College of NursingStudent Policies & ProceduresUndergraduate Handbook 2025-2026

Undergraduate Handbook 2025-2026

WELCOME & ABOUT

Welcome to the College of Nursing at Washington State University! We are delighted that you have joined our College as an incoming undergraduate student. Your time here will be filled with personal and professional growth, challenge, change, and accomplishment.

This College of Nursing Undergraduate Handbook provides students with the information necessary to navigate through the undergraduate programs in nursing. The policies and procedures in this handbook have been officially approved and are consistent with WSU regulations. This handbook was developed to be used in conjunction with WSU’s Academic Relations and Policies and Procedures.

The policies and procedures identified in this handbook are specific to the undergraduate nursing programs. Where appropriate, we reference the university-specific policies and student responsibilities as well. For undergraduate students, the WSU General Catalog contains additional general policies on admissions and programs. Failure to follow these policies and observe the degree requirements inevitably results in complications and could delay or jeopardize completion of your degree. Please read the catalog and this handbook carefully and refer to them throughout your program of study here.

Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with and following the guidelines in all sources. While the College of Nursing will aid students in understanding the rules and regulations in all documents, the responsibility for compliance rests with each student. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to your academic advisor or to myself.

Please note that specific forms, websites, and other materials described or included herein are subject to modification. As forms are updated, they will be made available to students. While students should rely on this handbook in planning their program, in the unlikely event that language contained herein conflicts with WSU policies and procedures, the policies outlined in this handbook are subservient to those outlined by Washington State University or updated policies on the College of Nursing website.

Lastly, a glossary is available at the end of this document, linked here.

Welcome to WSU! Go Cougs!

–The Team in the Center for Student Excellence

Table of Contents

SECTION I: ORGANIZATION

SECTION II: PROGRAMS

SECTION III: SUPPORT & ADMISSION

SECTION IV: PROGRESSION & DISMISSAL

SECTION V: ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES

SECTION VI: STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR STUDENTS

SECTION VII: CLINICAL POLICIES

SECTION VIII: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SECTION IX: APPENDICES

GLOSSARY

SECTION I: ORGANIZATION

The WSU College of Nursing baccalaureate degree in nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing.

Students are encouraged to review the College of Nursing Mission, Vision, and Values as well as the College’s information on our commitment to community engagement.

WSU does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, disability, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, protected veteran/military status, or immigration or citizenship status in any education program or activity that it operates complaint with Title IX and other civil rights laws and regulations. Inquiries regarding Title IX, ADA, or other civil rights laws, as well as reports of discrimination can be directed to the Compliance and Civil Rights, WSU ADA Coordinator, or WSU Title IX Coordinator. More information on WSU’s policies and procedures to respond to discrimination and harassment are available here: Nondiscrimination statement. 

back to top

SECTION II: PROGRAMS

The College of Nursing programs that relate to this handbook are below. All program outcomes are developed based on national standards for education. Information on program outcomes, requirements, and additional details can be found on each program’s linked website.

RN-BSN 

The Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) program is a degree completion program for already-licensed RNs. Additional information on the program, requirements, courses, and outcomes can be found on the RN-BSN website.  

Pre-licensure BSN

The Pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (PL-BSN) degree program prepares students who do not yet have an RN license. This program has a lockstep cohort model comprised of J1, J2, S1, and S2 semesters. Additional information on the program, requirements, courses, and outcomes can be found on the PL-BSN website.

back to top

SECTION III: SUPPORT & ADMISSION

Admitted undergraduate students will be supported by Academic Advisors, Student Success Coaches, and faculty mentors. The Center for Student Excellence (CSE) Advisors and Coaches help students by:

  • Referring students to appropriate resources and opportunities
  • Facilitating safe and private spaces for advising, including spaces where a student otherwise does not know with whom to speak or where to start
  • Collaborating with faculty mentors by referring students to them for theory or clinical concerns

Academic Advisors support students with:

  • Creating programs of studies and facilitating degree verifications
  • Providing registration guidance each term, including course and section numbers
  • Applying and removing advising holds
  • Guiding processes and policies, including that for onboarding and admission to programs

Student Success Coach support students who want to become stronger learners. Whether students are facing specific learning challenges, or they just want to sharpen their strategies, coaches support students with:

Deferral of Admission

Applicants accepted to the RN-BSN or PL-BSN program must matriculate in the semester in which they are accepted; however, rare circumstances may emerge that result in a deferral decision. Details about that process may be found here.

Provisional Admission

Please note that admission offers to the CON are provisional and dependent upon the applicant completing all requirements by the necessary deadline. For example, even if a student was provided with an admission letter, if they did not complete the required compliance items (such as immunization or training modules) by the required deadline their admissions offer may be revoked. They must also complete all prerequisite course requirements with minimum grades by the time they would start the program. The guiding procedure is found in the Admissions Appeal Policy.

Transferring Credits

Per Academic Regulation 108, colleges and departments may substitute or waive college-level requirements for individual students. Students may request permission to waive a course. Details about program transfers are below:

RN-BSN: Courses from a previous RN-BSN nursing program are not transferable due to the curriculum of the RN-BSN program is the minimum number of credits required for a WSU degree.

PL-BSN: Students who have course credits from other nursing programs or institutions may request to transfer those credits into the PL-BSN program. Please note that WSU courses that require precepted, experiential, or clinical hours may not be substituted. Review the Course Waiver / Substitution Policy.

back to top

SECTION IV: PROGRESSION & DISMISSAL

Academic Regulation 53 allows programs to “provide students with a specific pathway to the degree that outlines major requirements (for example, grade point average, completion of specific courses) that students must achieve.” Details about students are as follows:

Good Standing

In addition to WSU definitions of good standing (student resolved any acts of academic or behavioral misconduct and complied with all sanctions imposed as a result of the misconduct) the CON has additional major requirements:

Grading Policy

The College of Nursing applies the grading scale as outlined in Academic Regulation 90, as well as grades and grade Points from the University Catalog. The minimum passing final grade for a graded nursing course is C (73%). For Satisfactory/Failing courses students must earn a Satisfactory grade. If faculty determine additional grading requirements for their course, it will be clearly outlined in the course syllabus.

Please peruse the above resources for all potential grade options. Note that for incomplete grades, students receiving that grade will receive a copy of the Instructor’s Incomplete Grade Agreement. This document is generated through the College of Nursing by the faculty of record for a course. It will outline the reasons for the Incomplete, the work which must be completed for the student to receive a grade, and the date by which the work must be submitted before the grade defaults to a failing grade.

Progression and Concurrent Courses

Students must register for the courses listed for each term as identified in the progression plan for the program unless they are repeating/retaking courses they have previously attempted. If students find their progression in the semester is at risk or it is known they are failing a course or courses, it is imperative to meet with an advisor due to potential impacts to other courses.

