Code of Conduct
It is understood that the administration, faculty, staff and student body share in the responsibility of upholding the Mission and Core Values of Mount Carmel College of Nursing. The Code of Conduct, strives to:
- ensure the integrity of the nursing and allied health professions;
- create an academic and professional environment that reflects the College’s Mission and Core Values;
- reflect the policies of the College on standards of conduct; and
- follow the policies on nursing practice from the Ohio Board of Nursing.
In accordance with the above, faculty, staff, and students will commit to:
Academic Excellence
- Achieving the highest level of academic excellence that I can through honesty and integrity both in and out of the classroom and in clinical settings.
- Striving to embody excellence and providing the highest quality work in the academic and in the clinical settings.
- Acting in a professional manner while in the College of Nursing and in all activities, functions, and clinical sites associated with the College and the profession of nursing.
Respect
- Contributing to creating a safe, respectful, and supportive atmosphere for teaching and learning.
- Regarding privacy and confidentiality as essential obligations.
- Communicating with peers, staff, and faculty in a professional and respectful manner.
- Taking responsibility for my words and actions.
Compassion
- Demonstrating a commitment to the attributes of compassion, empathy, altruism, responsibility, and tolerance.
- Demonstrating caring behaviors at all times.
- Respecting individual diversity through a non-judgmental attitude and approach.
- Working to become a creative problem solver.
Social Responsibility
- Refusing to tolerate discrimination, disrespect, or bullying.
- Committing to bring any discrimination, disrespect, or bullying to the attention of the Chairperson of the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee or the Director of Student Life.
- Refusing to tolerate incidents of dishonesty or lack of integrity.
- Committing to bringing incidents of dishonesty or lack of integrity to the attention of the Chairperson of the Academic and Professional Misconduct Committee or the Director of Student Life.
Statement of Student Responsibility
Students are solely responsible knowing and following Mount Carmel College of Nursing policies and procedures and for their own successful progress and completion of the degree program and requirements they select. While advisors are available to help students with course selection, each student is responsible for seeking clarification regarding progression through the curriculum. At all times, each student is also responsible for seeking clarification and/or assistance from faculty, staff, or administrators.
Cell Phone Use Policy
Personal cell phone use is prohibited in classrooms, laboratories, and in clinical experiences. Faculty and students must turn off and stow cell phones in purses or book bags before the start of class and during all exams. Cell phones should be turned off or quieted during meetings.
The College has provided education software for students and faculty for use on their personal handheld devices in situations including clinical areas. The devices are only to be used in clinical areas as an education resource in the provision of patient care. Any abuse of this policy will result in losing the privilege to use the electronic educational resources and mobile devices in clinical experiences and classroom settings. This policy applies to all students and faculty members at MCCN.
Change of Address/Phone/Email
Students should report in a timely manner any change of address, telephone number(s), or personal email address to the Office of Records and Registration (Rm. 201, Marian Hall; by phone, 614-234-3522; email jturner@mccn.edu or mmillerrea@mccn.edu). Name changes require additional documentation. Accurate contact information will ensure that the College can reach students as needed.
Children on Campus
Students are not permitted to bring children to class. Students violating this policy will be asked to leave class. Also, babysitting is not permitted in the College of Nursing. In addition to the issue of liability, the presence of infants and children in the College is not conducive to study and relaxation.
Communication with Students
Information is frequently transmitted to onsite students through Nightingmail student email (mail.mccn.edu), the CARMELink student portal, the College newsletter (Carmel Rapper), bulletin board notices, or messages placed in student mailboxes. Onsite Students are expected to check their email and CARMELink and Canvas accounts frequently and to check their mailboxes when they are on campus. The Marian Hall bulletin board across from the first floor elevators is used for general College announcements.
Information is frequently transmitted to online students through student Nightingmail/ email (mail.mccn.edu), Canvas (http://mccn.instructure.com) and CARMELink (carmelink.mccn.edu/ICS/). Online students are expected to check their Nightingmail, Canvas and CARMELink accounts frequently, at a minimum of every 48 hours, as they will be held responsible for updates and new information contained in email communication and courses.
