Academics at Trinity School of Nursing
Academic Policies
The Trinity Health System School of Nursing reserves the right to change without notice statements contained in this catalog/website concerning rules, policies, tuition and fees, curricula, courses, or other administrative or educational policies.
HIPAA Compliance
Trinity Health System and Trinity Health System School of Nursing are in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, specifically the patient privacy portion of this law, which became effective on April 14, 2003. Every employee and student of Trinity Health System School of Nursing has participated in the mandatory HIPAA Compliance Program offered by Trinity Health System. Every Trinity nursing student signs a Trinity Health System Non Disclosure Acknowledgement regarding confidentiality and privacy.
Certification
A photocopy of each student’s BLS Certification must be kept on file in the School office. The course must be the American Heart Association (AHA) BLS. This certification must be kept up to date while the student is enrolled in the program. (Trinity School of Nursing will not provide skill competency needed for completion of online renewal).
- Attendance
Classroom activities are essential to learning and to the application of knowledge. The student is responsible for knowing and meeting all course requirements, including tests, assignments, and class participation, as indicated by the course instructor. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. If a student is absent from class, the student will be held responsible for all work missed due to this absence. Absence from class must be reported to the Secretary’s voice mail (740-266-1222 or 740-264-5591 ext. 1322) by 7:30 am. If a student leaves class before the end of the scheduled time, the student must report off to the lecturing instructor and School Secretary.Students are not to schedule personal appointments during times scheduled for class. Any request for extended time off from class should be presented to the Dean of the School and Course Lead Instructor.
Faculty will work with service members and reservists to accommodate short absences due to service obligations. Students should notify faculty of required service obligations as soon as possible and submit documentation of requirement.
- Student Evaluation
Didactic evaluation is completed through exams, quizzes, and student projects. Students are informed of didactic evaluation via the nursing course syllabus and course schedule. Grades are calculated at midterm and students are informed of their progress. If the course grade average is less than 77% the student is placed on probation. Final grades are computed after the completion of all course requirements. Students may receive their final grades from the Lead Instructor. The Lead Instructor submits the grade sheet to the School Secretary who completes the Course Grade Reports and updates the Student Transcripts. Students receive official grade reports at the end of each semester/session. Grade reports are mailed to each student.Students must complete and submit all assignments on time. If an assignment will be late, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor. For each weekday that an assignment is turned in late, five percent (5%) will be deducted from the final grade of the assignment. No assignment will be accepted more than five (5) weekdays past the due date and a grade of “0” will be assigned. Individual situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.The instructor has no obligation to give make-up examinations or to review other class work missed by a student as a result of absence. However, if the instructor chooses to administer makeup exams/classwork/clinical assignments, the format of the make-up work will be determined by the instructor. Students are responsible for making arrangements with the instructor. If an exam/quiz is missed, the student must take the exam/quiz within five (5) weekdays, or a grade of “0” will be assigned. Individual situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Comprehensive Final Examination
Students must pass the comprehensive final examination in each nursing course with a grade of “C” or above before progressing to the succeeding semester/session or program completion. Students who fail to achieve a passing grade of “C” on the comprehensive examination, may take a second comparable comprehensive examination within two (2) school days, ONLY if the student has achieved a passing grade of “C” in the course prior to taking the comprehensive final examination. The two comprehensive final exam scores will be averaged together and the student must achieve an averaged grade of 77% (“C”) or better. Students who are permitted to take a second comprehensive examination and who are successful in achieving an averaged grade of “C” or above will only receive a grade of 77% (“C”) for the comprehensive examination score. Students whose averaged score of both comprehensive final exams is < 77% (“C”) will receive a failing grade in the course. Students who have NOT passed the first comprehensive final examination with a grade of “C” or above and who were failing the nursing course prior to the final examination will NOT be eligible to take a second comprehensive final exam.
The total number of comprehensive final exam retakes cannot exceed one (1) throughout the duration of the program. If a student fails a second final exam, the student will be ineligible to retake the comprehensive final, will receive a failing grade, and thus be ineligible for progression in the program.
AUDITING POLICY for NURSING COURSES
Definition: Attendance and participation in a nursing course for which no credit is awarded and no fee is assessed.
Guidelines: The student may:
- attend theory presentations and clinical lab experiences.
