School ofNursing

School of Nursing Main Office

The School of Nursing administrative suite is located in Room 214 of the Ramstad Building. Several administrative offices are located, within the suite, including those of the dean, associate dean (graduate studies), and admissions coordinator. The office staff also includes the office manager/administrative associate to the dean, senior office assistant, and student worker.

In addition to providing support for the daily operation of the School, the staff of the School of Nursing serves as a resource of information for students, faculty, other PLU offices, and members of the greater community. Students are welcome to visit the office during regular operating hours to conduct business, submit assignments and other papers, or to make appointments to meet with nursing administrators.

Common Courtesy

Since interaction with office personnel is as much a component of professional behavior as is performance in the clinical and classroom setting, students are expected to exhibit the same professionalism and courtesy when interacting with any member of the office staff as they would with members of the faculty and other professionals. As part of a professional office, each staff member is committed to delivering quality service.

The reception area is particularly designed to welcome students, faculty and other members of the community. All visitors to the School of Nursing offices should enter the reception area first, to be assisted by the attending receptionist. In the interest of courtesy and privacy, students are not permitted to enter any administrative office, particularly that of the  dean and admissions coordinator, without first being invited to do so. So that confidential information may remain secure, students may not enter the faculty mailroom, also located in the main offices.

Appointments

Students are welcome to make appointments with the dean and the admissions coordinator as appropriate. Appointments with the dean should be made through the office manager/associate to the dean. Appointments with the admissions coordinator should be made through the senior office assistant or student worker. As a part of professional behavior, students are expected to keep scheduled appointments, or, in the event of an emergency, to notify the office in advance if a scheduled appointment must be cancelled.

Communication

Change of Name, Address or Telephone Number

Students are responsible for notifying the School of Nursing and Student Services, and any other appropriate university offices of any changes in name, mailing address, email address, or telephone number in a timely manner. Students who do not keep these offices apprised of this information are still responsible for any information/correspondence sent to them at the last address on file. New identification cards and badges should be purchased accordingly.

Student Messages

Messages are delivered to students through telephone contact, email, or in personal mail folders located in the message carts on the second floor of Ramstad Hall and are available during regular school hours.

Electronic Resources: All students are expected to activate and use the PLU ePass account and familiarize themselves with the systems provided for them by the University, including email, Sakai and BannerWeb. For assistance with electronic resources, students should contact the Help Desk.

Mail Folders: Nursing student mail folders are located in the foyer outside the main office. Nursing students are expected to check their mail folders regularly when they are on campus for classes. The folders are used to return course assignments that have been reviewed, communicate messages, share information regarding course scheduling and availability of scholarships, and to provide other relevant information. Folders  may also be used for peer to-peer-communication.

FERPA Release: Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA),all students must sign a release for educational materials (papers, etc.) to be placed in the mail folders. Mail folder release forms (see handbook appendices) are distributed to all new students, and should be signed and returned to School of Nursing offices to be filed in the students' records.

Bulletin Boards

Students are responsible for reading all information posted on the School of Nursing bulletin boards located on the third floor of Ramstad near the labs. Additional information relevant to nursing appears on other bulletin boards on landings and in corridors of the second and third floors of Ramstad, and students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these boards.

Student Governance / Organizations

Associated Students of PLU

The Associated Students of Pacific Lutheran University (ASPLU) serves as the representative voice of students in promoting excellence in all aspects of PLU life. It provides for active participation by all students through its committee structure. Nursing students are encouraged to participate in the university-wide student governance by becoming involved in the many ASPLU committees and activities. Details for participation are found in the Pacific Lutheran University Student Handbook.

Faculty Selection

Students may participate, on an informal basis, in interviews with applicants for faculty positions. Notice of visits by applicants may be extended in class or posted on the official bulletin board. Students interested in participating in summer interviews, if any, should notify the Dean's administrative associate of their interest and willingness to be contacted.

Student Participation on School of Nursing Committees

We encourage and welcome input from students about courses and activities of the School of Nursing. One mechanism in place to facilitate this process is participation on relevant committees. As student positions become available, the School invites interested students to volunteer. Appropriate nursing faculty choose the student representatives.

Recruitment, Admission, and Progression (RAP) Committee:
Membership will consist of:

1. a minimum of three faculty members
2. faculty representation from both undergraduate and graduate programs
3. admissions coordinator
4. dean or administrative representative
5. two students: one undergraduate (BSN) student and one graduate (ELMSN or MSN) student selected by the chair of SNO and the dean based on faculty recommendation

The RAP duties will be to:

1. develop and facilitate the student recruitment process
2. recommend to the Dean applicants for admission to the undergraduate (BSN), Entry-Level MSN, and graduate (MSN) programs
3. implement policies and procedure(s) regarding issues that affect academic progress of students
4. implement policies and procedure(s) regarding health requirements and contractual obligations of students
5. recommend to SNO policies for admission, readmission, retention, probation, progression, graduation of nursing students, and honors/scholarships
6. communicate approved policies and procedure(s) to persons responsible for appropriate school and university publications
7. maintain open communication with student body
8. coordinate student recognition programs

Curriculum, Instruction and Evaluation Committee (CIE):
Membership will consist of:

1. a minimum of four faculty members
2. faculty representation from both undergraduate and graduate programs
3. representation (or attempted representation) of the practice areas 
4. dean  or administrative representative
5. three students:  the undergraduate (BSN), the Entry-Level MSN, and the graduate (MSN) representative , selected by the chair of SNO and dean, based on faculty recommendation
6. (optional) alumni representative

The CIE duties will be to:

1. evaluate curricula in accordance with the undergraduate/graduate program outcomes
2. review curricula to address educational and health care trends and policies
3. share findings with the faculty annually
4. recommend to the faculty all proposed additions/changes to existing courses or curricula
5. monitor textbooks and resources
6. provide an overview of the curricula at least annually and at other appropriate times

Student Evaluation of Faculty

Student evaluations of teaching performance are secured at least once for each course every semester and are one element of faculty evaluation, along with faculty self-evaluation and the dean's evaluations of faculty. Faculty members are reviewed for promotion and/or tenure (permanent retention) by the PLU Rank and Tenure Committee according to the schedule established by the University. Names of faculty being reviewed are published. The PLU Rank and Tenure Committee solicits recommendations from faculty. However, additional recommendations may be submitted by any student or faculty member. The Rank and Tenure Committee evaluates all submitted information when making recommendations to the president for promotion and/or tenure.