Convention, Seminar, and Workshop Attendance
Students in good academic standing are encouraged to participate in professional and educational activities. Written permission to miss classes for the purpose of attending conventions, seminars, or workshops must be obtained from faculty who are teaching courses in which the student is currently enrolled. Consent forms are available from the Student Nurses Association (SNAM) faculty advisor or from the Office of Records and Registration. The student, if granted permission to attend, is responsible for all make-up work.
Convocation
At the beginning of each academic year new Mount Carmel students assemble at Convocation as part of New Student Orientation activities.
Copyright Infringement
Copyright is the legal protection of all forms creative expression on any form of media.
Students should be aware of the limits of the fair use of intellectual property, which is protected under copyright law in cyberspace as well as the real world.
Protected Property
To the general public, intellectual property, in the form of computer software and digitized entertainment, is a highly tempting target for reproduction and distribution. But intellectual property is protected under copyright law in cyberspace as well as the real world, and students need to be aware of the limits of fair use. Illegal duplication, file-sharing or use of any type of intellectual property constitutes copyright infringement and could be subject to College disciplinary action and civil and criminal penalties, including fines.
Creators Own Exclusive Rights
Copyright law generally gives authors, artists, composers, and other such creators the exclusive right to copy, distribute, modify, and display their works or to authorize other people to do so. Additionally, creators’ works are protected by copyright law from the very moment that they are created — regardless of whether they are registered with the Copyright Office and regardless of whether they are marked with a copyright notice or symbol. That means that virtually every email message, posting, web page, or other computer work you have ever created - or seen - is copyrighted.
Limited Use
You may reproduce copyrighted materials only if one of these four instances apply:
- The owner has given you permission
- The work is in the “public domain”
- It falls under “fair use”
- You have an “implied license” to do so.
Admittedly, the latter three require more explanation than can be given in this overview, so users are strongly urged to conduct additional research regarding copyright law.
Please note: copying material in digitized form is easy to do, but that doesn’t make it legal. Do not reproduce copyrighted material in any form and on any media, unless you are given permission to do so.
Piracy
Piracy is the popular term for the illegal activity that is more correctly known as copyright infringement. Software piracy involves the violation of license agreements and occurs when you download, copy, file-share, install, or distribute digitized material in the form of computer software programs and entertainment media without authorization from the owner/creator.
License Not Ownership
The purchase of a computer program or any form of entertainment or artistic expression on any type of media that includes, but is not limited to, CD, DVD, mp3 file, video, or audiotape, simply gives you a license to use your personal copy; purchase does not constitute ownership of the “intellectual property” on the media. The U.S. Copyright Act expressly protects the intellectual property contained on these media and grants the creators exclusive rights to copy, adapt, distribute, rent, and publicly perform and display their works.
Reasonable people would agree that shoplifting any of these products in stores is theft, yet some don’t extend that logic to digitized formats. But when you use your personal copy for any purpose beyond what is expressly permitted by the license, you could be committing a federal offense and may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution as well as College disciplinary action.
Hidden Costs
The rationalization that “just one copy can’t hurt” multiplies exponentially if thousands or millions of people think that way. When you pirate any creative material, you are stealing more from the manufacturers than the cost of a single copy. Consider the resources that go into producing intellectual property. Companies invest millions to employ creative teams, manufacture, distribute, advertise and market product. Anyone employed at any stage along the line, including the retail store clerk, loses when you copy or share illegally.
Punishment
If the negative impact on the economy and fellow workers isn’t enough reason to stay legal, keep in mind that some companies in the entertainment and computer software industries have prosecuted individual offenders in civil courts and sought monetary damages. The U.S. government can impose fines or imprisonment, or both. So the next time you’re tempted, ask yourself, “is it worth it?” Resolve to purchase a legal copy instead.
Audio Entertainment
RIAA, Recording Industry Association of America, the trade group representing U.S. sound recording companies, is the force behind the prosecution of individuals for copyright infringement through downloading or uploading of music through illegal peer-to-peer networks and CD piracy. The RIAA ask consumers to support the industry by downloading music from legitimate sites such as those on the list at musicunited.org instead of engaging in piracy.
