CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY

The student is expected to abide by the appropriate attitude and behavioral patterns expected of all nursing students in the program and which have implications for retention in the program over and above the meeting of individual course requirements.

AMI believes that there are certain attitudes and patterns of behavior that students of nursing must demonstrate for the competent and ethical practice of nursing. These attitudes and behaviors are expected of all students as they progress through the program; they are not germane to any one particular course in the curriculum. They are described below in order that students understand that failure to meet the requirements - even though all curricular objectives are met -may be grounds for dismissal anytime during the program. Students must acknowledge the validity of these requirements from the time of entry into the program and give evidence of fulfilling them from the beginning.

Students will be accountable for:

1. Assuming responsibility for own learning as evidenced by:
2. Participating in theoretical and clinical assignments.
3. Initializing questions and discussions with the instructors for clarification and validation of the results of their independent study
4. Seeking new learning experiences in the classroom, practice laboratory and clinical settings.
5. Accepting and implementing constructive criticism and suggestions.
6. Integrating the objectives of each term and continually applying previously learned concepts in each new situation.
7.   Maintaining own grade points for each learning activity in each course.
8. Arriving at class/clinical on time and returning from breaks at designated time.
9. Displaying integrity in personal, educational, and professional activities as evidenced by:
10. Honesty - including, but not limited to, following the program policy on cheating and plagiarism.
11. Adherence to community laws, rules and regulations of the program and policies and procedures of all clinical sites.
12. Respect for the dignity and rights of all persons - peers, patients, personnel, and faculty.
13. Assume responsibility to provide only that nursing care for which the student is adequately prepared and seek supervision for those activities in which he/she lacks experience.
14. Demonstrating responsibility for own behavior as evidenced by:
15. Consistent and prompt attendance at all scheduled learning experiences.
16. Consistent and prompt completion of all assignments.
17. Following the dress code.
18. Maintaining good health habits.
19. Consistently displaying respect and a collegial attitude toward all Health Technology students and staff. In the event that a student displays inappropriate conduct or unprofessional behavior, including sexual harassment, that is disruptive to the educational process or if he/she performs potentially unsafe practices, the faculty and Program Administrator may deem probation to be necessary for the involved student(s).

Some violations may be severe enough for the student to be on probation for the remainder of the program. In the event there is any display of misconduct during this period of probation this may result in termination from AMI.

The student will maintain confidentiality as directed on the Confidentiality Form. Students will be required to sign documents regarding confidentiality and HIPAA regulations. These documents are extremely important and, in part, define the legal boundaries of nursing practice. If at any time it is determined that confidentiality has been breached the student may be dismissed from the program without a probationary period.

Further, a student at AMI must adhere to the following standards and rules of safe nursing practice, set forth by the Ohio Board of Nursing in Chapter 4723-5-12 (C) of the Ohio Administrative Code available at www.nursing.ohio.gov

(1)  A student shall, in a complete, accurate, and timely manner, report and document nursing assessments or observations, the care provided by the student for the patient, and the patient's response to that care.

(2)  A student shall, in an accurate and timely manner, report to the appropriate practitioner errors in or deviations from the current valid order

(3)  A student shall not falsify any patient record, or any other document prepared or utilized in the course of, or in conjunction with, nursing practice. This includes, but is not limited to, case management documents or reports, time records or reports, and other documents related to billing for nursing services.

(4)  A student shall implement measures to promote a safe environment for each patient.

(5)  A student shall delineate, establish, and maintain professional boundaries with each patient.

(6)  At all times when a student is providing direct nursing care to a patient the student shall:

(a) Provide privacy during examination or treatment and in the care of personal or bodily needs; and

(b) Treat each patient with courtesy, respect, and with full recognition of dignity and individuality.

(7)  A student shall practice within the appropriate scope of practice as set forth in division (B) of section 4723.01 and division (B)(20) of section 4723.28 of the Revised Code for a registered nurse, and division (F) of section 4723.01 and division (B)(21) of section 4723.28 of the Revised Code for a practical nurse;

(8)  A student shall use universal and standard precautions established by Chapter 4723-20 of the Administrative Code;

(9)  A student shall not:

(a) Engage in behavior that causes or may cause physical, verbal, mental, or emotional abuse to

(b) patient;

(c) Engage in behavior toward a patient that may reasonably be interpreted as physical, verbal, mental, or emotional abuse.