- complete course tests and quizzes for the purpose of self-evaluation
TRINITY HEALTH SYSTEM SCHOOL OF NURSING GRADING SCALE
| Grade | Quality Point Value (per credit hour) | Trinity Health System Percentage Range |
|---|---|---|
| A (Excellent) | 4.0 | 93%-100% |
| B+ | 3.5 | 90%-92% |
| B (Above Average) | 3.0 | 85%-89% |
| C+ | 2.5 | 82%-84% |
| C (Average) | 2.0 | 77%-81% |
| D+ Failure | 1.5 | 74%-76% |
| D Failure | 1.0 | 69%-73% |
| F Failure | 0.0 | 68% and below |
| P Pass or Transfer | 0.0 | No Quality Points Earned |
| WP Withdrew passing | 0.0 | No Quality Points Earned |
| WF Withdrew failing | 0.0 | No Quality Points Earned |
| W Withdrew | 0.0 | No Quality Points Earned |
| I Incomplete | This grade indicates that the work has not been completed because of factors that in the opinion of the instructor were outside the control of the student. Permission for this grade must be obtained from the Dean of the School. The student will then have until the beginning of the succeeding semester/session to remove the incomplete letter grade. If it is not removed within that period, the grade automatically becomes “F” and the student then becomes ineligible for promotion. | |
| (R) Repeated Course | The grade earned in repeated course replaces original grade and is the grade used to determine progression and calculation of GPA. | |
EASTERN GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE MARKING SYSTEM
Eastern Gateway Community College’s Marking System is utilized for all college courses offered within the curriculum. A letter grade of “C” or above is required for all college courses. The quality of coursework at Eastern Gateway Community College is indicated by means of letter grades. Each letter grade, in turn, carries “quality points” which are used in computing the student’s “cumulative point average (CPA).” The academic achievement which reflects competency will be recorded in letter grades at the end of each semester or summer term for all coursework for which credit is granted. The credit hours attempted and quality points attained will enter into the computation of the student’s cumulative point average.
The marking system is as follows:
QUALITY POINTS PER SEMESTER HOUR
| A – Superior Quality | 4.0 |
|---|---|
| B – High Quality | 3.0 |
| C – Average | 2.0 |
| D – Below Average | 1.0 |
| F – Failing | 0.0 |
- Academic Probation
Grades for each course are calculated at midterm. Any student whose midterm grade is below the required “2.0” or 77% (for nursing courses) will be placed on Academic Probation. Students are notified in writing when placed on Academic Probation. The Course Lead Instructor meets with each student on Academic Probation and completes the Student Probation/Progression Report. The student will document a Plan for Improvement on the report and sign the report at that meeting. The probationary status must be corrected by the completion of the course or the student automatically becomes ineligible for progression into the subsequent semester/session.
- Attendance
Students are expected to attend all scheduled clinical time. Absence from a clinical experience must be reported directly to the nursing unit where the experience is scheduled and to the Secretary’s voicemail (740-266-1222 or 740-264-5591 ext. 1322) by 6:45 am.
In all nursing clinical courses, one (1) clinical absence will result in the issuance of a verbal warning; two (2) clinical absences will result in the issuance of Clinical Probation; and three (3) or more clinical absences may result in the issuance of a Clinical Failure. Individual situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Clinical make-up time is planned when clinical objectives cannot be met because of absences and will be arranged at the discretion of the clinical instructors. If a student is absent from clinical, the student will be held responsible for all work missed due to this absence.
Students missing clinical time because of unpreparedness will also be required to make up the clinical days. Unpreparedness includes, but is not limited to, failure to produce evidence of BLS certification or mandatory health work before the first clinical experiences each semester/session or failure to exhibit knowledge or skill level safe for practice.
Faculty will work with service members and reservists to accommodate short absences due to service obligations. Students should notify faculty of required service obligations as soon as possible and submit documentation of requirement.
- Student Evaluation
Clinical components of the course include clinical assignments that may include provision of direct patient care or observation of patient care and clinical laboratory hours.
Evaluation of clinical performance is assessed throughout each clinical experience. The Appraisal of Clinical Competence is completed no less than four (4) times a semester/session inclusive of midterm and final evaluations. Instructors document pertinent information about a student’s progression or lack of progression on the Appraisal of Clinical Competence. Individual conferences are held as necessary to discuss the student’s progress.
The clinical experience is graded as “S” (Satisfactory), “U” (unsatisfactory), or “N.O.” (No opportunity or Not observed).
Satisfactory performance is defined as:
1. Integration into student performance of each Nursing Course Objective. The expected clinical performance is demonstrated through satisfactory accomplishment of each course objective.
2. Demonstration of consistent progression in the clinical performance of the identified course’s nursing practice.
Unsatisfactory performance is defined as:
1. No integration into student performance of any one Nursing Course Objective.
2. No demonstration of consistent progression in the clinical performance of the identified course’s nursing practice.
In the event that the student did not have the opportunity to complete a component of the clinical objective, the instructor documents N.O.
- Clinical Probation
Students who are not meeting the established Course Objectives, as outlined on the student’s Appraisal of Clinical Competence Form, will be placed on Clinical Probation by the Clinical Instructor. Clinical Probation can be established any time during the semester when a student is not achieving the clinical objectives. Students are notified in writing when placed on Clinical Probation. The Clinical Instructor meets with each student on Clinical Probation and completes the Student Probation/Progression Report. The student will document a Plan for Improvement on the report and sign the report at that meeting. The probationary status must be corrected by the completion of the course or the student automatically becomes ineligible for progression into the subsequent semester/session.