Video and Film Entertainment
MPAA, Motion Picture Association of America, works to prevent piracy of film and video products. The MPAA estimates that piracy of video content costs the industry more than $3 billion annually in potential revenue in the U.S., not including Internet losses, which are difficult to calculate.
The MPAA lists many types of materials subject to pirating: Optical Disc, which includes Laser Discs (LD), Video Compact Discs (VCD) and Digital Versatile Discs (DVD); Internet, videocassette and broadcast; down-loadable media; hard goods; streaming media; circumvention devices; cam-cording; screeners; back-to-back copying; signal theft; and public performance.
Computer Programs
BSA, Business Software Alliance, which describes itself as the voice of the world’s commercial software industry, estimates that the U.S. has lost billions of dollars annually in wages and tax revenues, and thousands of individuals have lost jobs. The BSA describes the following scenarios for software piracy:
- using one licensed copy to install a program on multiple computers
- copying disks for installation and distribution
- taking advantage of upgrade offers without purchasing a legal copy of the version to be upgraded
- acquiring academic or other restricted or non-retail software without a license for commercial use
- swapping disks with others
- downloading software from various Internet sources such as pirate websites, peer-to-peer networks, and auction sites that offer counterfeit software
The BSA also notes that pirated computer software doesn’t save you much when you consider the problems associated with illegal copies: defective software, little or no documentation or technical support, no warranties, a greater exposure to viruses, and ineligibility for software upgrades.
Course and Faculty Evaluations
Student completion of course and instructor evaluations is an expectation of each course. Students are expected to complete the appropriate evaluations during the last two weeks of the course. Data from these evaluations are used as part of the College’s regular continuous quality improvement efforts. Therefore, students are encouraged to provide constructive, accurate, and professional feedback during the course evaluation process.
CPR Requirement (onsite students)
Onsite students enrolled in nursing courses with clinical or lab components are required to have current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Current CPR certification is a prerequisite to starting any sophomore, junior, or senior nursing course. Each student must present CPR documentation (CPR certification card and a photocopy of the card) to the Office of Records and Registration upon initial certification and upon each re-certification. This required documentation must be presented prior to starting the first day of a nursing clinical course.
Pre-licensure students’ CPR certification must be in effect throughout the official start/end dates of the specific nursing course (16-week semester or 8-week term). The expiration date cannot occur before the official end date of the course. Students who fail to meet this requirement will be administratively withdrawn from the course. There is no grace period. A list of non-compliant student names and expiration dates will be provided to faculty, and non-compliant students will not be permitted to enter the nursing course on the first day.
Students are required to comply with this policy; non-compliance may result in less than full-time enrollment and will delay the student’s graduation date.
The responsibility to keep CPR certification current rests solely with the student. Regulations require that any new certification or re-certification must be acquired exclusively through one of the following providers:
American Heart Association
- American Heart Association BLS Course or
- BLS for Health Care Providers or
- Instructor/Trainer/Faculty
- Go to www.americanheart.org to find a class
American Red Cross
- CPR for the Professional Rescuer or
- BLS for Health Care Providers or
- Instructor/Trainer/Faculty
- Go to www.columbus.redcross.org to find a class
“HeartSaver CPR” or other training does not meet the College CPR requirement for nursing students. Students who mistakenly complete this novice training will be required to complete the appropriate professional-level course from those listed above.
Criminal Background Check (onsite students)
The law regulating the practice of nursing states that the Ohio Board of Nursing may deny a convicted felon a license or the privilege of sitting for the licensing examination (Section 4723.28 of the Revised Code). In addition, several of the agencies utilized for nursing clinical studies may require students to undergo criminal record checks and may deny clinical access to persons convicted of felonies or specific misdemeanors.
State and federal criminal record checks are mandatory annual requirements for every freshman enrolled in FYEX 110 or FYEX 111 and every enrolled sophomore, junior, and senior student.
