Nursing Student Handbook 2026-2027

Clinical Standards

Clinical Participation Requirements

The following requirements must be completed and maintained to participate in laboratory and clinical experiences:

• Annual health forms
• Current CPR certification
• Proof of health insurance
• Drug screening
• Criminal background check

Drug screens and background checks are required upon entry into the Nursing Program and may also be required throughout the program based on clinical agency requirements.

Students are responsible for keeping all required documentation current and submitting it to the Health Sciences Office.

Failure to maintain current documentation will result in withdrawal from the Nursing Program.

Removal from the Nursing Program

A student will be removed from the Nursing Program if any of the following occur:

A. Unsafe Clinical Practice

A documented pattern of negligence or unsafe clinical practice as determined by the clinical instructor.

B. Abuse of a Patient

Professional negligence or verbal, physical, or emotional abuse of a patient.

C. Breach of Professional Standards

Examples include, but are not limited to:

1. Failing to recognize when assistance is needed before performing a clinical procedure.
2. Failing to take necessary clinical action when required for patient safety and within the student’s scope of knowledge.
3. Attending clinical while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Use of illegal drugs, recreational drugs, misuse of legal medications, or any substance that interferes with judgment, mood, or motor coordination poses an unacceptable risk to patients, clinical agencies, the College, and faculty.

Faculty members who suspect impairment are required to take appropriate action.

Students are responsible for understanding and complying with this policy.

4. Failing to manage personal behavior in a manner that adversely affects relationships with:

• Patients
• Family members
• Clinical sites
• Colleagues

5. Deliberately providing inaccurate information or withholding important clinical information.
6. Falsifying medical records.
7. Performing clinical activities that:

• Endanger patient safety
• Exceed the student’s scope of knowledge or practice
• Are performed without appropriate supervision

8. Failing to complete assigned clinical activities, including leaving clinical early without prior approval from the course coordinator.
9. Violating patient privacy or patient rights.
10. Failing to achieve satisfactory completion of required clinical competencies.
11. Receiving an Unsatisfactory laboratory or clinical evaluation.
12. Using legally prescribed medications that impair cognitive function to the extent that safe travel to clinical sites or safe clinical decision-making cannot be ensured.

National League for Nursing (NLN) Code of Ethics

Any violation of the NLN Code of Ethics may result in removal from the Nursing Program.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action and/or dismissal from the Nursing Program.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) protects the privacy of patient health information.

Students are responsible for maintaining patient confidentiality at all times.

Confidential information must never be shared with anyone who is not directly involved in the patient’s care.

Students may not have:

• Cell phones
• Cameras

within clinical facilities.

Students are also expected to maintain confidentiality regarding:

• Other students
• Hospital or facility employees
• Physicians

Confidential Information Includes, But Is Not Limited To

• Patient identities and addresses
• Services received by patients
• Social or economic circumstances of patients
• Agency evaluations concerning patients or facilities
• Medical diagnoses and health histories
• Information regarding disabilities
• Identities of individuals or institutions providing health care
• Information designated confidential by federal or state law
• Information regarding patients with infectious diseases or other special care needs

Students must preserve the dignity and privacy of all patients.

Case discussions, consultations, examinations, and treatment information are confidential and should be handled discreetly.

Patients have the right to expect that all communications and medical records related to their care remain confidential and are available only to authorized individuals.

Guidelines for Appropriate Use of Social Networking Websites

Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action.

Violations involving HIPAA or actions that jeopardize relationships with clinical agencies fall outside normal disciplinary procedures and may result in an immediate learning contract and/or dismissal from the Nursing Program.

General Guidelines

Social networking sites provide opportunities for students to communicate and share experiences. Students must use these platforms responsibly and avoid actions that could embarrass:

• The student
• The School of Nursing
• Clinical agencies
• Technical College of the Lowcountry

Patient information must never be disclosed on social media.

Personal Privacy

Students are encouraged to:

• Restrict profile visibility to approved individuals.
• Remove (“untag”) photographs that could be viewed as compromising.
• Review privacy and security settings regularly.

Students should understand that privacy settings cannot completely prevent information from being shared.

Protection of Patient Information

Students should remember that:

• Comments posted online are treated the same as comments made publicly within a hospital.
• HIPAA regulations apply to social media.
• Students may be held criminally liable for HIPAA violations.

Removing a patient’s name does not make the patient anonymous.

