The Indiana University School of Nursing is part of the highly regarded research institution at the University of Indiana. Indiana University School of Nursing locations include Bloomington, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis. The school offers a range of nursing programs with degrees such as Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Ph.D. in Nursing Science, and a handful of other graduate certificates for nursing programs. As a nursing student at the University of Indiana, you have made countless sacrifices to gain admittance into the school's competitive program. However, your dream of working in the healthcare industry can come crashing down if you face a potential dismissal from the program.
Suspensions, dismissals, and other academic sanctions can have a long-lasting impact on your academic success and professional reputation. Issues such as poor academic performance, criminal conduct, ethical violations, or professional conduct offenses can snowball out of control, resulting in legal and personal repercussions that bar you from working in the healthcare industry.
If you face disciplinary threats at the University of Indiana's School of Nursing, don't fight these allegations alone. You have worked too hard for too long to approach your future with anything less than a strategic plan. Our national Student Defense Team of attorneys at the Lento Law Firm has experience navigating the bureaucratic processes at nursing schools.
Academic, Ethical, and Professional Requirements for Nursing Students at the University of Indiana.
Nursing students at the University of Indiana's School of Nursing ("SON") are held to rigorous academic, ethical, and professional standards. Students are expected to abide by the university's policies on academic integrity, which emphasize integrity, honesty, and truthfulness.
The school's policies on academic misconduct address any action that "undermines the academic integrity of the institution." Examples of academic conduct violations include cheating, plagiarism, and research misconduct.
The school's policies on personal conduct further dictate that students "are responsible for their behavior, and expected to respect the rights and dignity of others" whether on or off campus. Examples of personal conduct that violate campus rules include fraud, disorderly or obscene conduct, theft, and substance abuse.
The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics
Students are also held to the same strict ethical requirements as adopted by the American Nurses Association, also known as the "ANA Code of Ethics." Within this code, nursing students at the University of Indiana are expected to do the following:
- Practice compassion and respect for every person's inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes.
- Serve in commitment to a patient, whether an individual, family, group, community, or population.
- Promote, advocate for, and protect patients' rights, health, and safety.
- Have the requisite authority, accountability, and responsibility to work in the nursing industry.
- Make appropriate decisions and act consistent with the obligation to promote health and to provide optimal care.
- Preserve wholeness of character and integrity, maintain competence, and continue personal and professional growth.
- Establish, maintain, and improve the ethical environments of the work setting and conditions of employment that are conducive to safe, quality health care for the public.
- Advance the profession through research and scholarly inquiry, professional standards development, and the generation of nursing and health policy.
- Collaborate with other health professionals and the public to protect human rights, promote health diplomacy, and reduce health disparities.
- Articulate nursing values, maintain the profession's integrity, and integrate principles of social justice into nursing and health policy.
Disciplinary Procedures at the Indiana University School of Nursing
If instances where a nursing student's conduct falls below expected academic, ethical, or personal behavior standards, the school investigates the issue through a systematic disciplinary policy. Though the individual step-by-step procedures that different campuses use are not publicly accessible, the University of Indiana sets minimum policy requirements that must be followed at each campus.
The Hearing
The policy balances the need for the school to thoroughly investigate wrongdoing against a student's right to be notified about the allegations against them and present their side of the story, often referred to as a student's "due process rights." Each campus is also expected to present its students with clear procedures and specific information about the allegations against them. Students are then allowed to participate in campus disciplinary hearings and present evidence on their behalf. Students are also entitled to be assisted by an attorney-advisor of their choice. In this instance, our Student Defense Team would help you gather evidence to prepare for your hearing, evaluate the strength and strategy of your case and testimony, etc.
The Decision and Appeal
After reviewing a student's evidence and testimony, the school will promptly notify the student of the outcome. Although the school does not publish what potential consequences can result, consequences typically include sanctions such as additional coursework, suspensions, or dismissals. If you are currently at this stage and want to challenge the school's decision, you can likely file an appeal or an official request for the school to reconsider its decision. Although the policy does not explicitly address the appeals process to be utilized on each campus, it does state that attorney-advisors may be allowed to speak on a student's behalf at an appeal hearing.
It's important to note that these procedures will not apply to any conduct that includes sexual misconduct. Under a federal law known as Title IX, sexual misconduct must be addressed through a separate Title IX investigation.
Hire the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team
The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm has defended nursing students throughout Indiana and nationwide. We know how to approach the bureaucratic educational system and are the best choice you can make to protect yourself throughout the disciplinary process at the University of Indiana School of Nursing. Our compassionate and available Student Defense Team will help you evaluate your unique circumstances and gather and present evidence. You have worked too hard for too long to go into a disciplinary hearing without a proper strategy. Contact us today by calling (888) 535-3686 or by using our online contact form.
