Embarking on nursing education is a demanding yet gratifying journey, but it also entails elevated expectations and stringent standards of conduct. As a nursing student at the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing (UMSSN), you are diligently working towards your academic aspirations and preparing to enter a profession that demands the utmost professionalism and ethical integrity. Regrettably, even the most dedicated and industrious nursing students may find themselves confronted with disciplinary measures from their program, which can have grave implications for their academic and professional futures.
If you are a student at UMSSN who has been accused of misconduct or is facing potential suspension or dismissal, it is crucial that you know your rights. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has a proven track record of assisting nursing students in defending themselves against such allegations. Call our offices today at 888-535-3686 or schedule a consultation online.
Honor Code and Code of Professional Conduct
At UMSSN, nursing students are expected to uphold several academic, professional, and ethical codes of conduct. These comprehensive guidelines outline the exact academic and professional standards that nursing students are supposed to follow, including the types of conduct to avoid. Such conduct includes:
- Academic dishonesty, like cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized use of artificially generated content, and sabotage.
- Physical abuse or threats.
- Stalking.
- Sexual harassment.
- Property destruction or damage.
- Misuse of school property or resources.
- Using, distributing, making, or possessing alcoholic beverages or any controlled substances
- Hazing.
- False reporting or retaliation.
- Violating patient confidentiality and HIPAA.
When a student is accused of committing one of these violations, they will be brought up before a disciplinary committee. To ensure you are not being unnecessarily punished for actions you did not commit, or if you feel like the punishment outweighs the facts of the incident, it is crucial you reach out to an attorney immediately.
Remediation Policies
Failing an exam, course, or clinical can be incredibly frustrating and can lead to an early dismissal from the program without the chance to graduate. However, most nursing programs offer their students a chance to remediate – or retake – the failed assignment or class.
At UMSSN, nursing students are allowed to remediate their calculation exams up to three times. The hope is that the student will learn the material better by being able to retake the exam and then utilize the information during their career. While the rest of the remediation policy is not listed publicly, the Lento Law Firm will be able to reach out to the school on your behalf and collect it. This way, they can help you understand whether your rights are being infringed on and, if you are owed a remediation for another course, clinical, or exam, how to go about petitioning for it.
When schools have remediation policies in place and fail to offer them to their students, it is up to you and your attorney to hold them accountable.
Suspension and Dismissal
If a student fails to maintain satisfactory grades or is found responsible for certain academic, professional, or ethical conduct violations, they can be suspended or dismissed from the school. Both of these punishments will be transcribed on the student's final transcript, making it difficult for the student to gain admission to another nursing program or graduate school.
Working with a student defense attorney from the moment you are notified of these accusations will ensure you receive the best possible outcome for your case. If you decide to defend yourself during the disciplinary hearing, it can have a disastrous effect on the outcome, ultimately affecting your entire career before it's even begun. For instance, if you are dismissed and decide you want to pursue a nursing degree at another school, you'll have to explain the punishment to the admissions committee. That committee is unlikely to admit you as a student if you have already been found responsible for misconduct so heinous that it requires dismissal from the program.
Your attorney will work diligently to gather evidence and witness testimony on your behalf, ensuring you have a sophisticated defense to present on the hearing day.
Appeals
Once the disciplinary hearing concludes, the committee will notify the student of their decision. All students have the right to an appeal if they can name a specific ground for it. UMSSN students must be able to show that either:
- There was a material deviation from an established procedure that affected the outcome;
- The committee members or the student panelists had a conflict of interest or bias against the accused student;
- The sanctions fall outside the range that is usually imposed for this kind of offense; or
- There is new evidence available now that was not reasonably available during the hearing and could affect the outcome of the matter.
Appeals must be made within ten business days to the Chancellor, who will review it and determine if the committee's decision should be upheld, remanded for further review, or modified in some way. This decision is final and cannot be appealed again so it is important to make sure it is completed perfectly before sending it in.
How the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Can Help
In the realm of nursing education, the stakes are exceptionally high. Nursing students are held to the most rigorous academic and professional standards, and any misstep can threaten their entire future. Consequently, hiring a proficient and seasoned student defense attorney is the best thing you can do for your case.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has helped hundreds of students around the country who have been accused of misconduct or violated their student conduct code in some other way. If you have been accused of such a violation, they can help. Call us today at 888-535-3686 or schedule a consultation online.