Several courses in the College of Nursing are coded as concurrent courses. This course requirement indicates that a student must enroll in specific courses at the same time as another identified course and satisfactorily complete during the same semester. Additionally, if a student withdraws from a concurrent course, they must also withdraw from other courses concurrent with that course. It may help to think about these courses as “bundled” together with enrollment and withdrawal.

For example, if a student wants to enroll into NURS_FPC 315 is identified as having a required concurrent enrollment in NURS_FPC 316 and 317, as those courses are concurrent with each other. If a student withdraws from NURS_FPC 315, they also have to withdraw NURS_FPC 316 and 317. The WSU catalog provides up to date information on which courses are concurrent with other courses. Advisers can also assist with understanding the impacts to financial aid eligibility.

Satisfactory Program Progression

Students successfully progress in the program by successful completion of their coursework and exhibiting conduct consistent with the ethics and academic policies expected of them.

Successful students achieve learning outcomes within each course according to their syllabi requirements. Syllabi will specify the minimum standards of performance necessary or applicable to each course.

  • Students must receive at least a C (73%) in graded courses, and a satisfactory in any Pass/Fail course.
  • In addition to having achieved a minimum passing grade of C in clinical laboratory courses, students must provide evidence of their ability to provide safe care to patients at all times. Failure to provide safe patient care may result in immediate withdrawal from both the theory and clinical components of a course and the entry of a grade of W or F for the entire course as the College of Nursing deems appropriate.
  • Students who do not complete a required nursing course satisfactorily (receive a grade of I, 72% or less, F, or a withdrawal) are not eligible to progress. This necessitates students repeating the course in its entirety, with some potential exceptions for I grades.

Unsatisfactory Student Performance

Students who do not complete a required nursing course satisfactorily (receive a grade of I, 72% or less, F, or a withdrawal) are not eligible to progress.

Unsatisfactory Performance in a Didactic/Theory Course

Students who are not meeting a course’s expectations are given formal notice through the Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) form. On the form, the instructor discusses the issue or concern, identifies the objective(s) the student is not achieving, and develops the recommended actions the student is to take to resolve the issue. Students may need to make appointments to meet those recommended actions, and students must comply with the plan of action described on the PIP form.

If unsatisfactory performance is in a concurrent course, the concurrent clinical course may also be required to be dropped. Due to patient safety concerns, students are not allowed to engage in clinical behavior without the underlining theory guiding their practice. For example, if a student unsatisfactorily performs in NURS_FPC 324, they may be forced to withdraw from NURS_FPC 325 as well.

Unsatisfactory Performance in a Clinical Course

Students who are not meeting a course’s expectations are given formal notice through the Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) form. On the form, the instructor discusses the issue or concern, identifies the objective(s) the student is not achieving, and develops the recommended actions the student is to take to resolve the issue. Students may need to make appointments to meet those recommended actions, and students must comply with the plan of action described on the PIP form.

Further, if a student’s performance in a clinical course is determined by a faculty member to be unsafe, the faculty member will decide to send the student home, depending on the severity of the unsafe incident. The student will receive a PIP and a remediation plan and due date. A second incident will result in course failure and probationary status, plus meeting with the Program Director. A third incident will result in immediate suspension from the program and a meeting with UAP to determine if the student will be able to continue.

If the unsafe incident meets the standard of the critical incident report, “events involving a student or faculty member that the program has reason to believe resulted in patient harm, an unreasonable risk of patient harm, or diversion of legend drugs or controlled substances”, a report must be made to the Board of Nursing within 24 hours. The incident will be reviewed to determine if further action is needed. Information on incident reports is found in Section VIII of this handbook.

If unsatisfactory clinical course performance is in a concurrent course, the concurrent non-clinical course(s) do not need to be dropped, barring any patient safety issues that may necessitate a student drop courses. Students will need to decide between continuing with their current trajectory in the other courses or withdrawing from the concurrent course bundle at once. Your academic advisor can assist in brainstorming those what-if plan options.

Program Progression

Students may need to appeal to the Undergraduate Admissions and Progression (UAP) committee to gain permission to repeat a course that they did not complete satisfactorily. Appeal needs will vary based on the context of the course:

Does not meet with UAP:

  • A student who, before midterms, withdraws from a class or takes a leave of absence will not have their progression counted against them, barring any issues related to academic, clinical, compliance requirements in CastleBranch, or integrity related to that withdraw. If a student repeatedly withdraws, they may be asked to meet with UAP.
  • A student who does not satisfactorily complete a didactic course for the first time will be automatically allowed to repeat that course a second time, barring any issues of academic, clinical, compliance or integrity as the basis for lack of completion. They must meet with an academic advisor and a student success coach to discuss what they can do to succeed on this second attempt and what resources are available.  

Meets with UAP:

  • A student who had any concerns related to academic, clinical, patterns of compliance or integrity issues, even in a didactic class.
  • A student who does not pass a clinical course, even if that is their first failure.
  • A student who fails two courses at any time during the program.
    • For example, a student who fails a 1st semester class and later fails a different 2nd semester class.
  • For example, a student who fails a didactic class, automatically gets to repeat it, and fails that same class again.
    • For example, a student who withdrew from a bundle of concurrent enrollment courses at once.

To petition to continue, students must adhere to the Undergraduate Progression Appeal Process section below. The UAP committee is the governance body that reviews those requests. As a program in the professional College of Nursing, students may not register for subsequent courses under the assumption that their petition, nor any official course grievances, will be upheld.  

Undergraduate Progression Appeal Process

The UAP committee at the College of Nursing is tasked with acting on matters related to academic progression, academic problems, and reinstatement of students. The committee reviews each student that appeals through the below process:

  1. The student should connect with their academic advisor to review the appeal process and make an alternate plan of study if necessary. Advisors are available to review readability of the appeal letter.
  2. The student will email a progression appeal letter to the UAP committee. That letter should include:
    1. course(s) for which they received an unsatisfactory grade. 
    1. a statement providing a perspective of why they did not receive a passing grade
    1. their plan of action to be successful if recommended to continue.
    1. any other information they would like the UAP committee to know.
  3. The UAP committee will meet and provide an opportunity for the student to appeal on their own behalf.
  4. The UAP committee will weigh all input and make a decision. That decision is passed on as a recommendation to the Program Director. The Program Director will send their final decision to the student.

Students present the contents of their letter at the final UAP committee meeting of the term, usually held early after finals week. Students are allowed to invite their academic advisor to accompany them to the meeting. Times to appear are given to the student no later than the day prior to the scheduled UAP Committee meeting.

