Professional Conduct

By arriving to the clinical or lab setting and proceeding to provide patient care, students are acknowledging that they can demonstrate fitness to practice - ELC 2.10 (CRNS, 2019, p. 8).

• 2.10 Demonstrates fitness to practice.
  Fitness to practice are "all the qualities and capabilities of an individual relevant to their practice as a nurse, including but not limited to the freedom from any cognitive, physical, psychological or emotional condition and dependence from alcohol or drugs that impairs their ability to practice nursing" (CNA, 2017b, p.22).

If students do not have the necessary physical, mental or emotional capacity to practice safely and competently, they must withdraw from the provision of care after consulting with their instructor or preceptor.

If an instructor is in the clinical practice area with you, you should report to him/her when you arrive. You should also report to the appropriate staff before beginning your assignment, and continue to collaborate with both the instructor and appropriate staff during your experience.

If you are in an institutional setting, you must report to the appropriate RN/RPN regarding your assigned clients before you leave the clinical area for any reason (e.g., coffee, end of experience, going out of the area with a client). In community settings, the instructor (if on site) or appropriate staff must be advised of your whereabouts.

In your role as a student, you may NOT act as a witness for legal documents such as wills, surgical consents or release of hospital responsibility.

Agency Manuals and Policies

Most agencies have manuals dealing with policies and procedures specific to that particular agency. You should familiarize yourself with the manuals in the area of your clinical experience, and follow policies and procedures of the agency in which you are having experience. If in doubt, refer to your instructor.