(10) A student shall not misappropriate a patient's property or:

(a) Engage in behavior to seek or obtain personal gain at the patient's expense;

(b) Engage in behavior that may reasonably be interpreted as behavior to seek or obtain personal gain at the patient's expense;

(c) Engage in behavior that constitutes inappropriate involvement in the patient's personal relationships; or

(d) Engage in behavior that may reasonably be interpreted as inappropriate involvement in the patient's personal relationships.

For the purpose of this paragraph, the patient is always presumed incapable of giving free, full, or informed consent to the behaviors by the student set forth in this paragraph.

(11) A student shall not:

(a) Engage in sexual conduct with a patient;

(b) Engage in conduct in the course of practice that may reasonably be interpreted as sexual;

(c) Engage in any verbal behavior that is seductive or sexually demeaning to a patient;

(d) Engage in verbal behavior that may reasonably be interpreted as seductive, or sexually demeaning to a patient.

For the purpose of this paragraph, the patient is always presumed incapable of giving free, full, or informed consent to sexual activity with the student.

(12) A student shall not, regardless of whether the contact or verbal behavior is consensual, engage with a patient other than the spouse of the student in any of the following:

(a) Sexual contact, as defined in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code;

(b) Verbal behavior that is sexually demeaning to the patient or may be reasonably interpreted by the patient as sexually demeaning.

(13) A student shall not self-administer or otherwise take into the body any dangerous drug, as defined in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code, in any way not in accordance with a legal, valid prescription issued for the student, or self-administer or otherwise take into the body any drug that is a schedule I controlled substance.

(14) A student shall not habitually or excessively use controlled substances, other habit-forming drugs, or alcohol or other chemical substances to an extent that impairs ability to practice.

(15) A student shall not have impairment of the ability to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of safe nursing care because of the use of drugs, alcohol, or other chemical substances.

(16) A student shall not have impairment of the ability to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of safe nursing care because of a physical or mental disability.

(17) A student shall not assault or cause harm to a patient or deprive a patient of the means to summon assistance.

(18) A student shall not misappropriate or attempt to misappropriate money or anything of value by intentional misrepresentation or material deception in the course of practice.

(19) A student shall not have been adjudicated by a probate court of being mentally ill or mentally incompetent, unless restored to competency by the court.

(20) A student shall not aid and abet a person in that person's practice of nursing without a license, practice as a dialysis technician without a certificate issued by the board, or administration of medications as a medication aide without a certificate issued by the board.

(21) A student shall not prescribe any drug or device to perform or induce an abortion, or otherwise perform or induce an abortion.

(22) A student shall not assist suicide as defined in section 3795.01 of the Revised Code.

(23) A student shall not submit or cause to be submitted any false, misleading or deceptive statements, information, or document to the nursing program, its administrators, faculty, teaching assistants, preceptors, or to the board.

(24) A student shall maintain the confidentiality of patient information. The student shall communicate patient information with other members of the health care team for health care purposes only, shall access patient information only for purposes of patient care or for otherwise fulfilling the student's assigned clinical responsibilities, and shall not disseminate patient information for purposes other than patient care or for otherwise fulfilling the student's assigned clinical responsibilities through social media, texting, emailing or any other form of communication.

(25) To the maximum extent feasible, identifiable patient health care information shall not be disclosed by a student unless the patient has consented to the disclosure of identifiable patient health care information. A student shall report individually identifiable patient information without written consent in limited circumstances only and in accordance with an authorized law, rule, or other recognized legal authority.

(26) For purposes of paragraphs (C)(5), (C)(6), (C)(9), (C)(10), (C)(11) and (C)(12) of this rule, a student shall not use social media, texting, emailing, or other forms of communication with, or about a patient, for non-health care purposes or for purposes other than fulfilling the student's assigned clinical responsibilities.