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ACADEMIC POLICIES: Basic Nursing / Registered Nurse Programs
Advanced Standing and Transfer of Credit
Decisions regarding advanced standing and transfer of credit are governed by the policy of this University. - In exceptional circumstances, a student registered in a BScN program in another university may be able to transfer into a program offered by this University. Permission must be granted by the Admissions Committee, School of Nursing.
- An applicant may request transfer of credit toward a degree at this University for courses taken prior to admission to the BScN program at this University. The School of Nursing reserves the right to determine what transfer of credit will be granted.
- After admission to the School of Nursing, students intending to take courses at another university are required to obtain a Letter of Permission from the Program Office for credit in their BScN program.
- Registered nurse candidates who qualify for unconditional admission to the BScN program for Registered Nurses will be admitted directly to Year 3 of the program.
- The Introduction to Nursing Management: Distance Education program sponsored by Canadian Nurses Association/Canadian Hospital Association, and similar courses, may be granted advanced standing for Nursing 412 if successfully completed within the last ten years.
Statement on Potential Health Risks and Immunization Requirements
Students in the School of Nursing will be required to care for persons with infectious diseases (including Hepatitis B and HIV) should they be assigned to them. Students accepted to the program will be sent complete documentation regarding health status policies and immunization requirements. Documentation of immunization and tuberculin status will be required.
Courses
Nursing courses are open only to students registered in the School of Nursing. Unless otherwise noted, "course" or "option" means one full course or two half courses.
Counselling
The School of Nursing offers academic counselling to all interested candidates and students throughout the year. Early academic counselling is recommended.
Satisfactory Performance
All students must achieve a satisfactory level of performance in academic and clinical work. In a professional program, satisfactory performance in the clinical area is of prime importance. Certain commitments on the part of students are required to maintain a satisfactory status. These commitments include: 1) keeping appointments with assigned patients, families and faculty; 2) advising appropriate personnel of inability to keep appointments; 3) attending lectures, seminars, clinical practice, tutorials and supervisory conferences; 4) notifying an instructor regarding absence from a nursing laboratory or clinical experience because of illness or other circumstances.
Final Examinations
Permission to write final examinations is conditional upon: - adherence to general academic policy regarding examinations, and
- completion of the clinical practice component of the course.
Eligibility for continued progression in the nursing programs is conditional upon the attainment of specified minimum levels of achievement.
Late Assignments
All written assignments in a professional practice course are required to be handed in on the due date. Only under exceptional circumstances will late assignments be accepted for grading, without penalty. If a student requires an extension, it is the student's responsibility to negotiate an extension with the faculty member prior to the due date . In the event a student does not hand an assignment in on time or does not negotiate an extension, there will be a five percent (5%) deduction of the assignment's value per calendar day to a maximum of ten calendar days. After this ten day calendar period, the faculty member will not grade the assignment except under unusual circumstances. An assignment is due on a Friday but not handed in until the following Monday. The assignment is counted as 3 days late. The assignment's value is worth 20% of the final course grade. Fifteen percent (15%) of the value of the assignment will be deducted (3 days late x 5%) because of the late penalty. The assignment is marked and the student would have received 16/20 (80%). Since it was handed in late the student's grade is now 13/20 (65%).
Final Grade
The final grade for most nursing theory courses is based upon individual assignments, group projects and written examinations. Final examination papers will not be returned to students. Clinical courses (e.g. Nursing 052, 252, 321, 352, 421, 498, 499) will receive a grade of pass/fail.
Progression
- Students may proceed to the next year of their program if the following conditions are met:
- Satisfactory clinical performance.
- Passing grade of at least 65% in each Nursing course.
- Overall average of at least 60% for each full year of the program.
- A student whose overall average is below 60% may not proceed in the program until the average has been raised to 60% or above.
- Clinical Course Failures:
Clinical courses include Nursing 052, 252, 321, 352, 421, 498, 499 - Satisfactory performance in all Domains of Practice must be achieved in order to successfully complete a rotation. In the event of a failed rotation, all competencies within the five Domains of Practice must be met satisfactorily by the end of the course in order to progress.
- One failed rotation may be permitted throughout the course. Students who have received an unsatisfactory grade in any but the final rotation, in a course with multiple rotations, may:
- be permitted to proceed to the next rotation with a Collaborative Success Plan (CSP)
- be required to repeat the course
Students who fail the final rotation in a course with multiple rotations will receive an unsatisfactory course grade and will be required to repeat the course.
- Students who fail a rotation will develop, in conjunction with the faculty, a CSP concerning the ends-in-view which have not been met successfully. If the reason for the CSP is a failed rotation, students will be permitted one CSP in the program.
- If a student fails a clinical course the case will be reviewed, on an individual basis, by the clinical instructor, course/year coordinator and the undergraduate program Chair. The undergraduate program Chair will inform the student in writing of the decision regarding his/her progress and any conditions or requirements pertaining to that decision. In the event that a student fails a clinical course, at the discretion of the undergraduate program Chair, in consultation with the course faculty, the student may be required to repeat the co-requisite theory course.
- When a student is repeating a failed clinical course, no unsatisfactory rotations will be permitted. In all, only one (1) clinical rotation or course failure and one (1) attempt to pass the failed course will be permitted throughout the program.
- Course Failures:
Students are allowed a total of two course failures throughout the program. The failures can be: - one clinical and one non-clinical course
- two non-clinical courses
In order to progress, failed courses must be repeated successfully. In the event of a failed elective, students must successfully complete an elective, not necessarily repeat the failed elective. - When a student is repeating a full year, no course failures of any kind will be allowed.
Dean's Honor List
Undergraduate students with outstanding academic records are named to the Dean's Honor List each year. For inclusion on the Dean's Honor list a student must be registered with the School of Nursing as a full-time student and have an average of 80% or more. Students in degree programs who have achieved an overall average of 80% and no grade lower than 70% on the entire program with no failed courses will graduate "with distinction". Graduands of diploma or certificate programs offered by Western who have achieved an overall average of 80% and no grade lower than 70% on the entire program with no failed courses will receive the designation "With Distinction". - Students who qualify for Graduation "With Distinction" will receive the designation on diplomas, transcripts and reports.
- Letters of Permission: For purposes of calculation, alpha grades received on a letter of permission will be converted to grade points in accordance with current Senate policy. A student will be considered to have an "A" average if the equivalent grade point average is 4.0 or greater. Averaging for Letter of Permission courses and for courses taken at Western will be done separately.
- No Appeals: Since the designation "With Distinction" is conferred only when a student has achieved a certain average, a failure to achieve graduation "With Distinction" may not be appealed (although the grades on which the designation is based may be appealed in the normal way. (See Section on Academic Rights and Responsibilities.)
Readmission to Nursing Programs
Any student who withdraws in good standing or is required to withdraw may submit an application for readmission. Such application will be subject to the admission regulations and program requirements in force at the time of application to re-enter.
Appeals
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