Professional Expectations and Standards of Safe Care
As a representative of Ogeechee Technical College, each nursing student reflects the values and standards of the College within the community. Nursing students are therefore expected to uphold the standards of practice, professional performance, and ethical behavior outlined in the Georgia Nurse Practice Act and the National Student Nurses’ Association Code of Ethics.
Students must consistently demonstrate safe, ethical, and professional behavior in all academic and clinical settings, including interactions with peers, faculty, patients, families, and clinical staff.
Examples of Unsafe, Unethical, or Unprofessional Conduct Include (but are not limited to):
- Failure to follow Nursing Program or clinical agency policies and procedures
- Failure to notify the instructor of a clinical absence
- Attending clinical under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
- Refusing patient assignments based on race, culture, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or diagnosis
- Failing to report clinical errors or attempting to conceal them
- Failing to report unethical behavior observed in the clinical setting
- Ignoring or failing to report conduct that jeopardizes patient safety or violates professional standards
- Demonstrating physical or emotional behaviors that compromise safety or care
- Inappropriate interactions with staff, peers, patients, families, or faculty
- Lacking the physical coordination required to perform nursing procedures safely
- Demonstrating inadequate critical thinking or clinical judgment
- Performing unauthorized or unsupervised procedures
- Any violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Faculty may take the following actions in response to unsafe or unprofessional conduct:
- Immediate removal from the learning environment and initiation of remediation in collaboration with the student
- Issuance of a clinical warning or written performance report
- Recommendation for dismissal from the Nursing Program, particularly in cases of serious violations (e.g., safety breaches, substance use, unlawful or unethical acts)
To maintain enrollment and provide safe, competent patient care, nursing students are required to:
- Be free of chemical impairment
- Meet all essential functional requirements
- Maintain compliance with immunization and health requirements
- Adhere to all clinical agency policies and procedures
- Remain attentive and focused during all educational experiences, including classroom, lab, and clinical
- Stay in good standing with CastleBranch compliance, including background check and drug screening policies