV. A student enrolled in a program must pass the courses for which he/she is enrolled before applying as a new student in a different program.

XV. Applicants admitted to the nursing program and students reinstated that are not in continuous progression will be required to attend nursing orientation. Failure to attend all of the orientation will subject the student to withdrawal from the program. Orientation is typically held one to two weeks prior to the beginning of each term.

XVI. Students enrolled in the nursing program must have access to a computer in order to access Moodle, the College’s learning platform.

154 FACILITIES

The nursing programs are housed in the Jim Preuitt Nursing and Allied Health Building on the Childersburg Campus. Instructional facilities include a large lecture hall, a conference room, one classroom, a nursing skills laboratory, a nursing simulation lab, and a computer lab. The PN program is also offered on the Alexander City campus. A classroom, a nursing skills laboratory, and a computer lab comprise the nursing instructional facilities on the Alexander City campus. Academic courses are conducted on the Alexander City and Childersburg campuses, as well as, at the Talladega Center.