The UAP committee will use a student’s record, including grades, progression reports, and current University standings (such as academic integrity and code of conduct violations) when reviewing a student’s request for readmission. UAP will then pass their recommendation regarding readmission to the Program Director. The administrative decision, based on UAP recommendations and student documentation, will be emailed to the student’s WSU email address within one week of the UAP committee meeting.

Program Director decisions may include:

  • Allowing the student to progress as usual.
  • Allowing the student to progress while on probation.
    • Per Academic Regulation 53, the student may be allowed conditional continuation to be remediated into meeting minimum departmental requirements. Probation allows the student to continue to progress in the program, but may require appropriate meetings, skill tests, trainings, etc. Conditions of the probation will be delivered to the student in the same email with the decision. Students will be responsible for any costs associated with probationary requirements and will not be considered in good standing while on probation.
  • Allowing the student to repeat the course(s) which they did not complete satisfactorily.
    • Per Academic Regulation 53, the student may be given additional conditional requirements in order to meet minimum department requirements during their repeat of the course(s). If this happens, the student will have to successfully meet requirements of the course(s) and any potential additional conditional requirements in order to progress successfully.
  • Not allowing the student to repeat the course(s) which they did not complete satisfactorily. Since this will mean they cannot progress, this ultimately leads to a dismissal decision from that program.
    • Per Academic Regulation 53, students are eligible to reapply to the program once all departmental requirements and admission requirements are met
  • Dismissal recommendation from WSU itself, such as for a conduct issue.
    • Per Academic Regulation 39, students who are dismissed for conduct issues will go through the WSU university process. Anyone dismissed from the university itself must wait a minimum of two full semesters (fall/spring, spring/fall) to re-enroll for courses offered through any WSU campus. 

Dismissal

The principal conditions for continued registration/enrollment of a student are: the timely and satisfactory completion of the university and degree program requirements; continuing to meet the technical standards of the program; fulfillment of minimum progress requirements; and meeting standards of professional behavior. The guidelines that follow specify procedures for dismissal of students who are not meeting these conditions.

A student will be recommended for dismissal from the programshould they fail to adhere to the regulations and policies set forth in this handbook and WSU regulation.

Reasons for dismissal include, but are not limited to, the following conditions for the student:

  • Receives multiple course failures within a semester;
  • Engages in a pattern of professional misconduct or a single serious incident of misconduct;
  • Engages in illegal or unethical conduct as outlined by the university’s Standards of Conduct, the ANA’s Code of Ethics, and all relevant clinical site-specific policies (including HIPAA);
  • Fails to meet the technical standards of the program;
  • Failing to maintain clinical compliance in CastleBranch related to admission, continuous enrollment, or other requirements for clinical-readiness;
  • Withdraws from or fails to enroll in required coursework without an active approved leave of absence;
  • While on leave does not meet requirements to return, including failing to remain in clinical compliance;
  • Meets the unsatisfactory performance criteria from the aforementioned sections in this handbook;
  • Patterns of clinical placement concerns or a single egregious concern (i.e. a background check failure, failure to report change in criminal status within required timeline)

The Program Director will meet with the student to review concerns and documentation prior to requesting dismissal.

If dismissal is requested, the Program Director will inform the student with a written email. A copy will be included in the student’s file.

If dismissal is not requested, the Program Director will provide the student with a written warning via email and include a copy in the student’s file. The student may also be required to complete mandatory remediation prior to returning to the classroom or clinical site. The Program Director will work with the Department Chair to discuss the remediation plan, resources requirements, and other parameters. Remediation may include, but is not limited to, additional skills assessment, writing a paper, giving a presentation on an assigned topic, etc.

Repeat Coursework

Students who are allowed to repeat the course(s) in which they failed should work with an academic advisor to identify the appropriate progression plan. They may not be able to enroll immediately in the subsequent semester; there must be availability in the course. Repeating courses with a clinical component will also require coordination with clinical placements which may impact when the course is available.

If a student needs to repeat a concurrent course and also needs to repeat the other courses in that bundle (i.e. they withdrew from all courses, or failed all courses), the student must repeat them at the same time.

For the RN-BSN Program, students allowed to repeat a course in which they failed must successfully complete that course before they can enroll in any other courses.

For example, if a RN-BSN student fails a course, they can repeat that course in the first 8 weeks of the semester.  Upon successfully completing the repeat course, the student can enroll on the sequential courses during the second 8-weeks of the semester.

For example, if a student needs to repeat both NURS_FPC 415 and NURS_FPC 414, they must take both courses again at the same time.

If a student needs to repeat a course that has a concurrent course, but they successfully completed the other concurrent course, the student only needs to repeat their failed course. If they would like to still take the concurrent course, such as for content mastery or financial aid requirements, they may choose to audit it or may choose to fully repeat it.

For example, if a student needs to repeat NURS_FPC 415, but they successfully completed NURS_FPC 414, they only need to repeat 415. They may audit 414, ask for permission to fully repeat 414, or not enroll in 414.

Please note that clinical courses may not be audited, only fully repeated.

Per Academic Regulation 34, there are two ways that repeat grades operate, depending on the original attempt grade:

  1. Repeating if the original grade was a C- or lower will have that secondary course grade replace the first grade.
  2. Repeating where the original grade was a C or higher will not have the secondary grade replace the first grade. In that instance, the CON will allow the retake as “additional credit allowed” where both grades will end up on the transcript.

Repeat courses for grades C- or below are counted in the GPA and the previous attempt is then excluded from the GPA calculation. Thus, students must inform their academic advisor what they would like to do when they review their progression plan.

Readmission to the College of Nursing Program

All nursing students who have left the program, whether for personal, medical, academic, or non-academic reasons, must follow the process for readmission. Students may not participate in any classroom or clinical learning activities while waiting for readmission or pending a grade appeal for that course.

RN-BSN Readmission Process

  1. Students seeking readmission to the program are encouraged to work with their academic advisor in advance to ensure that everything is in order for their return.
  2. Once the return is finalized, the academic advisor will reach out to the student to confirm return details and course registration requirements.
  3. All students who step out of a program with clinical components will be required to re-affirm, prior to re-enrolling, that they meet the college’s Technical Standards.
  4. All students who step out of a program will be required to return to compliant status with all College of Nursing compliance requirements, prior to student registration.

PL-BSN Readmission Process – First Semester Return

  1. Students seeking readmission to the first semester of their program are encouraged to work with an academic advisor before the incoming cohort of students is admitted, so that a space in the incoming class can be held for the student to be readmitted.
    1. A student seeking readmission to a first semester cohort would need to notify an academic advisor by October 15th for Spring or Summer readmission or March 15th for Fall readmission. Students who request readmission after these deadlines may have to wait for readmission until the following semester.
  2. Up to ten spots will be held for readmitted students, with those spots solidified following student confirmation with an academic advisor. If the program receives more than ten readmission requests, students will be randomly selected through a lottery system. The remaining students will be added to the wait list with the remaining cohort.
  3. All students who step out of a program will be required to return to compliant status with all College of Nursing compliance requirement, prior to student registration.

