Attendance Policy for Clinical Courses
The Pacific Lutheran University School of Nursing believes that clinical learning experiences are instrumental to the training and education of the professional nurse. Student participation in the clinical learning environment is required for students to develop practice competencies and expertise. These learning experiences provide faculty the opportunity to evaluate if a student is able to think critically, maintain an appropriate demeanor, interact appropriately with patients, prioritize problems, have basic knowledge of clinical procedures, complete care procedures correctly, practice the art and science of nursing in a safe manner, and demonstrate professional nursing behaviors. Clinical learning experiences are used by the faculty to determine if the student has met the course objectives.
The Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) requires schools of nursing to document direct patient care clinical hours completed by students. Each clinical course has a minimum clinical hour requirement. Students are responsible for keeping an updated log of the total number of clinical hours in their individual student portfolio and submitting hard copies of their clinical hours with their clinical evaluation at the end of each clinical course.
Students must complete all clinical course hours for each clinical course. Students should arrive on time to clinical experiences in the appropriate attire and be on time. Being late to clinical more than four times will result in a missed clinical day and may result in course failure for failing to meet professional behavior expectations. The student must demonstrate achievement of all clinical course objectives. Any clinical absence impacts the clinical faculty’s ability to complete a thorough clinical evaluation and assess the student’s achievement of course objectives. Students cannot progress to the next nursing courses (clinical or non-clinical) until they meet the clinical course objectives and clinical hour requirements. Failure of the student to meet clinical hour requirements will result in the student receiving an incomplete grade in the course, which will prevent the student from progressing in the nursing program. Any students found to have falsified clinical hours will fail the clinical course, be removed from their cohort, and face dismissal from the School of Nursing.
Any missed clinical hours, regardless of the reason (illness, injury, life-event) may affect the student’s ability to meet course objectives and pass the course. However, unforeseen and unavoidable absences because of illness or medical/family emergencies will occasionally occur. Students must notify the clinical instructor, and the course lead (Lynnwood Campus) or the TBSN/ELMSN Lead (Tacoma Campus) a minimum of 2 hours in advance if he/she/they will be late or will miss any part of the clinical day.
If a student misses clinical, they will be required to complete all clinical makeup assignments, which may include simulation experiences, to meet clinical course hour requirements, meet course objectives, and receive a grade in the course. Clinical make up assignments and simulation experience dates and times are determined by the School of Nursing and cannot be changed. Students must attend make-up simulation experiences on the scheduled dates and times. Clinical make up assignments or simulations experiences will require an equivalent amount of time as being in clinical. For example, missing 8 hours of clinical practice will result in an equivalent 8 hours of clinical make-up assignments or simulation experiences. Missing more than three clinical days in one course may result in an incomplete or course failure.
All concerns or issues related to missed clinical hours for ABSN Lynnwood campus will be referred to the ABSN program coordinator, Dr. Zyniewicz, and for the TBSN / ELMSN Tacoma campus, Dr. Cline, the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs.