Nursing is a very particular calling. You have to have an aptitude for science; you need a compassionate bedside manner; you must have the highest personal and professional values. It should come as no surprise, then, that a nursing school like the University of South Carolina's College of Nursing demands the very best from its students. The CON wants you to be ready for what you'll face on the job.
You wouldn't have applied if you didn't believe in yourself, and you wouldn't have gotten in if USC didn't see your potential. That doesn't mean you should show up on day one unprepared, though. If you're going to live up to that potential, you need to know how the College of Medicine operates. You need to know all the rules and procedures.
Here's something else you should know: how to get help. The College of Nursing will do everything it can to help you succeed. There may be times, though, when you need someone else in your corner. What do you do, for example, if you find yourself accused of cheating? You can't count on faculty and administrators to take your side.
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was created to help students succeed—to make sure their schools treat them fairly and that they have every reasonable opportunity to earn their degrees. Below, you'll find everything you need to know to hit the ground running as a nursing student. Before you get to that information, though, know that the Lento Law Firm is on your side and always ready to help. To find out more, call 888-535-3686, or you can contact us online.
Nursing Standards at the University of South Carolina College of Nursing
You came to USC to learn. Easier said than done, right? It helps if you have a clear sense of what's expected of you. As the USC CON handbook explains, USC is a member of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), which works with southern states to improve education. The College of Nursing follows standards developed by the SREB's Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing. As a result, you can expect coursework and clinical hours to emphasize:
- Critical thinking
- Communication abilities
- Physical abilities
- Hearing
- Visual skills
- Smell
As you work towards meeting these standards, you must also keep up with your academic standing. To remain in Good standing, you need to maintain a USC GPA of at least 3.0. Anything below that, and the College of Nursing places you on Academic Probation. You then have one semester to raise your GPA. If it remains below 3.0, you must change your major from nursing.
In addition, you can be dismissed from the CON for two grades below “C” in any required science courses.
Academic Misconduct
Given just how strict the academic policies are at the USC College of Nursing, you can understand why some students are driven to take shortcuts to complete their coursework and earn good grades.
However, as a College of Nursing student, you are subject to USC's Honor Code, and that can be just as strict as CON academic requirements. The Code prohibits four specific types of misconduct.
- Cheating: The use of unauthorized materials to complete your coursework
- Plagiarism: The attempt to pass another person's work off as your own
- Falsification: The attempt to mislead others with respect to any of your coursework
- Complicity: Assisting someone else in committing academic misconduct.
Sanctions for academic misconduct vary, and a first offense won't usually put your academic career in jeopardy. Keep in mind, though, that the College of Nursing subscribes to a very strict code of ethics and may issue penalties that are more severe than those of the university. Cheating isn't just cheating for nursing candidates; it's a sign you lack professionalism.
Standards of Personal and Professional Behavior
Nursing school students are sometimes surprised to learn that programs take your personal and professional behaviors as seriously as your academic abilities. The fact is, “nurse” is a position in the public trust, and patients and communities expect the very best from you.
- As a starting point, you are subject to the same Code of Student Conduct as every other USC student. That Code includes a long list of prohibitions against everything from underage drinking to hazing. Here again, the nursing program generally has higher ethical standards than other schools at the university, and you can expect serious consequences for even minor infractions.
- All colleges and universities in the U.S. must abide by federal Title IX guidelines regarding sexual discrimination and harassment. You can expect the College of Nursing to investigate any complaints of sexual misconduct and to hand down harsh sentences to anyone found Responsible (guilty). The most common penalty, in fact, is dismissal from the university.
- Beyond these basic requirements, nursing students are also held accountable for their ethics and professionalism. HIPPA violations, practicing under the influence, and failure to treat supervisors with respect can lead to your dismissal from the nursing program.
Sanctions
USC and the College of Nursing utilize a broad range of sanctions depending on the nature of an offense. Possible punishments can include:
- Written warning
- Disciplinary probation
- Academic integrity probation
- Dismissal from the College of Nursing
- Restitution
- Suspension of privileges
- Denial of degree
- Suspension
- Dismissal
- Revocation of degree
No matter what the charges are, and no matter what the proposed sanction is, it's important that you defend yourself. Even a warning can cause you problems if it shows up on your transcript or in letters of recommendation. A warning about cheating, for instance, tells prospective graduate schools and employers that you can't be trusted. Even if a sanction doesn't appear on your record, most state nursing boards require you to disclose any misconduct charges made against you during your education. The bottom line is you cannot afford to ignore any allegation since it could impact your career.
You must always defend yourself. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is here to help you do that.
Administrative and Judicial Processes at the University of South Carolina College of Nursing
There is always a way to defend yourself if you should wind up in trouble at the USC CON. How you go about it can depend on the nature of the charges against you, but the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are experienced, and they can always recommend solutions. For instance,
- Academic Deficiencies: If you're facing Academic Probation or Dismissal from the CON, you can appeal if you have any extenuating circumstances that contributed to your deficiencies.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Any time you're accused of misconduct—disciplinary, academic, or sexual—you can be sure the College or the University will undertake a thorough investigation. If the charge is serious enough, you'll usually be allowed to defend yourself at a full hearing as well. In other words, you'll have the chance to prove your innocence or to introduce mitigating factors that might minimize your mistake.
It's not always easy to know the best path to take when you find yourself in trouble at nursing school. You can count on the Lento Law Firm, though, to help you come up with a plan and to stand beside you while you put that plan into action.
Trust the Lento Law Firm to Handle Your Case
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team has 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 on what we can do for you, call us today at 888-535-3686 or click on our online form and tell us about your problem.
