Definitions & Behavioral Congruence Policy
Definitions
Academic Conduct
Actions of students associated with the teaching-learning environment (classroom, lab, clinical environment and or community).
Accountability
Refers to the state of being answerable and liable for the quality and quantity of one's own actions.
Administration
Any person employed by Covenant Health to perform managerial duties.
Aiding and Abetting
Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another student commit an action of academic or nonacademic misconduct.
Behavioral Congruence
Behavior that is congruent with the mission, vision, values, standards of conduct, and Honor Code of Covenant School of Nursing.
Cheating
Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, study aids or computer-related information to give one an unfair academic benefit.
Community
Any public forum including but not limited to clients/patients, their families and health providers in clinical settings or students, faculty, staff and guests of CSON and academic community as well as on-line and media communications that connects the public to CSON.
Contested Issue
An academic or personal issue may occur that requires immediate attention for resolution.
Controlled substance
Any drug or substance that is not legally obtainable; or is legally obtainable but has not been legally obtained; or those that are legally obtained but abused or used inconsistently with a prescription or has been legally obtained but is being sold or distributed unlawfully.
Copyright violation
Violation of existing copyright laws.
Critical Incident
Any time a student demonstrates unsafe practices.
Declaratory Order
The Declaratory Order is a form completed by the student that enables the Texas Board of Nursing to make decisions regarding an applicant's eligibility for licensure prior to entering or completing a nursing program.
Disciplinary Action Panel
Composed of the dean, coordinator and instructor/s which address infractions that may result in suspension, dismissal or expulsion from the program.
Disciplinary probation
Student may remain at the School of Nursing but may be required to satisfy specified conditions or requirements
Discrimination / Harassment
To act on the basis of prejudice.
Dismissal
To discharge from school with privilege to reapply after determined period of time.
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
The use/abuse of alcohol or being under the influence of alcohol or any controlled and/or illegal substances during school activities.
Explicit
Fully and clearly defined or formulated
Expulsion
Permanent dismissal from classes and school activities and the student is not eligible to reapply.
Fabrication
To devise or invent, to fake or forge.
Falsification and forgery
To alter fraudulently especially for purposes of deception.
Firearm violation
Violation of current federal and state firearm laws.
Flaming
Behavior and speech associated with electronic conversations fitting the definitions governing the contractual agreement between Covenant School of Nursing and Scholar360 LMS (Learning Management System)
Grievance
Any act perceived as prejudicial or discriminatory against a student.
Implicit
Implied though not directly expressed
Investigation
Systematic examination into a situation. The examination includes supporting documentation, witnesses, and sequence of events.
Non-academic Conduct
Actions of students related to standards of behavior established for the purpose of maintaining an acceptable level of propriety within the School of Nursing and its communities.
Plagiarism
An act of using the literary composition of another's writing or the ideas of language of the same and presenting them as the product of one's own mind.
Sanctions
Steps for disciplinary action related to infractions against school and/or health system policies and procedures.
Sexual Misconduct
Any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or any other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
Suspension
Temporary exclusion from all academic work or specified classes and/or other school related activities for a specified period of time
Terms of Service Violation
Violation of terms of service agreements
Trolling
Behavior and speech associated with electronic conversations fitting the definitions governing the contractual agreement between Covenant School of Nursing and the LMS (Learning Management System)
Verbal Warning
Verbal admonition against further violations, alerting student that continuation of misconduct may be cause for more severe disciplinary action.
Violence
Behaviors that intrude into the school environment resulting in physical or emotional harm, significant loss of productivity or damage to persons or school property.
Written reprimand
Written warning placed in student's file, alerting student that continuation of misconduct may be cause for more severe disciplinary action.
Implemented: January 2010
Behavioral Congruence
Schoolof NursingStudent Body
Approved by: Faculty Organization
Statement of Purpose:
To continue building upon the Covenant School of Nursing legacy of fostering a learning environment that attracts, retains, and develops values-based students who translate the values into action, strive for excellence while serving people with dignity, and work for justice within our communities.
Definition
Behavior that is congruent with the Mission, Philosophy, Values, Standards of Conduct and Honor Code of Covenant School of Nursing.