Delta Iota Chi

Delta Iota Chi is the PLU chapter of the State of Washington Associated Nursing Students (SWANS). SWANS is the state chapter of the National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA). Membership in these organizations is voluntary  and helps prepare nursing students to assume the role and responsibility of the professional nurse. In addition, these organizations offer scholarship opportunities and networking avenues. All PLU nursing students are eligible to become members of Delta Iota Chi; all Delta Iota Chi members share membership in both SWANS and NSNA.

Sigma Theta Tau Psi Chapter-at-Large International Nursing Honor Society

In 1922, six nursing students at Indiana University founded Sigma Theta Tau, the honor society of nursing, to (1) encourage continuing superior scholarship and leadership among nurses and (2) provide a mechanism for recognition of nurses who achieved a high level of scholarship or demonstrated leadership in nursing. Today, Sigma Theta Tau is an international society composed of more than 300 chapters. It includes those in Canada, Korea, and Taiwan and has over 150,000 members.
The name Sigma Theta Tau comes from the Greek letters Storga, Tharos, and Tima meaning Love, Courage, and Honor. The purposes of the society are to:

• recognize superior achievement

• encourage leadership development

• foster high nursing standards

• stimulate creative work

• strengthen the commitment to the ideals of the profession

The Pacific Lutheran University Nursing Honor Society recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding scholarly achievement and professional promise. The PLU School of Nursing participates in Psi Chapter-at-Large of Sigma Theta Tau,  along with Seattle Pacific University and the University of Washington.

Undergraduate STTI Eligibility:
Eligible undergraduate students for Sigma Theta Tau have:

1. successfully completed the junior year of the nursing program;
2. maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and rank in the top 35% of their class;
3. demonstrated leadership ability or other outstanding scholarly achievement.

Nominations are processed by Sigma Theta Tau in January of each year.

Graduate STTI Eligibility:
All graduate nursing students in good standing are considered for Sigma Theta Tau membership. Eligible graduate students must:

1. be fully matriculated graduate students;
2. have successfully completed one quarter (25%) of the graduate nursing program;
3. have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; and
4. have demonstrated leadership ability or other outstanding scholarly achievement

Nominations are processed by Sigma Theta Tau in January of each year.

Orientation & Ceremonies

Opening Convocation

Each academic year formally begins with the University Convocation, held the first day of each fall semester. Steeped in rich tradition, the ceremony is designed to welcome new students and faculty  as well as to recognize new appointments, achievements and honors earned by both faculty and students. Classes are suspended during the ceremony. All students and faculty are highly encouraged to participate in all opening ceremony events.

School of Nursing Orientation

An orientation session is held for each entering nursing class, usually on the first day of classes for the semester. The orientation session provides an opportunity for new students to meet faculty, staff, and fellow classmates, as well as to learn specific School of Nursing policies, procedures and requirements. Since information vital to integration to the program is discussed during this time, all students new to the School are strongly urged to make every effort to attend the orientation session.

School of Nursing Recognition Ceremony

The Recognition Ceremony, which includes presentation of school pins along with other awards and recognition, is held for the graduating nursing students prior to university commencement. The ceremony is planned by the School of Nursing and the graduating students and represents a long-standing tradition of schools of nursing.

Commencement

The university holds formal commencement ceremonies for graduating classes in December (for Fall semester graduates) and in May (for Spring and Summer semester graduates). Although nursing students are also recognized during the School of Nursing's Senior Recognition Ceremony, the School highly encourages the participation of nursing students in the university's commencement ceremonies.

Support Services

University Services

Many services are available to all students attending Pacific Lutheran University, including those provided by the offices of Academic Assistance, Academic Advising, Counseling and Testing, and the Writing Center.

Faculty Advisor

The School of Nursing is committed to the successful progression of its students, not only through the nursing curriculum, but through the University's academic program as well. An important part of this commitment is the assignment of a nursing faculty advisor. Upon entrance to the School of Nursing, all nursing students are assigned an academic advisor from the nursing faculty. Student contact with the advisor early in the academic career can be highly instrumental in students' future success. Students are expected to confer with their advisor each semester to review their progress in the university and nursing curricula. Students are expected to respond to the advisor's request for conferences; advisors are available during posted office hours or by special appointment.

School of Nursing Laboratories

The School of Nursing maintains a nursing skills lab, a simulation lab, a computer laboratory, and a health assessment lab.

Students are scheduled for specific laboratory times to practice those skills taught in the curriculum. Open laboratory times are also available for individual practice and study. Skill acquisition requires hands-on practice and students are expected to use these times to achieve skill competency. 

Please be advised that a Learning Resources Center fee is charged each semester during the nursing program for purchase of equipment, materials, and supplies, including computer materials and software. The fees are paid with tuition following registration for specific courses in a manner which ensures that only one fee is charged per semester.