The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies (ESNHS) is a private nursing school established in 1970 in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is part of the Fairfield University Complex, a private Jesuit university founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942. What started as a four-year, full-time undergraduate baccalaureate program now offers undergraduate and graduate nursing programs for aspiring students. As part of this large and competitive nursing school, you will train rigorously with your peers in a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment. But to remain enrolled and benefit from your program and training, you must maintain excellent professional standards and behavior befitting your future nursing profession.
Nursing school is a significant stepping stone to becoming a professional nurse. However, it is also a time when you learn theory and practice, with a few learning curves and mistakes. While mistakes don't usually lead to sanctions and negative repercussions, some violations come with heavy baggage and possible dismissal from your program. With so much at stake, including your time, effort, and reputation, taking action when a violation could lead to significant issues is necessary to graduate on time. If you face problems, don't wait before your actions no longer make a difference. Send a quick message to the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team or call 888-535-3686 for more information.
Academic and Professionalism Standards
ESNHS expects its students to demonstrate professional and ethical conduct and maintain academic progress to remain part of the Fairfield University community. These rules level the playing field for students and help keep the nursing school's reputation strong while attracting new students. Nursing students must act professionally in their educational training and build their personalities based on ethical behavior and conduct as required by the American Nursing Association. Since you will work with medical teams, doctors, fellow nurses, patients, and their families, you must have an appropriate and professional bedside manner. But no matter how ethical you are, you must also demonstrate that you can apply the principles you learned during your training in real time. These standards are necessary to continue to the subsequent phases of your training and graduate with a nursing degree. Students who cannot do so face an investigation and hearing, where a panel issues sanctions for violations and recurring issues.
Adjudication Process
Per the handbook, any person or entity who observes a nursing student violating university policy or the student conduct code may file an incident report to the Office of the Dean of Students. After investigating and determining that the student may be at fault, the student may choose an informal resolution or a formal hearing to select a sanction. Once the Dean's staff issues a hearing decision, they notify the student and schedule a pre-meeting to discuss the student conduct process, the alleged violation, and the hearing date.
During the hearing, the student and all other parties may have an advisor of their choosing present. Responding and reporting parties may bring witnesses, available relevant reports, evidence, and supporting documents to bolster their case. Once the hearing ends, the panel members deliberate and recommend a sanction to the Dean of Students.
Sanctions
Sanctions vary in severity depending on how many times a student committed a violation, the gravity of the mistake, the impact on parties, and whether they are on probationary status. Per the handbook, the nursing school may recommend one or more of the following sanctions after students attend a hearing:
- Formal warning: The nursing school gives students a formal statement that they engaged in unacceptable conduct and warns them that additional violations will lead to more severe sanctions.
- Temporary Restricted Status: Students may not participate in university-sponsored activities.
- Mandatory Counseling: Students must undergo required counseling sessions from within the university or outside of it.
- Disciplinary Probation: Students receive a written reprimand for violating an institutional policy.
- Dismissal: The nursing school dismisses the student temporarily or until the student meets specific criteria.
- Expulsion: Permanent dismissal from the university with a revocation of all rights
- Withholding Diploma: The university may withhold a student's diploma temporarily or deny the student from participating in any university-sponsored events
- Revocation of Degree: The university may revoke the degree for fraud, misrepresentation, and violating university procedures
Appeal Process
Students may appeal a hearing board's decision based on one or more of the following grounds:
- New evidence was discovered that was not available at the time of the original hearing.
- A substantial error or omission during the conduct proceedings
- The recommended sanction is substantially disproportionate to the severity of the alleged infarction.
When filing the appeal, students must use the Student Conduct Appeal Form and send it to the Vice President of Student Life. Once the latter reviews the case, they issue a decision in up to three weeks, and it is a final decision.
Contacting the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team
Nursing school can be an exciting and informative time that allows you to explore new horizons and train to become a professional. But along the way, you may stumble upon issues that significantly affect your plans, which may delay – or even prevent you – from graduation.
With so much at stake and the added stress of a formal hearing, call the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team as soon as you learn of allegations against you.
The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team has years of experience working with nursing students nationwide facing sanctions for all types of violations. With their passion for justice and dedication to you, the team leaves no stone unturned when handling your case.
You worked hard to attend nursing school and study to become a medical professional. Don't let a sanction destroy your dreams. If you or someone you care about face sanctions at ESNHS, don't wait to take decisive action. Send the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team a message to learn more, or call 888-535-3686 for a discreet consultation.
