PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR

Confidentiality

As a right to privacy, information related from clients and/or their medical records are to remain confidential.  This information can only be shared with the health team and in a structured learning environment.  Avoid discussion of clinical situations in public areas.  Information pertaining to any client/family is not to be shared with your own family members.  Clients’/families’ names should not be mentioned directly or indirectly to anyone except to authorized individuals.  The client and/or the health care facility have the right to specify or restrict the people who may have access to this information.  Federal regulations require that all persons be assured that their health information is protected.  Students will receive training regarding HIPAA.

Clinical Behavior

The student’s clinical behavior, not only reflects his/her own professional demeanor and preparation, but also represents West Liberty University and the Nursing Program.

Professional Conduct

The nursing faculty believes that students must consistently display professional attitudes and behaviors in accordance with the West Virginia State College System Policy Bulletin No. 57 to be found in the West Liberty University Student Handbook.  In addition to the above mentioned standard of conduct, student nurses are accountable for avoiding impaired, incompetent, and negligent practice at all times.  Demonstrated failure to meet these standards may be grounds for dismissal.

The State of West Virginia Code and Legislative Rules, for Registered Professional Nurses, April 1995 (19-1-12.4) provides the West Virginia Board of Examiners the authority to discipline a student in a state approved nursing program.  The Board of Nursing will be informed when a student is in violation of the Standards for Professional Nursing Practice Series 10.

Liability Insurance

Students at West Liberty University are covered by professional liability insurance provided by the State of West Virginia.  Students are not covered for the cost of materials or equipment broken or damaged while participating in clinical laboratory courses and shall be responsible for reimbursing the facility through the Office of the Program Director, Nursing Program.

STUDENT UNIFORM

Uniform for Clinical Experience

1. Standard royal blue unisex scrub top with matching royal blue pants, or skirt, or culottes
2. Lab coat full length or ¾ length with University approved emblem patch sewn on left sleeve, centered 2 inches below the shoulder seam
3. Plain white socks or hose for females.Plain white socks for males.(White hose must be worn with skirt or culottes)
4. White leather shoes with closed toes and heels (No other styles considered – no athletic footwear)
5. Name pin
6. Stethoscope
7. Watch with a second hand
8. Matching royal blue or white warm-up jacket (optional)
9. White turtleneck with WLU embroidered on neck in royal blue (Turtleneck is optional)
10. WLU cap (optional – cap may be required in some clinical agencies)

Uniform Purchase

Uniforms are purchased from Uniforms Unlimited, Bridgeport, OH.Telephone (740) 635-3252.Prices may vary according to selection of equipment and style of uniform pieces as well as year to year cost fluctuations.Current cost is approximately $300.Equipment such as stethoscope, watch with a second hand, socks or hose, and shoes may be purchased by students at places of their choice.

Name Tags

Picture identification name tags are available on-campus on the ground floor of the College Union.Arrangements may be made to obtain identification name tags by calling (304) 336-8422.

General Appearance

1. Jewelry allowed while in clinical experience are:  Wedding ring, name pin, watches with second hand, single pair small ball post earrings (limited to one earring per ear).Other body piercing jewelry must be removed.
2. Hair must be clean, off the collar and not hanging over the face, over the uniform or hanging loosely.Extreme hairstyles will not be acceptable.
3. Nails must be well manicured, not too long, and without highly colored polish.
4. Uniform must be clean, neat, in good repair, and an appropriate fit.
5. White shoes must be clean, polished, and in good repair.Shoelaces must be clean.
6. Laboratory coats must be clean, in good repair, and must be worn when in the clinical area for assignments.Lab coats, when worn, will also have a name pin.
7. Men must be clean-shaven or have neatly trimmed beards and mustaches.
8. Perfume, after shave or cologne is not acceptable.
9. Gum chewing while in uniform is discouraged and not permitted while on clinical experience.
10. Body tattoos may not be visible while in clinical experiences.
11. When preparing for clinical assignments, a lab coat with name tag must be worn.Blue jeans, shorts, open sandals, and tight clothing are unacceptable.

Negligence on the part of the student to maintain the above general appearance standard will result in the student being asked to leave the unit to make the necessary changes and will be noted on the student evaluation form.

Several clinical areas of assignment have special dress codes and requirements.The Professor will identify these special clinical areas and provide dress requirements.In most situations blue jeans, sweatshirts, open sandals, shorts, tight clothes and non-professional dress will not be acceptable and if worn, the student will be dismissed from the experience to make appropriate changes.

Transportation

Students are responsible for providing their own transportation for learning experiences.  A majority of the clinical laboratory courses are held off-campus in community and health care facilities.