Nursing is a calling more than a career. You have to have patience, understanding, and a genuine desire to sacrifice yourself in service to others. It probably shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that nursing schools like the University of Utah College of Nursing hold their students to extremely high standards. They want to make sure you're not only qualified but that you have the temperament to go into this field.
Given these high standards, you don't want to show up on day one unprepared. You should have a clear sense of the expectations before you start classes. You should know all the rules and regulations. And—maybe most importantly—you should know how to get help when you run into problems.
The Lento Law Firm was founded to help students. You can't always count on your school to stand beside you when you get into trouble. Often, they're the ones conducting the investigations. You can count on us, though. We know the law, we know how the University of Utah works, and we're committed to making sure you're treated fairly. To find out more about how we can help, contact us today at 888-535-3686 or fill out an online information form.
Meeting Nursing Standards at the University of Utah College of Nursing
You came to the University of Utah College of Nursing to learn, and the school will definitely hold you to that. The curriculum is rigorous. According to the college manual, for instance, students take coursework in
- Acquiring fundamental knowledge
- Developing communication skills
- Interpreting data
- Integrating knowledge to establish clinical judgment
- Incorporating appropriate professional attitudes and behaviors into nursing practice
In simple terms, there are no unimportant subjects in nursing school. You must pass every class, and there are serious consequences any time you're struggling.
- Any grade below a C is grounds for academic probation.
- If you have two grades under C throughout your academic career, you face suspension or even dismissal.
- You can also be suspended or dismissed any time your GPA falls below 2.0.
Academic Misconduct
Meeting all the College of Nursing's academic requirements can be stressful, and enough stress can sometimes lead students to try bending the rules a bit. However, it's important you know that any type of academic misconduct can lead to the same penalties as a low GPA. The minimum punishment in such cases is probation, but serious and repeat offenses usually garner suspension or dismissal.
Examples of misconduct include
- Cheating: The use of unauthorized resources to complete any of your coursework
- Plagiarism: The attempt to pass another person's work off as your own or, in some cases, simply failing to give your sources due credit
- Fabrication: The invention of any materials—sources, for instance, or lab results—as part of your coursework
In fact, any action—even one not listed here—that could potentially give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework qualifies as misconduct.
Standards of Personal and Professional Behavior
Nursing requires you to interact every day with patients and with other members of a healthcare team. As a result, the University of Utah College of Nursing isn't just interested in what you know but also in how you behave. Of course, like any student at the University of Utah, you're subject to the school's Student Rights and Responsibilities. These include prohibitions against things like underage drinking, hazing, and weapons possession.
However, the College of Nursing also carefully considers how you conduct yourself in professional situations. As with academic deficiencies, lapses in professionalism can result in probation, suspension, and dismissal. What qualifies as a lapse in professionalism? The student manual specifically mentions issues like
- Acts of dishonesty
- Physical assault
- Unauthorized use of equipment
- Disruptive behavior
- Violation of local, state, or federal laws
- Violation of the ethical standards of nursing
- Endangers patients
Finally, you're also subject to federal Title IX guidelines regarding sexual harassment in education settings. Anything from simple verbal harassment, to stalking, violence, and rape, can lead to a full investigation and hearing. The government encourages schools to investigate all credible complaints and to issue harsh sanctions to anyone found Responsible (guilty). The minimum penalty in most cases is suspension.
Sanctions
Presumably, some low-level offenses at the University of Utah College of Medicine must be subject to low-level sanctions such as warnings. However, the minimum sanction listed in the student manual is probation. The complete list includes
- Probation
- Suspension
- Dismissal
- Withholding of degree
- Revocation of degree
The fact is that any Responsible (guilty) finding can have serious long-term consequences on your academic and professional careers. Even if the College of Nursing only issues a warning, a warning on your transcript can cost you entry into graduate programs. In addition, most state licensing agencies require students to report any instance of misconduct when applying for a license. In other words, you can't afford to ignore any misconduct charge.
Judicial Processes at the University of Utah College of Nursing
The good news is that you have the right to challenge any adverse decision made by the University of Utah's College of Nursing. How you go about challenging it can vary depending on the exact nature of the decision, though.
- Academic Deficiencies: You can appeal any action related to academics to the College of Nursing's Academic Appeals Committee. This includes “arbitrary or capricious” decisions about your grades, all decisions related to academic misconduct, and any decisions having to do with unprofessional behavior.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Violations of university policies, including Title IX sexual misconduct, are usually handled through a university investigation and hearing. As part of the process, you may submit evidence and call witnesses to testify.
The University of Utah gives students the right to an advisor any time they are accused. This advisor can, of course, help you with all aspects of preparing your case, and they may accompany you to meetings and proceedings. They may not speak on your behalf, but they can be on hand to offer advice.
Crucially, your advisor can be an attorney. That means someone from the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can work with you from the moment you are charged until you've exhausted your final appeal.
Trust the Lento Law Firm to Handle Your Case
Whether you've been accused of sexual harassment or you're simply trying to avoid academic probation, the Lento Law Firm is here to help. We've defended hundreds of students from all types of issues—from rape charges to cheating scandals. We are always on your side, ready to fight for your rights, and determined to get you the best possible resolution to your case.
For more information, call us today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.
