Clinical Evaluation

Student assessment is the responsibility of the Clinical Supervisor/assigned faculty and Program Coordinator.

Clinical Supervisors provide focused biweekly written feedback to each student and complete Midterm and Final clinical performance reviews.

It is the responsibility of the Clinical Supervisor to inform the Program Coordinator of student issues so that the necessary steps can be put in place to promote student success.

Student professionalism expectations extend beyond the clinical setting and include:

• communication (via any means)

• behaviour with peers, members of the Seneca community and clinical partners

• performance, attendance and professional behaviours during on-campus activities (eg: simulation lab experiences)

Memo of Concern

A memo of concern may be issued if a behaviour has been identified that places a student at risk of receiving an unsatisfactory grade in the clinical course. The behaviours that may result in a Memo of Concern may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Inability to correlate theoretical knowledge to clinical practice

• Inability to provide rationale for patient care

• Inaccurate or incomplete documentation

• Inability to organize and provide care in a reasonable time frame

• Failure to report assessment/intervention data to clinical supervisor/staff nurse

• Unaware of own limitations

• Inability to accept responsibility for own actions

• Language comprehension that may jeopardize patient care

• Ineffective communication with patient/staff or clinical supervisor

• Lacks professionalism and understanding of what is appropriate workplace behaviour

• Absenteeism/lateness

Memo of Concern Process

When a memo of concern is issued, the student will develop a Collaborative Success Plan with the assistance of the clinical supervisor, clinical student advisor and/or program coordinator as required. A copy of the ‘Memo of Concern’ and ‘Collaborative Success Plan will be forwarded to the program coordinator.

Unsafe/Unprofessional Clinical Practice

Students must meet both the requisite skills and abilities and the code of conduct as outlined by the College of Nurses of Ontario. This document will guide the determination of unsafe or unprofessional practices. See the College of Nurses of Ontario for further details at www.cno.org

If a student demonstrates unsafe/unprofessional behaviour, the student will be removed immediately from the clinical setting when this unsafe/unprofessional behaviour causes a potential or actual threat to the physical or emotional well-being of a client, colleague or healthcare team member. Occurrences may be reported to the CNO professional practice committee pre-registration and may impact future registration.

Unsafe/Unprofessional Clinical Practice Process

• The clinical supervisor will identify and discuss potentially unsafe/unprofessional practice/s with the student.

• The clinical supervisor will remove the student from the clinical setting. The student will remain out of the clinical setting until the completion of the unsafe/unprofessional hearing, including the hearing decision.

• The clinical supervisor will notify the clinical coordinator on the date the student is identified as potentially unsafe/unprofessional. Discuss with the clinical coordinator the behaviour (s) of concern. Prepare specific and relevant documentation/evidence to support the identified unsafe/unprofessional practice.

• The clinical supervisor will provide the clinical coordinator with a copy of the documentation/unsafe/unprofessional report.

• The clinical coordinator will meet with the student and provide the student with a copy of the report and provide support.

• The clinical coordinator will provide a copy of the report to the Academic Chair.

• An ad hoc committee will be appointed by the Program Chair and will include (a) the Clinical Coordinator (Resource Member), (b) the clinical supervisor (Resource Member), and (c) three voting Members not associated with the student’s clinical performance. At least one voting member of the committee will be from an outside discipline.

• All students are entitled to attend their unsafe/unprofessional hearing. The program chair will inform the student of the date and time of the hearing.

• The student will be notified of the committee’s decision within 48 hours of the hearing.

Possible Outcomes of an Unsafe/Unprofessional Hearing

• Return to the clinical setting within parameters of a signed performance contract as outlined by the review committee.

• Removal of the student from the clinical placement for the duration of the semester. The student will receive a grade of Unsatisfactory grade and be placed on academic probation.

• The student may be required to attend counselling, complete specific remediation and demonstrate behaviours that address the issues identified before they will be permitted to repeat the course.

• If the student has a previous grade of Unsatisfactory in any clinical course and is found to have demonstrated unsafe/unprofessional clinical practice in the current clinical course, the student may be withdrawn from the program.

• Pursuant to academic policy section 13.2, the student may be withdrawn from the program. The basis for mandatory withdrawal may be student behaviour, absenteeism, and/or performance issues where one or all of these concerns are detrimental to the learning process, disruptive to the aims and objectives of the College, or an actual threat to the client’s physical or emotional well-being. Withdrawal may also result if the behaviour(s) constitute professional misconduct or in violation of the College of Nurses of Ontario code of conduct.

• In the event a student self withdraws from the clinical course and/or program, the unsafe/unprofessional hearing will proceed. Students may not be eligible for readmission to the program if a determination of unsafe/unprofessional clinical practice is made.