Traditional program students have the opportunity to be fingerprinted on campus at the beginning of the academic year. Students in the Second Degree Accelerated Program are fingerprinted at Orientation and prior to completion of the program. Results will be forwarded to Mount Carmel College of Nursing from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Results from the BCII and FBI are valid for one year and filed with the student’s College record.
Each student must present a valid Ohio Driver’s License or a state-issued ID in order to complete the application form at the time of fingerprinting. The fee for this service, when performed on campus, will be added to the student’s Mount Carmel account. No portion of this amount is retained by the College.
Students not completing the annual fingerprinting/records check on campus will be solely responsible for updating this requirement and ensuring that the results are forwarded to the Office of Records and Registration at the beginning of each academic year. Students entering the College in Spring Semester or Summer Session must complete the requirement prior to beginning courses. All costs incurred in completing this requirement are the responsibility of the student.
Failure to complete the required annual criminal records check will result in the student being unable to begin any nursing clinical course. Non-compliance may result in less than full-time enrollment and will delay the student’s graduation date. A hold will be placed on student records with expired criminal background checks.
A criminal record check that indicates evidence of a felony conviction (or certain misdemeanor convictions) may result in action including, but not limited to, dismissal from Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
Applicants for NCLEX-RN
All students who apply to obtain a license issued by the Ohio Board of Nursing must obtain a criminal record check that is completed by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII), including a check of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records.
Students electing to be fingerprinted on campus at the start of the senior year may request a second copy of the results from the BCII and FBI be forwarded directly to the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN). This helps to ensure timely processing of the NCLEX-RN application and minimize delays in making a candidate eligible to test. Please be advised that fingerprint results are valid for one year only.
Senior students not completing fingerprinting on campus will be solely responsible for completing this NCLEX-RN requirement elsewhere. All costs incurred are the responsibility of the student.
Criminal record results cannot be mailed to the OBN by the applicant. No applicant will be eligible to test without the required completed criminal records check in his/her NCLEX-RN application file. Additional details can be found at: http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/LicensureInformation.htm.
Dress Code
Failure to comply with the dress code may result in disciplinary actions including, but not limited to, dismissal from the classroom or clinical site. Any adaptations to this policy due to cultural or health reasons are to be negotiated with the Undergraduate Associate or Assistant Dean.
The student dress code is enforced with the goal to assure a high standard in professional self-presentation. It is important for Mount Carmel students to recognize their role as representatives of the College and the profession of nursing in all settings. Appearance and self-presentation must be commensurate with professional expectations.
College Identification (ID) Badge
Onsite Columbus campus students are issued identification (ID) badges as part of the first semester registration process. Badges serve a number of functions, including identifying students in the College and providing access to College services.
Students must wear ID badges at all times while in the role of a Mount Carmel student, following these guidelines:
- Badges must be attached to a badge holder and worn at chest level.
- Badges and badge holders must be free of pins, keys, stickers, or other ornamentation.
- Lanyards are not acceptable as badge holders.
- If a student does not have an ID badge, a temporary ID badge must be obtained from the Office of Safety and Security.
Badges must be returned to the Director of Records and Registration if a student withdraws from the College or takes a leave of absence. Lost ID badges can be replaced (for a fee) at the Mount Carmel West Safety and Security Office.
Fairfield Medical Center (FMC) students are issued identification FMC (ID) badges as part of the sophomore hospital orientation. Requirements for wear are shared with students at hospital orientation.
Student Attire – College Areas/Hospital Campus
Students should present a positive, businesslike, and professional image through dress and actions. In classrooms, main lounge, first floor of the College, the pedestrian mall, cafeteria, and library, all students are expected to wear clothing that is neat, clean, and appropriate for the setting. The style of clothing must not be unduly revealing; proper undergarments are to be worn and not visible. Short shorts, mini-skirts, tank tops, house slippers, and pajamas are not permitted. Leggings or tights can only be worn if covered by a top, tunic, or jacket that extends two inches above the knees. The length of dresses and skirts must be no shorter than two inches above the knees. Jeans/denim must be intact throughout, without rips or holes in them.