PL-BSN Readmission Process – Second through Fourth Semester Return

Readmission to second through fourth semesters will be determined by the availability of seats in that semester. A student will be readmitted when a seat becomes available. Priority for seats will be given to students in the following order:

  1. Current students who are progressing in good academic standing.
  2. Students returning from approved medical leave of absence.
    1. Students who seek a medical withdrawal from the university should work with their academic advisor on the process. Please note that under no circumstances should the student submit medical documentation to the College unprompted.
  3. All other students, including those who are returning for readmission or from a non-medical leave of absence.
  4. All students who step out of a program will be required to return to compliant status with all College of Nursing compliance requirement, prior to student registration.

If there are multiple students with the same priority level for withdrawal, priority will be given to the student who has been absent from the program for a longer period of time.

Additional remediation requirements may be determined by the Program Director, including consideration of the length of absence from the program. The College of Nursing will communicate the instruction and structure for this class or remediation.

All students who step out of a program with clinical components will be required to re-affirm, prior to re-enrolling, that they meet the college’s Technical Standards.

back to top

SECTION V: ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES

This section describes the policies, procedures, and professional standards governing students’ progress through the undergraduate nursing curriculum across all College of Nursing campuses at Washington State University. Academic progress policies apply to all campuses, affiliated sites, and curricular activities related to undergraduate nursing education.

Students are strongly advised to seek guidance from their academic advisor, or the Director of the Center for Student Excellence, regarding any circumstances that impact their ability to participate in the nursing curriculum; and to do so before their academic performance is impacted. Each student has the responsibility to know these policies and use them in their decisions.

University Policies

It is important to distinguish University-wide policies and those specific to the College of Nursing. Students must abide by all policies in the WSU Student Handbook for Community Standards and on the Center for Community Standards website as well as those pertaining to students in the Executive Policy Manual.

Academic Integrity

All members of the WSU community share responsibility for maintaining and promoting the principles of integrity in all activities, including academic integrity and honest scholarship. WSU’s  Academic Integrity policy will be strongly enforced in all College of Nursing programs. Students need to read and understand all definitions of cheating. If a student has any questions about what is and is not allowed in a course, the student is encouraged to seek clarification from the course faculty.

The Center for Community Standards, in conjunction with the academic department and faculty member(s), oversees the academic integrity process. A violation of academic integrity includes (but is not limited to) cheating, use of unauthorized materials or sources, unauthorized collaboration on projects, plagiarism, and multiple submissions of the same work.

More detailed descriptions of cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication can be found in the following codes: Acts of Dishonesty WAC 504-26-202 and Cheating WAC 504-26-010. Additionally, the Violations and Possible Sanctions outlines potential WSU sanctions to Academic Integrity Violations. Students will not have the option to withdraw from the course pending an appeal and may be reported to the Center for Community Standards.

In addition to sanctions that WSU may require of the student, the CON will also provide any of the following sanctions as deemed appropriate by course faculty: re-write the assignment; demonstrate knowledge through a make-up assignment; fail the assignment; be removed from class/clinical setting; and/or fail the course. In some cases, the violation may lead to the student’s dismissal from WSU College of Nursing. Students who wish to grieve that they did not commit academic integrity violation must go through the process with the Center for Community Standards. Students who wish to grieve the decision from the CON, but admit they did commit the academic integrity violation, must go through the grievance policy later in this document.

College of Nursing Policies

College of Nursing students must also abide by the college-specific policies below:

Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) – The PL-BSN program integrates the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) standardized exam) testing and remediation program in Pharmacology, Fundamentals, Medical Surgical, Pediatrics, OB, and Psychiatric. This is a national tool that supports Nursing students as they move throughout their program.

The company has review modules that students can use, as well as an NCLEX review session that students are encouraged to attend during their S2 semester. It is also used throughout the program for NCLEX-style questions and exams so that students are prepared when it comes time to take their NCLEX itself. Students pay for an ATI package that includes the option for physical books as well as access to that NCLEX review session.

Remediation is required for all students who score less than a Level 2 on the practice exams (see course syllabi). The ATI product provides the remediation activities for individual students based on their testing report and is highly encouraged for continuous improvement and readiness for NCLEX. Additionally, students will take an NCLEX Predictor Exam in their final semester with the possibility of required remediation and attendance at the NCLEX preparation course at the end of the PL-BSN program. For more information, please see the policy on Standardized Course Exams (ATI).

NCLEX Prep Course

A live RN Prep Course will be scheduled for PL-BSN students during finals week in their S2 semester. The Prep course lasts three days and includes NCLEX tips and content. Course attendance is highly encouraged for all students, particularly for any student who does not achieve a 71.3% on their last Predictor Assessment.

Campus-to-Campus Transfer Procedure Policy

Students in the WSU College of Nursing apply to and are admitted to a campus. The number of students admitted to each campus is based on the available seats for both didactic and clinical placements at that site. In the case of family need, health or other crises, students may seek to petition for transfer to another campus for completion of their studies. Review the Transfer Procedure Policy.

Student Employment Policy

Students are encouraged to limit employment while enrolled in classes. Students who must be employed should arrange their schedules to accommodate all clinical and didactic work as well as study time needed to be successful in nursing courses. Students will not be reassigned a clinical section to accommodate work schedules. If a student is absent due to employment requirements, that absence will not be excused. Additionally, students may not work a shift prior to their clinical assignment as this contributes to unsafe practices (i.e., working a night shift then going to a day shift clinical).

Students may not have clinical placements in the departments or floors where they are employed, or have RN supervision by someone who has a potential conflict of interest (family member, friend, business associate, etc.). Students are responsible for notifying the Clinical Placement Coordinator should such a conflict arise. Also, students cannot accept payment for internships/projects/clinical experiences while earning credit for coursework within any facility.

PL- BSN students may be employed as Nurse Technicians in accordance with WAC 246-840-521. Read about the Nurse-Tech program.

Nursing Buildings & Classrooms

Food and non-alcoholic beverages may be brought into classrooms, offices, and lounges. Food and beverages may NOT be taken into other learning areas of the buildings, such as any of the Center for Experiential Learning spaces. If a building or room has a non-food/beverage policy that will supersede this policy. Students are responsible for keeping all learning spaces and lounges clean and sanitary.

Children are not permitted in nursing buildings or classrooms. Under WAC 504-36-020, pets are not allowed in university buildings, barring certain exceptions including trained service animals.

