Washington State University (WSU) College of Nursing is one of the top five nursing schools in Washington, and its programs are in the top fifty in many national rankings. With no end in sight to the national nursing shortage, if you are a nursing student, the future looks bright.
Prospects can dim, however, if you face serious issues while still in school. Like many nursing schools, the WSU College of Nursing has lengthy, complicated policies regarding everything from grade requirements to social media activity. It can be very easy to find yourself facing the Undergraduate Progression Appeal Committee over unsatisfactory grades or some other academic performance issue and facing possible outcomes that include suspension or dismissal.
Fortunately, if you are a nursing student at WSU grappling with disciplinary action by the College of Nursing, you do not have to do it alone. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has many years of experience helping nursing students like you in Washington and across the country find a successful resolution and get back to focusing on earning their degree. Call 888-535-3686 or reach out online to tell us about your case.
Degree Programs at WSU College of Nursing
The WSU College of Nursing offers several undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as graduate certificates, at its Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, and Yakima campuses. The Pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (PL-BSN), for example, is a four-year degree comprising two years fulfilling general university requirements and nursing prerequisites and then two years of nursing classes and clinical work. To successfully progress in the program, students must meet grade requirements for both academic and clinical laboratory courses and prove they are able to provide safe patient care. In addition, PL-BSN students must meet Technical Standards and PL-BSN Clinical Passport Requirements such as certifications and immunizations. They must do all this within the framework of the policies and standards of Washington State University and the College of Nursing.
The Student Policies & Procedures page of the WSU College of Nursing website provides a comprehensive guide that includes handbooks, policies, and technical standards for its degrees and certificates. The Pre-Licensure BSN and RN to BSN Undergraduate Handbook describe in detail the policies and procedures students must adhere to; it includes sections on satisfactory program progression, academic policies and procedures, standards of conduct for students, and clinical policies. The handbook also describes sanctions for failing to meet required standards.
Satisfactory Program Progression at WSU College of Nursing
The handbook for undergraduate nursing students at WSU College of Nursing includes descriptions of the requirements for progressing through the PL-BSN program.
Grade Requirements – Students must achieve at least a C (73%) in graded courses and clinical laboratory courses and a satisfactory grade in any pass/fail course.
Patient Care – Students must show they are always able to provide safe care to patients.
College of Nursing Policies – Students in the PL-BSN program must complete the Assessment Technologies Institute program, which includes review modules and standardized tests in areas including Pharmacology, Medical Surgery, and Pediatrics, and the NCLEX Prep Course. Nursing students are also subject to drug and alcohol screening.
Community Standards – These include policies regarding academic integrity, including definitions of cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication, and conduct issues such as computer theft or abuse, disorderly conduct, theft or damage to property, and use of alcohol by anyone under age twenty-one. Standards of Conduct for nursing students include expectations regarding professionalism, communication, and attendance.
Possible Sanctions at WSU College of Nursing for Violating a Policy or Failing to Meet a Requirement
The undergraduate handbook for WSU nursing students provides detailed information about policies regarding communicating with students regarding any academic or disciplinary issues, the guidelines for evaluating them, possible outcomes, and student response options.
Academic Performance Issues
Unsatisfactory performance in a class can include issuance of a Performance Improvement Plan form, notice of ineligibility to progress, probation, suspension, or even dismissal from the program if the student has failed multiple courses. The exact response depends on whether the class is a required nursing course, a didactic/theory course, or a clinical course. The student may appeal the disciplinary action to the Undergraduate Admission and Progression Committee.
Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy
Violations of the WSU academic integrity policy include cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication. Sanctions range from the requirement to rewrite an assignment to dismissal from the nursing program.
Violating Any of the Standards of Conduct
The handbook for nursing students points to the WSU Student Handbook for Community Standards section Violations and Possible Sanctions. For example, sanctions for alcohol possession by a minor range from an alcohol and drug assessment to suspension or expulsion.
When Dismissal from the Nursing Program Is Possible
The handbook provides several examples of reasons to dismiss a nursing student, including failing multiple courses in a single semester, a pattern of professional misconduct, illegal or unethical conduct, failure to meet technical standards, and withdrawing from a required course without approval. A student at risk of dismissal receives a Performance Improvement Plan outlining the concerns that may lead to dismissal, and the Program Director will meet with the student before requesting dismissal.
The Experienced Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Can Help You
You have already made a significant investment of time, money, and effort into your pursuit of a nursing degree. Earning that degree will be your entrée into a field that will allow you to use your passion for helping others. Whatever the evidence against you, however serious the case may seem, the experienced and knowledgeable student defense attorneys at the Lento Law Firm will help you achieve the best solution possible.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team will review your case and determine the best strategy for achieving the outcome you want. We will do what it takes to protect your rights at Washington State University, including filing a lawsuit if necessary, but we will take a collaborative approach characterized by clear communication, civility, and solid legal reasoning with the school.
The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm has represented nursing students in undergraduate and graduate nursing programs across the country, including in Washington, and we can help you. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 to discuss your Washington State University College of Nursing discipline issue with our team, or you can tell us about your case online.
