Dismissal from Health Programs

Students may be dismissed from any of the programs listed below or any other health-related degree, certificate or diploma program at PHSC as authorized by District Board of Trustees Rule, 6Hx19-6.15 "Student Suspension and/or Dismissal – Health Programs" and by procedures described in Internal Management Memorandum #6-16, "Procedures for Student Suspension and/or Dismissal from Health Programs " listed below. These programs include Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Technician, Health Information Technology, Health Unit Coordinator, Human Services, Medical Administrative Specialist, Nursing Assistant, Paramedic, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy, Radiography, Registered Nursing, Surgical Technology or any other College-related health program for any of the behavior described in Part A of this section. The College shall follow the procedures set forth in Part B of this section. Students shall have the right to proceed as described in Part C of this section.

Part A: Prohibited Behavior

The following behavior shall be prohibited at or on any campus of the College, at any clinical or internship site, and at any College-sponsored or College-affiliated activity or event.

  1. A student shall not engage in any offense described in the "Code of Conduct" as established pursuant to District Board of Trustees Rule, 6Hx19-6.13, "Code of Student Conduct and Student Disciplinary Policy," and described in the Catalog and Student Handbook .
  2. A student shall not endanger a patient's or client's life by:
    1. Violating standard safety practices in the care of patients
    2. Delaying care that is within the student's realm of ability and/or knowledge
    3. Performing skills or procedures beyond the realm of the student's ability and/or knowledge
  3. A student shall not enter any restricted or unauthorized area of a clinical site
  4. A student shall not violate the confidentiality of a patient/client
  5. A student shall not display aggressive behavior directed at any College staff member, hospital staff member, medical director, physician, patient/client or student. Such behavior is defined as a forceful, self-assertive action or attitude that is expressed physically, verbally or symbolically and is manifested by abusive or destructive acts toward oneself, others or property.
  6. A student shall not engage in dishonest behavior defined as untruthful, untrustworthy or unreliable communications or actions, relating to clinical activities or to patient/client care.
  7. Refusing to follow an order from any physician, hospital staff member, licensed practitioner or College instructor, unless the student reasonably believes the order would endanger the patient. In such an event, the student shall consult with the instructor immediately.

All of the offenses set forth in items two through seven above shall constitute Level III offenses as established by the College pursuant to District Board of Trustees Rule, 6Hx19-6.13 and described in the "Code of Conduct and Student Disciplinary" section of this Catalog and Student Handbook . Any offense set forth in item 1 above, and as established by the College pursuant to District Board of Trustees Rule 6Hx19-6.13 and the Catalog and Student Handbook shall constitute a Level III offense if it occurs at a clinical site or in connection with the performance of clinical activities.

Part B: Procedure for Suspension and/or Dismissal from Health Programs

  1. In the event that a College faculty member receives a report or personally observes that a student has committed an act described in Part A of this rule, the faculty member may take any of the following actions:
    1. The faculty member may notify the student of the report or the observation and warn the student of the possibility of dismissal from the program if the behavior should recur; in such event, the instructor shall immediately notify the program coordinator or the associate dean of nursing, of the behavior and the warning given
    2. If the faculty member believes the student may be unsafe to continue performing clinical activities, then the faculty member may suspend the student immediately from any further participation in clinical activities for the remainder of the day and for the following day, if necessary. The faculty member shall notify the coordinator of the health program/associate dean of nursing or the dean of health occupations in the absence of the program coordinator or associate dean of nursing, immediately. Upon receiving notice of the suspension, the coordinator of the health program shall notify the associate dean of nursing/dean of health occupations immediately. The student shall be notified, in writing, of the remedial measures/lessons required for return to the clinical activity. The coordinator of the health program shall proceed according to paragraph B.2 below.
    3. The faculty member may recommend formally to the coordinator of the health program or the associate dean of nursing that the student be suspended temporarily from participation in clinical activities pending remediation in the clinical laboratory of the skill or skills determined to be unsafe. The program coordinator or associate dean of nursing will proceed in accordance with Part B.2 below.
  2. Upon receiving a formal recommendation from a faculty member that a student be temporarily suspended from participation in clinical activities pending remediation in the clinical laboratory of the skill or skills determined to be unsafe, the coordinator of the health program or the associate dean of nursing shall review the circumstances of the reported behavior with the faculty member and student and may review the circumstances with anyone else who may have information about the incident and shall render a decision either to approve or deny the suspension. If practicable, the decision should be rendered three days following the date of the recommendation. If the coordinator of the health program or the associate dean of nursing approves the suspension, then the faculty member and the student shall receive written notice of the suspension along with specific information concerning the skill or skills to be remediated in the clinical laboratory. Pending review by the program coordinator or associate dean of nursing, the student may attend laboratory and classes.
  3. Upon receiving a formal recommendation from a faculty member that a student be terminated from further participation in clinical activities, the coordinator of the health program, associate dean of nursing,  and the dean of health occupations shall review the circumstances of the reported behavior with the faculty member and student. They may also review the circumstances with anyone else who might have information about the incident and shall render a decision either to forward the recommendation to the appropriate associate dean of student affairs for appointment of a Disciplinary Board pursuant to rules established by the College pursuant to District Board of Trustees Rule, 6Hx19-6.13, or to deny the recommendation, or to impose temporary suspension and require remediation in lieu of termination. If the coordinator of the health program, associate dean of nursing, and the dean of health occupations decide to forward the recommendation for formal disciplinary action, then the student shall be suspended temporarily from participation in clinical activities pending final action pursuant to procedures established by the College pursuant to District Board of Trustees Rule, 6Hx19-6.13.

Part C: Students' Rights

Any student subject to action under District Board of Trustees Rule, 6Hx19-6.13 Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Policy, shall have the right to proceed in accordance with procedures established pursuant to that rule in addition to any other remedies that may be available to the student as set forth in the Catalog and Student Handbook.