Alcohol and Drug Policy

Students are to adhere to the WSU Alcohol and Drug Policy as outlined in the Executive Policy Manual (EP20) as well as any policies related to drug/alcohol screening on the College of Nursing policy page. The College of Nursing will engage in drug screening processes for site requirements or for cause.

back to top

SECTION VI: STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR STUDENTS

Students enrolled in the College of Nursing are subject to standards of performance and ethics of the profession. Violations of conduct include issues related to professionalism, communication, dishonesty about compliance status, anything within The Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements, and/or the standards in this handbook.

Further, as a whole, WSU students must adhere to the general rules and regulations of the Standards of Conduct for Students as set forth in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 504-26. Students are responsible for knowing these standards and may be subject to disciplinary action under the procedures outlined in this document and the procedures outlined in the Violations and Possible Sanctions section of WSU’s Student Handbook for Community Standards.

The Washington State Board of Nursing provides a tool, The Scope of Practice Decision Tree, to assist nursing students, nurses, employers and policy makers determine the appropriate responsibilities nurses can perform.

Professionalism

Professionalism is an expectation of all professional nursing students. Professional behavior guidelines are intended to ensure safe, ethical, respectful, and professional conduct by nursing students. Please see the undergraduate professionalism policy.

Communication

The College of Nursing uses electronic means to disseminate information and communicate. This information may be important and/or time sensitive. Thus, timely review and response to email messages is vital to success for all members of the College of Nursing. Please see the student expectations, etiquette, and procedures policy.

Attendance

Regular and punctual attendance in class, laboratory, simulation, and clinical experience is required. Tardiness and/or failure to report to class, laboratory, simulation, or clinical experience can result in a lowering of the final course grade or an administrative withdrawal from the course. Additionally, there is an attendance policy for the PL-BSN students. Please see the pre-licensure attendance policy here.

Dress Code

All College of Nursing students are required to adhere to the dress code policy here. Additionally, students must adhere to any dress code related to their campus. For example, students attending the Yakima campus must adhere to the requirements of the PNWU campus.

Electronic Communication and Social Media

Electronic systems are governed by the Electronic Communication Policy (EP4) in the WSU Executive Policy Manual. All policies indicate that equipment and services will be used only for carrying out university business and may not be used for private use.

As future professional nurses with a unique obligation and responsibility, nursing students must be cognizant of the public nature of social media and other electronic communication and the permanent nature of communicating therein. These technologies may give the impression of privacy, but postings and other data should be considered in the public realm and freely visible by many people. State and Federal regulations related to confidentiality along with HIPAA require that no patient information be made available to the public. These regulations apply to comments made on social networking sites, and violators are subject to the same disciplinary action as with other HIPAA violations. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has an instructive guide on social media guidelines that we encourage students to regularly review.

All Students are expected to comply with the College of Nursing Social Media Policy including:

  • Protect confidential and proprietary information.
  • Do not post anything that could reflect poorly on the College.
  • Use WSU College of Nursing intellectual properties only with permission from the Marketing Director
  • Disseminating official information

Intellectual Property

Students cannot share Canvas course recordings or record a course in session. This is predicated on intellectual property of faculty members through larger WSU regulations.

Academic Grievance Procedure

Differences of opinion between students and their instructors may arise. Students and their instructors are encouraged to communicate regularly and directly to resolve such differences. An attempt should first be made to resolve the concern by having an open discussion between the student and the faculty member(s) involved. If either the faculty or the student would like a third party to attend that open discussion, CSE advisors are available.

If concerns with the instructor are not resolved by that open discussion, the student may initiate a formal grievance in alignment with WSU Academic Regulation 104:

  • For concerns on course policies as outlined in the course syllabus, the concern should be emailed to the instructor within 5 business days after the first day of class instruction.
  • For grades on individual assignments, the concern should be emailed to the instructor in a timely way (typically within a week of receiving the grade, or as defined by the instructor) so that the issue may be addressed.
  • For final grades, the concern must be emailed to the instructor within 10 business days of the final grading deadline and posting to the transcript.

At each stage of the grievance process, the individual addressed will be given 10 business days in which to respond to the grievance via official WSU email and come to a resolution. Should the response be unsatisfactory, the student can then take the grievance and response(s) to the next individual on the list.

Students must follow the typical “chain of command” when following the grievance procedure: course faculty, then Program Director, then Department Chair, then the Dean of the College or designee.

If a student has questions on who is next in the line of communication or wants a review of readability of their communication, they can connect with the college’s Director of the Center for Student Excellence. While the Director cannot make decisions to resolve the issues, they are available for process explanation and readability review of the concern. Additionally, the University Ombudsman is available at any stage for advice or assistance in resolving academic complaints.

Though chairs and college deans (and program leaders and campus chancellors) may resolve complaints about instruction and grading, they may not change a final grade without the consent of the instructor, except as provided by Rule 105.

Additional Grievance Resources:

  • Students who have exhausted avenues provided by WSU and still have unresolved complaints may contact the  Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) who has authority to investigate student complaints regarding the University not following published policy or state law.
  • WSU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), which provides a complaint process.
  • The University Ombudsman is available at any stage for advice or assistance in resolving academic complaints. 
  • The Academic Director of Nursing at Vancouver or Tri-Cities is included in the notifications of grievance decisions made by the Program Director, Chair, and Dean for any students registered at one of those campuses.

Grievance Process

  1. Student submits official grievance email to the Course Instructor which details the issue(s) no later than 10 business days following the end of the semester.
    • Student copies Director of CSE.
  2. Course Instructor Response
    • Course Instructor responds to student with receipt of student grievance submission.
    • Course Instructor renders decision to student within 10 business days.
    • Course Instructor copies Director of CSE in decision email
  3. If complaint is not resolved with Course Instructor, then the student may escalate to the Program Director (and Academic Director at their campus, if applicable). Within 10 business days, student submits grievance and previous communication thread to Program Director and  Director of CSE (and Academic Director, if applicable).
  4. Program Director Response
    • Program Director responds to student with receipt of student grievance submission.
    • Program Director renders decision to student within 10 business days.
    • Program Director copies Director of CSE in decision email (and the Academic Director, if applicable).
  5. If complaint is not resolved with Program Director, then the student may escalate to the Department Chair.Within 10 business days, student submits grievance and previous communication thread to Department Chair and Director of CSE.
  6. Department Chair Reponse
    • Department Chair responds to student with receipt of student grievance submission.
    • Department Chair renders decision to student within 10 business days.
    • Department Chair copies Director of CSE in decision email (and Academic Director, if applicable).
  7. After Department Chair’s Decision
    • The student or the instructor may appeal to the Dean within 10 business days of the chair’s decision. The Dean may designate the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs to handle a response.
    • The statement from the student or instructor should include the concern, how it affects the individual or unit, the remedy sought from the Dean, and all prior communication.
    • Dean or designee responds within 10 days, with a cc to the Director of CSE (and the Academic Director, if applicable).

back to top

SECTION VII: CLINICAL POLICIES

Please note that the WSU Health Sciences Immunization Requirements Policy applies to RN-BSN and PL-BSN students across all campuses. This policy states that the College of Nursing will require – as a condition of admission – certain immunizations and health screenings. The only exception to these required vaccinations is students that have legitimate medical conditions that make vaccinations medically contraindicated and therefore an exemption is warranted. See details in the policy linked above.