Exposure of abdomen, cleavage and/or buttocks, and bare feet are not permitted. Sunbathing is not permitted on the hospital and/or College campus.
Dress Code – Clinical Settings
The official student uniform must be worn with the College insignia attached to the upper left sleeve. The uniform should fit appropriately and be clean and pressed. Appropriate undergarments are to be worn and not visible. Shoes must be white leather (or leather-like) with heels and toes enclosed, polished, and in good repair. No mesh or partially mesh shoes are permitted. White hosiery must be worn with the student dress uniform. White socks or hose which cover the student’s ankles are required with the pant uniform. For warmth and/or modesty, a plain white, light-weight, collarless or turtleneck, long or short sleeved, fine gauge knit shirt may be worn under the uniform top. If long sleeves are worn, they must be capable of being pulled to the elbow and remain stationary. In some settings, students may wish to wear a white scrub jacket or lab coat over the student uniform. The lab coats or scrub jackets must display the Mount Carmel insignia patch on the upper left sleeve. Faculty approval is necessary before wearing either of these in the clinical setting.
Jewelry must be kept to a minimum and is limited to engagement and/or wedding rings, one small set of post earrings in the earlobes, and medical alert tags. A watch with a second hand is required. Necklaces, visible body piercings, tongue piercings, and other jewelry are not permitted.
White long sleeved turtlenecks must be worn under student uniform top if tattoos are present on arms and/or neck.
No artificial nails are permitted. Nails must be short (not visible from the palm side of the hand), clean, and neat. Only clear nail polish which is not chipped and without additional designs or ornamentation is permitted.
Hair must be neat, conservative, and of a natural hair color. Hair should not fall below the shoulder. Long hair must be secured off the face so as not to risk contamination of the field of care. Any hair ornament must be simple and functional. If headbands are worn they must be white, black, brown, beige, or burgundy. Facial hair (beards and mustaches) is to be neatly trimmed and groomed.
Make-up and aromas. Any make-up must be conservative. Precautions must be taken to avoid odors that are offensive, overpowering, and/or could adversely impact others. Any colognes, perfumes, or aftershaves should be lightly scented. Odors related to food, smoking, and lack of deodorant must be avoided.
No chewing gum is permitted when in the clinical area or when in uniform.
Pregnant students are to wear a properly fitting white uniform with the College insignia on the left sleeve. All other student uniform policies are applicable as stated.
Dress Code—Non-uniform Clinical Sites
Students must be professionally dressed in clinical areas not requiring the student uniform. College identification badges must be clearly displayed. Student dress must be consistent with standards and requirements of the clinical environment and expectations of the faculty and preceptors.
Student Lab Coat Policy
The clean, pressed lab coat full (knee) length with the College insignia on the upper left sleeve must be worn over street clothes when students enter the clinical area to study clients’ charts, check assignments, or visit clients. The lab coat is to be worn over professional and neat clothing. The length of dresses or skirts must come at least to the top of the knees. No hats, jeans, shorts, Capri pants, sweats, sandals, or flip-flops are permitted. The College ID badge must be evident at chest level on the lab coat.
Purchasing Student Uniform and Lab Coat
The MCCN student uniform is required, starting with enrollment in Nursing 205 (sophomore level). Students are required to obtain the approved nursing student uniform with a Mount Carmel College of Nursing shoulder patch attached to the upper left sleeve.
The approved MCCN uniform is available from:
Roberts Medical Uniforms
1135 Commercial Ave. SE
New Philadelphia, OH 44663
Toll free: 877-512-9090
Fax: 330-339-6775
Website: robertsmed.com/
This is the only accepted vendor for the MCCN nursing student uniform and lab coat. Both can be ordered directly from their website (robertsmed.com/).
For uniform and lab coat information specific to MCCN, enter mc13 in the “Enter Code” box located at the top middle of the webpage. Roberts uniforms and lab coats come with the MCCN shoulder patch already attached.
Food in Classrooms
Students who bring food/beverages into classrooms are expected to clean up after themselves and deposit trash in appropriate receptacles. Courteous behavior such as this will enable students in subsequent classes to enjoy a clean environment. It is everyone’s responsibility to keep campus facilities clean and neat.
