“Nurse” is a noble profession. If you've decided to go into nursing, it's likely because you feel called to help others. You care about the public health, and you're dedicated to meeting the needs of patients.
Not everyone can be a nurse, though.
That's true not just in terms of temperament but in terms of education. Nursing schools can be demanding, and Yale University School of Nursing (YSN) isn't your average program. YSN expects the very best of its students. That's true in the classroom. There are no unimportant subjects in nursing school, and you're supposed to excel in all of them. It's just as true in terms of student behavior. A low grade or an inappropriate comment to a colleague can be enough to get you dismissed.
We all make mistakes, even Yale students. How do you make sure a mistake doesn't cost you your future as a nurse?
Simple. You can call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or use the automated online form to get in touch.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are dedicated to the proposition that a mistake or even two shouldn't stand in the way of you earning your degree and going on to a bright future in the healthcare industry. We aren't just dedicated to idealistic propositions, though. We're prepared to back our commitment up with action. We know the law. We also know how the Yale School of Nursing operates. And we're ready to put what we know to work to protect you.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Let's give you the bad news first: there are dozens of different reasons the Yale School of Nursing might decide to dismiss you. Here's the good news, though: all of these reasons fit into two basic categories. Know these, and you should be able to avoid most problems at YSN.
- Academic Deficiencies: First and foremost, you must go to class and study. To make sure you do these things, YSN maintains an academic standing policy and assigns academic sanctions any time you fall behind. Your instructors should notify you if you're in danger of failing a course. Obviously, you must retake any failed courses. In addition, though, each counts as an instance of Academic Probation. Over the course of your career at YSN, you can have no more than two Probations. A third means dismissal from the program.
- Misconduct: Nursing students are sometimes surprised to learn that their personal conduct is under as much scrutiny, if not more, as their academic performance. You are subject to a background check before you're enrolled at YSN, for instance, and any criminal conviction, even for something small like a DUI, can mean dismissal. In addition, though, you are bound by the nursing school's Personal Conduct and Academic Integrity Standards. These standards cover everything from cheating on exams, trespassing on school property, and sexually harassing colleagues. They also cover your professional responsibilities, such as abiding by HIPAA. Any violation of any of these policies can result in dismissal if the violation is serious enough.
Fighting Dismissal
You can and should fight any attempt to dismiss you from your nursing program. Dismissal likely means the end of your career in the healthcare field. Luckily, YSN has procedures in place for defending yourself.
In cases of misconduct,
- Someone submits a written report of misconduct to the Disciplinary Committee Chair.
- The Chair must notify you of the complaint. This notification should include details of the accusation, a list of your rights, and an outline of the disciplinary process.
- A select three-member panel drawn from the Disciplinary Committee then conducts an investigative review. This review involves examining any documentary evidence and calling in any pertinent witnesses to provide testimony. You have the right to submit evidence as well and to suggest witnesses. As part of the review, the panel will ask you to sit for an interview. You have the right to bring an advisor with you to this interview, though they may not speak on your behalf.
- The panel ultimately decides the case using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” This standard requires them to find you Responsible (guilty) if they are more than fifty percent convinced you committed an offense.
- You do have the right to appeal the panel's decision to the Dean. Grounds for appeal are limited, however, to new evidence, a procedural error, or a sanction that is disproportionate to the offense.
It can be harder to dispute an academic dismissal. These are more often based on factual evidence—failed coursework—and YSN gives you multiple opportunities to improve before dismissing you. Even in these cases, though, there are some effective strategies for avoiding the threat of dismissal. For example,
- If your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, such as an illness or a family emergency, you can try appealing directly to the Dean for more time to improve.
- You always have the right to challenge individual grades through appeal.
- Disabilities, including learning disabilities, are often grounds for course accommodations. If you don't receive these accommodations, you may be entitled to retake the course with no penalty.
- Any time you feel an instructor has mistreated you, you should report that mistreatment to the Dean. This can be grounds for a grade revision.
Generally speaking, Yale School of Nursing does not allow students to be represented by legal counsel during meetings and proceedings. That does not mean you should try to handle your case all on your own. A Lento Law Firm attorney can do far more than accompany you to meetings and hearings. They can work with you to develop your defense strategy, help you collect evidence, draft documents on your behalf, suggest questions for witnesses, and even give you practice in making presentations. In addition, they can keep an eye on the proceedings and make sure your program doesn't violate your due process rights.
Fighting for Your Future
It's essential you understand that if you're facing dismissal, your career is on the line. You've worked hard to get to this point in your education. You've had to show time and time again that you have the aptitude and temperament for this profession. None of that counts for anything, though, if you should find yourself accused of mistreating a patient or if you should fail a course. Not only can you find yourself dismissed from YSN, but you'll find it difficult, if not impossible, to find another program to accept you.
The bottom line is there's too much at stake to go into a dismissal defense alone. Judicial rules and procedures can be complex, and while your school is normally on your side, in this case, it's your opponent. You need someone in your corner, someone who has your best interests at heart and who is willing to fight for those interests. You need an attorney from the Lento Law Firm.
The Lento Law Firm was built to help students. Our Student Defense Team is highly experienced with all aspects of investigation, adjudication, and appeals processes and has helped hundreds of students just like you get the justice they deserve.
If you're facing disciplinary action, don't wait to see what might happen. Find out exactly what the Lento Law Firm can do for you. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