Clinical Compliance

The combination of proof of licensure, immunizations, required trainings (e.g. CPNW Modules), and certifications (e.g., CPR) is defined as clinical compliance. This combination of requirements is part of our contractual agreement with agencies and therefore is a clinical requirement for every student.

Vaccine and Clinical Requirements – RN-BSN

RN-BSN students are held to the above vaccination requirements as part of their experiential learning projects in the community. Specific compliance requirements are found here.

Vaccine and Clinical Requirements – PL-BSN

To provide clinical rotation opportunities to students, the College of Nursing coordinates and executes clinical training agreements with healthcare partners. In these agreements/contracts, the College of Nursing agrees that placed students will meet specific requirements. Clinical sites may have additional varying and more stringent requirements beyond those mandated for all students above. Specific compliance requirements are found here.

CastleBranch – RN-BSN and PL-BSN

The College of Nursing partners with CastleBranch to track student immunizations/tests and other required information needed for clinical compliance. Upon acceptance to the nursing program, you will receive information on how to purchase a CastleBranch account and how to upload documents to complete all requirements.

Once you upload your documents to CastleBranch, a reviewer will verify your document and accept or reject it. If it is rejected, you will receive an email with the reason for rejection and you will be asked to upload the correct document. Please take care of these emails immediately as your clinical placement requires 100% compliance to attend. Please check your spam folder or adjust your filter settings to allow for communications from CastleBranch.

It is the student’s responsibility to respond to any verification/credentialing questions by either Clinical Onboarding Coordinator or CastleBranch. All updates for immunizations, tests, and other requirements must be completed by the date given to you by the Clinical Onboarding Coordinator. Clinical requirements must be current (compliant) at all times while in the RN-BSN and PL-BSN programs.

Current students who fall out of compliance with their CastleBranch requirements:

  • Students cannot return to clinical placement until the appropriate campus Clinical Onboarding Coordinator releases the student (communicated via email) to course faculty of record, faculty lead, assigned clinical faculty, and program director while copying the student.

Loss of clinical placement or hours negatively affects student course completion and program progression. Make-up hours are not guaranteed due to limitations of clinical agencies. Students must make a request for make-up hours with the clinical faculty, faculty of record for the course, level lead, and program director. Registration for the following semester will be blocked or cancelled if students do not provide required documentation by deadlines provided by the Clinical Onboarding Coordinator. To prevent being out of compliance, Clinical Onboarding Coordinators are available to answer proactive questions about compliance requirements.

Confidentiality of Patient Records

The following policy on use of patient records has been developed to comply with federal guidelines outlined in the HIPAA regulations. The information below identifies what information is protected under Federal HIPAA requirements:

Patient Record Handling

Medication Administration

It is the standard of the Washington State University College of Nursing that students enrolled in all clinical courses will practice within the scope of the clinical curriculum and under the direct supervision of their assigned clinical faculty, supervising nurse, or practicum preceptor.

The guidelines in the Medication Administration policy refer only to those student activities which are completed during scheduled clinical hours and experiences for which they are receiving course credit. These policy restrictions and guidelines are not all-inclusive. Rather, they are intended to provide guidance to students, clinical faculty, supervising registered nurses (RN) or licensed practical nurses (LPN), mentors, and contracted clinical sites. Site-specific medication policies must be included in student orientations. Contracted clinical facility restrictions or limitations, which are more restrictive than these guidelines, will supersede any aspect of this policy.

Travel Related to Clinical Placements

To expose our students to the variety of practice settings and specialty fields available to them as future healthcare professionals, we strive to provide diverse clinical experience locations. Some clinical placements are secured with our community partners across Washington state. Some placements will be in Idaho and Oregon and may include some distance to outlying rural areas in Washington as one way to accomplish the College of Nursing’s mission. Most clinical experiences require motor vehicle transportation. All students should accept that travel to clinical placements is part of the clinical placement experience. Students are responsible for their own housing, transportation and expenses associated with their required clinical experiences. Student travel concerns are not reasons considered during clinical section change request as discussed below.

Clinical and Sections Change Policy for PL-BSN Students

The PL-BSN program director and undergraduate placement coordinator determine the clinical sections for the program and assign students to those sections. Clinical section size is guided by Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 246-840-532. Faculty are assigned clinical courses in which they have clinical expertise.  Additionally, “slots” for placements in agencies affiliated with the College of Nursing are fixed and limited by the agency and can change based on agency availability. Students must accept the clinical placement. Students or their relations (family, friends, etc.) are not permitted to arrange their own placements, independently change their clinical section, preceptor, or clinical agency. Requests for changes in clinical placement will only be considered for medical accommodations approved by the Access Center and communicated through faculty notification letters. All communication with agencies must be through the program director or clinical placement coordinator for the department. The College of Nursing and/or the agency reserves the right to deny clinical section or agency changes if there is undue burden on faculty, staff, or agencies.

Procedure for section changes:

  1. WAC 246-840-533.

NURS 430 Practicum Procedures

NURS 430 is a course that PL-BSN students take their S2 semester. The course provides the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in a concentrated clinical practicum setting. Students will be placed in a facility and unit based on availability provided by clinical placement grids or facility availability during the practicum timeframe. Students will receive a survey that will provide an opportunity to identify preferences for their practicum placement. Students should not expect placements in their top choices due to the limited number of practicum placements in certain specialty areas. Additional information about the placement survey is found in the appendix below.  

Drug Screening Policy

The College of Nursing may require drug screening of students when an agency requires it for onboarding or if there is reasonable cause. Please see the Drug Screening policy.

Annual Clinical Compliance Requirements: The annual requirements apply to current undergraduate nursing students. All students are required to be compliant at all times, including during the summer and holidays, in order for seamless clinical placements.

Criminal History Disclosure Form

Washington State University College of Nursing enters into affiliation agreements with hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes and other licensed providers to allow WSU College of Nursing students to obtain clinical experience necessary to complete their academic program. The affiliation agreements between the training sites and WSU require the University to obtain comprehensive background checks for nursing students/faculty who will provide direct services, or have unsupervised access to, or direct contact with certain vulnerable populations as defined in the Washington State Child and Adult Abuse Information Law RCW 43.43.830-842. Charge(s), conviction(s), and or/ criminal history information, including information regarding certain court and administrative determinations, must be disclosed and verified before an applicant or student/faculty can be considered for placement at a clinical site.