Friends or family members may still identify the patient based upon surrounding details.

Professionalism

Students should remember:

• Social media posts may have legal consequences.
• Comments regarding patient care or portraying students or colleagues unprofessionally may be used in legal or disciplinary proceedings.
• Photographs showing students in uniform that identify them as affiliated with Technical College of the Lowcountry may not be posted on social media.
• Statements made online are attributable to the individual who posts them.
• Social networking sites should not be used during lectures, laboratory sessions, or clinical assignments.
• Future employers may view photographs and online statements.
• Students may face College disciplinary action for unprofessional online behavior or HIPAA violations.
• Students represent Technical College of the Lowcountry and the School of Nursing whenever they post comments or photographs online.

Conviction of a Crime

Students enrolled in a Health Sciences program who are arrested or charged with a crime must notify the Dean or Program Director on the first day of class following the arrest.

Arrests, criminal charges, or pending legal cases may affect eligibility for professional licensure.

Pending criminal charges may delay progression through the Nursing Program depending upon the severity of the charges.

Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action or dismissal from the Nursing Program.

Conviction of a crime, other than a minor traffic violation, may make a graduate ineligible to:

• Take national certification examinations.
• Take licensing examinations.
• Obtain licensure in South Carolina or other states.

Students are encouraged to seek guidance from the appropriate licensing board as early as possible.

Criminal Convictions Likely to Affect Licensure

These include, but are not limited to:

• Crimes of violence, including:
  • Murder
  • Manslaughter
  • Criminal sexual assault
  • Crimes involving deadly force
  • Assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature
  • Assault and battery with intent to kill
• Crimes involving distribution of illegal drugs
• Crimes involving moral turpitude

Applicants are responsible for contacting the appropriate licensing board regarding individual circumstances.

Tardiness

Students are expected to arrive on time for:

• Class
• Laboratory
• Clinical experiences

Official time is determined by the clock located in the instructional area.

Failure to arrive on time may result in:

• Point deductions
• Unsatisfactory clinical evaluations

Refer to individual course syllabi for specific consequences.

Email

Students are responsible for:

• Establishing a current TCL email account.
• Monitoring that account at least twice daily.

Faculty should be allowed 72 hours (three business days) to respond to email communications.

Distance Learning

Students may be required to attend certain nursing courses on the Beaufort Campus.

Refer to the current TCL Catalog for additional information.

Student Health

Students are responsible for maintaining and submitting all documentation required for clinical clearance, including:

• Health documentation
• Proof of health insurance
• Current CPR certification
• Criminal background check
• Drug screening
• PPD testing
• Any additional clinical requirements

Students must complete a physical health update annually.

Telehealth visits and walk-in clinic evaluations are not accepted for required physical updates.

Following any illness, injury, hospitalization, or other change in health status, students must submit a completed Change in Health Status Form to the Health Sciences Office.

Drug testing is required:

• Upon entry into the Nursing Program.
• Periodically throughout the program.
• At the request of a clinical facility, the Dean of Nursing, or the Nursing Program Director.

Certain laboratory and clinical activities may be contraindicated for medical conditions, including but not limited to:

• Diagnosed illness
• Pregnancy
• Compromised immune systems

Students should consult their health care provider regarding the physical requirements of laboratory and clinical experiences.

Following a Diagnosed Medical Condition

The following options may apply:

1. The student may continue in academic and clinical coursework based upon recommendations documented by the health care provider on the Health Status Form.
2. The student may withdraw from the academic, laboratory, or clinical component of a course, resulting in a course withdrawal.
3. If course requirements cannot be completed, the student may receive an Incomplete (I) and must complete the course before progressing.
4. The student may voluntarily withdraw from the Nursing Program and later request re-entry according to the handbook’s re-entry policy.
5. In accordance with Title IX, students who withdraw because of pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions may re-enter the program at the same point and status at which they withdrew.
6. Only a licensed medical doctor may determine physical limitations or activity modifications. Documentation must specify both the limitations and the duration of those limitations. Academic, laboratory, and clinical activities will be modified only according to the recommendations documented on the Health Status Form.
7. Only a health care provider may excuse a student from class, laboratory, or clinical experiences. Students must submit a completed Change in Health Status Form documenting the reason for and duration of the absence. Students remain responsible for completing all missed academic and clinical requirements before progressing in the Nursing Program.