Mission
In keeping with the Mission of Covenant Health, the Mission of the School of Nursing is to provide a quality nursing education founded on a correlation of scientific principles, nursing principles, knowledge and concepts of caring for the whole person-body, mind and spirit with a broad spectrum of learning experiences thereby providing the community with graduate nurses prepared to function as beginning practitioners of nursing.
Philosophy
The Faculty of the School of Nursing believes Nursing is a discipline dedicated to the promotion of optimum health for the individual, the family and the community. Nursing requires the integration of knowledge and skills from biological, psychological and sociological sciences with evidenced-based nursing practice and concepts of caring for the individual as a whole person (body mind and spirit). The client's needs and care requirements are best met by an analysis of client needs through the use of the nursing process of assessment, analysis, planning, implementation and evaluation. The nurse collaborates with the client , the family and other members of the health care and nursing teams to formulate a plan of care, which is correlated with the medical care plan and incorporates the use of preventive, supportive, restorative and rehabilitative health measures to meet needs across the lifespan and health-illness continuum of the client, family, and community in a constantly changing society.
Education is a dynamic continuous process utilizing organized instruction and selected learning experiences, which enable the student to attain basic knowledge and skills. Nursing education provides a correlation between scientific concepts and evidenced-based nursing practice coordinated with a variety of learning experiences. This knowledge facilitates the student's development of cognitive, psychomotor, and affective abilities needed to function as a nurse generalist who is capable of critical thinking, independent judgment, and self-direction. Learning is enhanced when there are clearly defined, mutually acceptable outcomes and planned educational experiences that proceed from simple to complex. The School of Nursing promotes learning through a curriculum based on Lenburg's Competency Outcomes and Program Assessment Model to facilitate development of competency-based nursing and relationship, leadership, management and knowledge integration needed to function as a beginning nurse generalist.
The School of Nursing provides the community with resource persons and role models to facilitate promotion of health and dissemination of information and with graduates eligible to apply to take the licensure examination and competent to function as beginning nurse generalist.
Standards
The Standards of Behavior and Conduct are a set of guidelines all students must commit to. The standards set the tone for the learning environment students work in and live by every day. The standards include all aspects of students' educational experience including:
Accountability: I am accountable for my actions.
Adaptability: I am adaptable and supportive in efforts to make CSON a better place.
Communication: I communicate in a clear, honest and respectful manner.
Community: I am committed to improving the health of the community
Continuous Improvement: I strive for continuous improvement in my performance.
Continuous Learning: I continuously learn new skills and gain knowledge.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: I create and sustain positive and interpersonal relationships
Stewardship: I will be a good steward of our resources.
Teamwork: I will be a team player and seek out opportunities to collaborate with others.
Honor Code
Covenant School of Nursing students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the high ethical standards expected of registered nurses and in a manner consistent with the ANA Code of Ethics. Honesty and integrity are expected from all students from admission through graduation. Dishonesty undermines the goals of nursing education and professional development. Because nursing students may, after graduation, be licensed to practice professional nursing and are required to assume responsibility for the life and welfare of other human beings, every nursing student is expected to demonstrate competence and patterns of behavior which are consistent with professional standards, and which are deserving of the public's trust. Students and faculty accept responsibility for acting in an ethical manner. Together they create an atmosphere conducive to professional integrity.
Students and faculty are expected to report to the Dean (or the designee) the conduct that violates the standards of professional honesty and integrity. It is the intent of this policy to support an atmosphere of integrity within the Covenant School of Nursing.
It is the responsibility of each student to support this atmosphere both individually and collectively. We expect nursing students to enter the program knowing what is right and what is wrong. Nursing students are expected to do what is right when it comes to matters of integrity, honesty, and ethical conduct. Further we expect nursing students to move beyond thinking only of their own situations to thinking of what is right for their peers, their patients, and ultimately the nursing profession.
A violation of the Honor Code may lead to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal or expulsion.
Reference(s) :( HR#143 Behavioral Congruence 01/27/09) and HR#144 Behavioral Conduct, ANA Code of Ethics
Implemented: January 6, 2010
Reviewed: July 2011