Policies Related to Student Performance and Success

Nursing students are expected to conduct themselves according to professional standards and are to follow the college Student Code of Conduct. Behaviors not meeting the standards of Fresno City College Nursing Department policies, which are not identified as clear safety violations, will be addressed by the Director of Nursing. Reports of conduct concerns will outline the observed behaviors and include what follow-up is expected. Nursing program faculty may be informed of the behavior concerns in order to offer support, guidance and resources to the student. Repeated concerning behaviors may be referred to the Dean of Students. 

If a student violates the Fresno City College Nursing Program Basic Standards for Safe Nursing Practice/Critical Elements, fails to demonstrate safe and satisfactory performance of a previously mastered skill, or seriously jeopardizes a patient's safety, a faculty will refer the student to the Director of Nursing. 

The Director, Assistant Director, course faculty, and/or counselor may be notified and may meet with the student when necessary. The program faculty may be informed of the incident in order to offer support, guidance, and resources to the student.

If at any time the student's conduct or physical and/or emotional health is such that the student is a potential threat to the well-being of patients or others, the student will be withdrawn from the nursing program without readmission. 

A student who is experiencing difficulty is encouraged to meet with a Nursing counselor to discuss the difficulty and to identify sources of assistance (Skills lab, counseling, study skills, financial aid, etc.) or to explore other alternatives (LOAs, other career options, etc.).

A student who voluntarily withdraws or is dismissed from the Nursing Program for any reason must meet with the Program Director (or their designee) and the Nursing Student Counselor for an exit interview. During the exit interview, the Director (or their designee) will discuss and review the readmission policy and the readmission guidelines if the student is eligible to return.

The student is advised to review the Fresno City College Code of Student Conduct and Policy regarding reentry into the Nursing Program. Students who remain enrolled in a class beyond the published withdrawal deadline, as stated in the class schedule, will receive an evaluative letter grade in the class.

PROCEDURE:

A student may be dismissed from the Nursing Program for the following reasons: 

1. Achieving a course grade below "C" in any nursing course.
2. Receiving an "Unsatisfactory/Unsafe" clinical evaluation, which demonstrates unsafe practices in providing patient care or the inability to meet specific clinical objectives and expectations.
3. Accumulation of unexcused absences, lateness/tardies.
4. Use of illicit drugs/substances in any District sponsored activity and/or on any district property.
5. Repeating a violation of the INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONAL ETHICS, and PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY POLICY.

Policy revised 10/2023

Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) regulation CCR 1426 requires theory and clinical courses to be completed concurrently in the following nursing areas: geriatrics, medical-surgical, mental health/psychiatric nursing, obstetrics, and pediatrics.

For purposes of this policy, nursing theory and clinical courses must be taken together and passed at the same time for all course attempts. If completion of a concurrent theory and clinical course results in the failure of one of the courses, the student must repeat the failed course and the concurrent course.

Each time a student is enrolled in courses at the start of the semester is considered an “attempt. Students are allowed only 2 attempts at any point in the program.

PROCEDURE:

1. All classes in the nursing program are intended to be taken in sequence. 
   1. First semester courses include: RN 31, RN 32, RN 32A, RN 33, and RN 37A
   2. Second semester courses include: RN 37B, RN 41, RN 42, RN 42A, RN 45, and RN 46
   3. Third semester courses include: RN 37C, RN 51, RN 52, RN 52A, RN 55, and RN 56
   4. Fourth semester courses include: RN 61, RN 62, RN 62A, RN 65, and RN 66
   5. A student may not be enrolled in courses that are taught in different semesters.

Example: A student repeating a course from the second semester cannot be enrolled in any courses for the third semester.

2. Progression in the sequence of nursing courses will be permitted only after failed or dropped courses are repeated
3. The student must repeat the failed course and be enrolled, for a grade, in the concurrent course.
   • Example: A student fails RN 41 but passes RN 42. The student will be required to repeat BOTH RN 41 and RN 42
   • Only the first passing grade will be counted towards the Nursing major GPA. However, all attempts must be completed with a passing grade.