A conviction/criminal history record does not necessarily disqualify an individual from placement at a clinical site. However, certain criminal convictions and certain court administrative determinations may preclude assignment to a clinical site and thus, completion of the program of study. Students are obligated to promptly notify the College of Nursing in writing within 24 hours of any new charge, conviction, or civil adjudication proceeding. This applies to current students as well as those working through the admissions process and are subject to clinical training site review to determine if this is a disqualifying event. Information about disclosure form updates and background checks are found in the Background Check and Criminal Disclosure policy.

back to top

SECTION VIII: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Some partner healthcare facility affiliation agreements may require students placed at their sites to carry private medical insurance during their clinical placement. While the WSU College of Nursing does not require students to carry private medical insurance, proof of such insurance may be required to comply with the requirements of some healthcare partners.

Students are expected to adhere to all applicable policies and procedures of partner healthcare facilities. Partner facilities reserve the right to terminate a student’s participation in educational experiences at their site if these policies are not followed.

Students participating in the program are not considered employees or agents of the partner healthcare facility or WSU. Students are not entitled to receive any compensation or employment benefits from either the partner healthcare facilities or WSU, including but not limited to health care, workers’ compensation benefits, vacation, sick leave, or any other employment-related benefits, whether direct or indirect. The partner healthcare facility is not obligated to provide any form of insurance for the benefit or protection of students. Additionally, placement at a healthcare facility does not guarantee employment upon completion of the placement or degree conferral.

Students may receive emergency care from a partner healthcare facility and are financially responsible for any charges incurred as a result of such services.

Technical Standards

Nursing students must meet the appropriate Technical Standards for their program independently, with or without reasonable accommodation, to support successful progress through and graduation from their respective curricula. These requirements pertain to all student conduct regardless of setting (e.g., classroom/didactic, office, on-campus simulation, off-campus clinical, email communication, etc.).

Students are encouraged to review these Technical Standards to become familiar with the skills, abilities, and behavioral characteristics required to complete the programs.Students who have questions about these Technical Standards or who may require reasonable accommodation should contact WSU Student Campus Accommodations department at the campus in which they are registered.

General Information

Directory for College of Nursing Faculty and Staff

Contact information for all College of Nursing faculty and staff is located at College of Nursing Faculty & Staff Directory.

Academic Calendar

The Academic Calendar located on the WSU Registrar website provides relevant deadlines for registration, fees, applications, enrollment, exams, holidays, and other important information.

Emergency Funds & Scholarships

A limited amount of funds are available to College of Nursing students who are facing financial emergencies. If a student ends up in need of financial assistance, they should contact their academic advisor. Additionally, scholarships are available each semester through College of Nursing-specific donations and support, averaging in the $1,000 range. Please reach out to your academic advisor if you are interested in either of these financial options.

Library Services

WSU Libraries are dedicated to supporting the research needs of students. Refer to the College of Nursing Library Services for campus-specific information.

Online Course Access

Nursing courses use Canvas, an online Learning Management System (LMS), to deliver course content. Students will receive LMS access to courses after they have a WSU Network ID and have registered for courses. Access the site to find course syllabi, communications from faculty, and other important information. WSU has a guide on navigating Canvas as well. 

University Writing Portfolio

Completion of the University Writing Portfolio is a graduation requirement at WSU. Upon reaching 60 credits, students receive a registration hold as indication that their University Writing Portfolio is due. The University Writing Portfolio is a mid-career diagnostic to determine if students’ writing abilities have advanced in ways that can handle the writing demands of upper-division courses and courses in their majors. Specific submission guidelines and forms are online and available for download as pdfs. They include step-by-step instructions on how to complete the writing portfolio.

Visit the University Writing Portfolio page for more information.

Applications for Degree

It is the responsibility of each student to meet the graduation requirements. This includes fulfillment of the University Common Requirements (UCORE), nursing degree requirements, writing portfolio, total hours required for the nursing degree, and submission of all forms and fees. Students should check their degree audit for any deficiencies and reach out to academic advisors if any questions emerge. If an academic advisor warns a student that they are missing something, it is the responsibility of the student to provide information (such as ordering an official transcript) as soon as possible. Delays may affect the timing of degree posting and subsequent licensing or post-graduation tasks.

Applications for Graduation

Students will receive notice from their myWSU portal when it is time to complete their application for graduation. It is important to apply early. Students are encouraged to check their degree audit for any deficiencies. If the student’s graduation date changes, it is the student’s responsibility to notify their academic advisor.

All requirements related to participation in campus graduation ceremonies will be sent to students during their final semester. Information on renting or buying regalia comes from WSU itself and is sent directly to each student after the start of their graduating semester.

Other Student Resources and Information

It is highly recommended that students retain a copy of syllabi, clinical evaluations, and other items that will prove useful in applying to graduate programs or jobs.

Other student resources and information can be found on the College of Nursing website under the Students menu.

Safety Information

In addition to any facilities or organization’s reporting system, the College of Nursing must adhere to the process for two types of incident reports.

Incident reports: harm or near-miss involving a patient or allegations of diversion or medication error:

The Washington Board of Nursing (BON) requires the program to report, track, and analyze any incident that did or could have resulted in patient harm, allegation of drug diversion, or a medication errors (WAC 246-840-513)..

  1. Complete the Incident Report. Students must meet with their clinical instructor who submits the incident report within 24 hours of the incident. The clinical instructor will meet with the student to ensure a clear accounting of the incident is captured. Program or College leaders may interview the student and/or faculty to fully understand the incident. Students and faculty must prioritize this meeting.
  2. The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the College of Nursing then has 24 hours to report to the BON, on forms provided by the board, on these events.

The College uses the principles of a “just culture” (shared accountability and fairness) to evaluate events as part of our internal continuous quality improvement to facilitate student learning and prevent future occurrences.

Incident reports: injury involving a student, staff, or faculty member

Injuries to students, faculty or staff are reported as a “workplace injury or illness”. This Incident Report form is used throughout WSU to report a workplace injury or illness of a student, staff or faculty within 24 hours. In accordance with SPPM 2.24.1, faculty, staff, volunteers, and students are to promptly report all accidental injuries and work-related illnesses to their supervisor for evaluation and possible investigation.

  1. Students must immediately report all classroom injuries to their instructor and seek medical treatment, if needed.
  2. Faculty will send an email with details of the incident to the Program Director.
  3. The Program Director will complete and submit an Incident Report within 24 hours.

    NOTE: Major incidents resulting in serious injury (e.g. fracture or amputation), in patient hospitalization, or death are to be reported immediately, per SPPM 2.24.1.
  4. The Incident Report gets routed to Human Resource Services (HRS).
  5. HRS will review and forward a copy of the report to the college’s Dean.