Inclement Weather
During extreme weather conditions, MCCN administration will make a decision about closures or delays (which also includes clinical experience cancellations) before 5:30 a.m. on the day of the closing, or by 10:30 p.m. on the night before closing the college. For afternoon and evening classes, an announcement will be sent by 12:00 noon, if possible.
MCCN at Fairfield Medical Center (Lancaster campus) administration may also determine closures or delays if either the Mount Carmel College of Nursing-Columbus campus or the Ohio University-Lancaster Campus delays or closes.
Road conditions may also vary substantially throughout Central Ohio; personal judgment should be utilized when deciding to commute to class/clinical when the college is not closed.
Notification of the closing or delay will be sent via text message and email through Rave Mobile Safety, reported on local television and radio stations, and posted on social media (Instagram, Facebook and Twitter).
Ohio University-Lancaster broadcasts announcements on these media venues:
New Student Orientation
Attendance at New Student Orientation is a requirement for all new students at the Columbus campus who are attending college for the first-time.
Photocopying
Photocopiers are available for students in the Health Sciences Library at a minimal charge per page.
Publicity
The College is interested in publicizing academic and personal achievements by students, within FERPA guidelines. Students must sign a release before any non-directory information is released to newspapers or other sources.
Smoking Policy
Mount Carmel is a tobacco and smoke-free facility. Use of tobacco products, including, but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and pipes is prohibited within all Mount Carmel facilities, on all Mount Carmel owned property, or any College student residence facilities. The College complies fully with all federal, state, city, and Mount Carmel Health System regulations regarding the possession and consumption of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco on campus, including the residence apartments.
Further, students are prohibited from smoking anywhere while wearing the student uniform, lab coat, and/or student ID badge. Violators will receive one verbal warning. The consequences of continued non-compliance include progressive counseling and may result in dismissal from the Resident Apartments and/or College.
Survey and Research Subject Access
Each year, there are many requests from those within and outside the College for access to students, faculty, and staff for the purposes of surveys or research projects. When potential survey respondents are overloaded with survey requests, they may experience “survey fatigue,” resulting in low response rates for very important surveys the College conducts as a part of its educational and organizational assessment efforts.
Because of the need to limit the burden on students, faculty and staff in responding to these requests, all requests for access to members of the College community for recruitment to research studies or to distribute non-research surveys must be approved beforehand.
All requests for access to faculty, staff, or students for the purposes of human subjects research - thus requiring IRB approval or exemption - must specify the plan for obtaining IRB approval and supply documentation of the approval to the College prior to commencing study-related activities.
Procedure
- Requests for access to students, faculty, or staff for the purposes of research or surveys should be directed to the Director, Scholarship and Institutional Effectiveness at evaluation@mccn.edu - at least two weeks before the start of the project.
- Requests should include the timeframe for the project, a copy of the survey tool or research proposal, and any other information helpful in evaluating the request. The criteria for evaluation include, primarily: 1) alignment with MCCN mission, vision, and purpose, 2) appropriateness of topic, methods, and procedures, and 3) lack of interference with regular College assessment activities.
- Approvals will be returned via email within 3 business day to the applicant with notifications to appropriate College faculty or staff impacted by the research or survey activity.
Transcript Request
A transcript is a copy of the student’s permanent academic record. All requests for official transcripts should be made to Office of Records and Registration (Rm 201, Marian Hall), using the Transcript Request Form . A student’s signature is required to release a transcript. Transcripts are provided at no charge.
Transcripts will be denied to any graduate, current or former student with indebtedness to Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
Transportation, Travel and Liability
Students are responsible for providing their own transportation for all educational activities, including clinical experiences. Students are also responsible for securing personal auto liability insurance.
The College of Nursing is not responsible for liability incurred in travel, either as required by the curriculum or as the result of the student’s participation in College sponsored activities, including cultural immersion trips. All travel is the responsibility of the student. Students are not permitted to transport patients for any reason.
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