4. If a student earns a “W”, "D" or an "F" grade in a course they may repeat the course only once.
5. If a student is earning a “W”, “D" or an "F" grade at the time of withdrawal from a course prior to the drop deadline, the course may be repeated only once.
   1. Students withdrawing from courses must notify the Program Director of their intent to withdraw.
   2. Grades from all courses will be downloaded and reviewed at time of withdrawal to determine if the student is passing all courses resulting in good standing.
6. During the repeat of the course, if the student drops prior to the drop deadline, the student may not repeat the course again and may not continue in the program.
7. During the repeat of the course, if the student is dropped by the instructor due to absences prior to the drop deadline and is earning a “W”, "D" or an "F" grade, the student may not repeat the course again and may not continue in the program.
8. Enrollment of students in the repeated courses is on a space available basis only for any reason.
9. The student will be responsible for any fees associated with the repeated courses.
10. For extenuating circumstances, students can refer to the FCC College catalog. 

If a student exits the nursing program for any reason, the student may reenter the program only once.

If a student exits the program for personal reasons while in good academic standing, (>75% in each nursing course they are enrolled in), they will be eligible for reentry. Reentry will occur at the start of the course(s) not completed at the time of exit. This will be considered a first attempt for the purpose of this policy. A student who exits the program a 2nd time will not be eligible for reentry. A student who reenters the program after an exit for personal reasons and exits the program a second time will not be eligible for re-entry.

Exceptions may be made if a student has extenuating circumstances confirmed by the Fresno City College Academic Standards Committee and will be based on space availability. The student must reenter within one (1) year of the date of the approval.

All stipulations written on the Out of Sequence Form must be satisfactorily completed to be considered for readmission. The limitations and requirements for readmission into the nursing program are listed below:

1. Repetition of a course and Readmission into the nursing program is dependent on space availability.
2. Student must complete the Exit Interview process and any stipulations written on the Out of Sequence form. 
3. Application and requests for readmission must be made so that there is no more than a one (1) year absence from the nursing program. 
4. The order of priority for readmission is as follows:

1. Student in good standing who withdrew from the program with DON approval
2. Student with an approved EW from the Academic Standards Committee
3. Student who failed a course

If the demand exceeds the space available in any of these categories, a random lottery will be held to assign the available space(s).

After a one (1) year absence the student must reapply for admission to the program from the beginning.

Policy revised 10/2023

Medication administration is a salient nursing role requiring discernment, critical thinking, and judgment to ensure quality care and patient safety. The medication math competency exam is intended to evaluate retention of medication math concepts and validate competency to perform correct math calculations for accurate medication administration in the clinical environment.

Passing the Medication Math Competency Exam is a pre-requisite for administering medications, a clinical requirement.  Dosage calculation is an essential function of the Registered Nurse to be able to calculate medications in a timely manner with 100% accuracy.  Each student enrolled in the Nursing program will be required to pass the Medication Math Competency Exam with 100% accuracy.

PROCEDURE:

1. All students currently enrolled in the Nursing Program are required to pass the Medication Math Competency Exam for the semester they are enrolled, prior to administering medications in clinical.
2. Each semester a Medication Math Competency Exam will be administered.
3. Students will be allowed a maximum of 3 attempts to achieve 100% accuracy on the Medication Math Competency Exam. If a student does not achieve 100% accuracy by the 3rd attempt, the student will not be allowed to continue in the current semester. 
4. First semester students: First semester students who do not achieve 100% on the Medication Math Competency Exam by  the 3^rd attempt, and are therefore unable to administer medications, will not meet the prerequisite to continue to RN 32 and RN 37A.  The student will receive an administrative drop from RN 31 and will be dropped from RN 32 and RN 37A.  For purposes of program readmission, a failure related to medication math competency is considered an attempt.
5. Second thru fourth semester students: Second thru fourth semester students who do not achieve 100% on the Medication Math Competency Exam by the 3^rd attempt, the student will receive an administrative drop from theory, skills, pharmacology (if enrolled in either RN 37B or RN 37C) and receive a failing grade in clinical.  For purposes of program readmission, a failure related to medication math competency is considered an attempt. 

Policy revised 10/2023