For injuries occurring at a clinical agency, that agency’s incident report form may also be required.

Some partner healthcare facility affiliation agreements may require students placed at their sites to carry private medical insurance during their clinical placement. While the WSU College of Nursing does not require students to carry private medical insurance, proof of such insurance may be required to comply with the requirements of some healthcare partners.

Students are expected to adhere to all applicable policies and procedures of partner healthcare facilities. Partner facilities reserve the right to terminate a student’s participation in educational experiences at their site if these policies are not followed.

Students participating in the program are not considered employees or agents of the partner healthcare facility or WSU. Students are not entitled to receive any compensation or employment benefits from either the partner healthcare facilities or WSU, including but not limited to health care, workers’ compensation benefits, vacation, sick leave, or any other employment-related benefits, whether direct or indirect. The partner healthcare facility is not obligated to provide any form of insurance for the benefit or protection of students. Additionally, placement at a healthcare facility does not guarantee employment upon completion of the placement or degree conferral.

Students may receive emergency care from a partner healthcare facility and are financially responsible for any charges incurred as a result of such services.

back to top

SECTION IX: APPENDICES 

NURS 430 Practicum

This section is related to the NURS 430 Practicum course, including placement as well as the student preference survey. The survey is a chance for students to provide preferences on the clinical immersion portion for senior practicum. The below bullet points are designed to communicate with students and educate them on the placement and survey expectations:

  • There are no guarantees of obtaining a desired practicum site. Student preferences are considered alongside other factors outlined in the N430 Syllabus and Student Handbook when placing students for Practicum.
  • There are no guarantees of obtaining a desired specialty.
    • Many specialties have more student requests than spots available.
    • If there are more students interested in a specialty than spots, students will be reviewed based on predictor exam scores. Students who pass at 73% or higher will have priority for edibility for placements in these units. If there are more eligible students than slots, names will be selected using Random.Org List Randomizer.
  • Students must work the shifts of their preceptor, including night shifts, weekends, and holidays.
    • WSU does not control which shift or days students will be assigned. Preceptors are assigned by their unit managers using several factors to meet the requirement of the nursing commission.
  • The undergraduate clinical placement coordinators communicate with agencies in the community and other colleges/universities to obtain clinical sites. This is a collaborative partnership that can take a year of planning. Students may not personally coordinate a placement or preceptor, nor have family/friends/others attempt to coordinate a placement or preceptor.
    • Speaking with a facility to set up a practicum is considered unprofessional behavior. It impacts the ability to obtain an assigned/approved practicum placement and preceptor. Such behavior may prevent students from attending this course/practicum.
  • Students must meet all compliance requirements for the agency they are assigned. Clinical placements will not be changed due to a student failing to complete the necessary agency compliance requirements.
    • Clinical agencies can change their requirements at any time. Students must be prepared to meet any changes in requirements.
  • Students may be required to travel for their practicum. They will be responsible for making their own travel and housing arrangements in all assigned practicum site areas.
  • Students will not be placed at clinical sites that do not have a current affiliation agreement in place.  
  • Once placed, the only authorized changes to placements/preceptors will be if the student has an approved accommodation provided by the Access Center; if students are assigned to a unit where they are an extern or employed; or if a preceptor is no longer available on the floor/unit. All changes are made by the level lead or program director.
  • Students will receive a preference survey at the beginning of the S2 semester to provide an opportunity to share nursing specialties they prefer for placement. The N430 course lead will post the survey link as an announcement in Canvas for student access.
    • If students do not complete the survey prior to the deadline, students will not have the opportunity to provide their preferences. Students will still be placed in a practicum slot.
    • Students will be able to make changes to their original submission up until the survey closes. No change requests will be accepted after the given deadline.
    • When students submit the preference survey, they will receive a message on the screen stating their response was submitted. This indicates that they were successful with the submission.
    • Please avoid emailing the clinical placement coordinator or course faculty to request verification of survey completion.
  • For additional accommodations, such as vaccine requirements for a facility, inability to work a specific shift, or other limitations, an official accommodation request must be submitted and approved through Access Services.

back to top

Glossary

  • Affiliation Agreement (AA) – A legal contract between WSU and our partner healthcare facilities. The CON Business Office processes AAs for the College of Nursing. These agreements may include other WSU Health Sciences programs as part of a multi-program agreement. WSU is required to have an AA with all Healthcare Partner/clinical sites before a student can begin a clinical rotation
  • Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) – This is a national tool that supports Nursing students as they move throughout their pre-licensure BSN program. The company has review modules that students can use, as well as an NCLEX review session that students are encouraged to attend during their S2 semester. It is also used throughout the program for NCLEX-style questions and exams so that students are prepared when it comes time to take their NCLEX itself.
  • Board of Nursing (BON) – This is the Washington State Board of Nursing who regulates nursing education programs delivering education, including clinical training, throughout Washington.
  • Center for Student Excellence (CSE) – This College of Nursing department supports students throughout their time in the program. Academic advisors and success coaches are in this department and the CSE is focused on providing support with class registration, academic success, resource referral, and policy interpretation.
  • Clinical Onboarding Coordinator – Staff who facilitate the exchange of student requirements with clinical agencies so that students are eligible to attend clinical training in that site.
  • Compliance Stop (CS) – Students receiving Compliance Stop emails will have a registration hold placed on their account and will not be allowed to attend clinical learning experiences. PLSBN director, course leads, campus academic coordinators, campus onboarding team members, and clinical instructors are informed regarding any students unable to attend clinical learning experiences. Specific directions to return to compliant status, lifting registration holds, and the ability to count hours are explained in detail when receiving a Compliance Stop email.
  • National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) – This is the final licensure exam that pre-licensure BSN students take in order to become a registered nurse (RN). Students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam upon graduating the pre-licensure BSN program. During the S2 semester, students receive an overview on how to apply for the NCLEX and the required documentation.
  • Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) – College of Nursing members use this form to provide students formal and timely feedback about concerns that could impact program progression. Concerns can be related to academic courses, clinical experiences, or professionalism. Knowing concerns early allows students to course-correct and be successful in their program. In some cases, PIPs may be due to policy violations or timeline breaches, but most PIPs are designed to be non-punitive and serve as an early communication tool.
  • Undergraduate Admissions and Progression (UAP) Committee – This College of Nursing committee is comprised of faculty and student representatives that review items related to undergraduate admission and time in the program. That includes cohort selection for incoming students, as well as reviewing appeals from students who do not progress in a timely manner and wish to retake courses.
  • Undergraduate Clinical Placement Coordinator – Staff who organize all clinical placements for WSU CON students.
  • Washington Administrative Code (WAC) – These administrative codes are regulations of the Washington executive branch and are a source of primary law in the state. They guide the policies and procedures that the College of Nursing and WSU itself follow.

back to top