Attendance Requirements - Nursing
Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and clinicals (including simulation lab, skills lab, virtual and onsite classes). Attendance is a critical component, of academic success and may be considered in grading, progression, and program completion.
Students are considered tardy when they arrive 1-14 minutes after the scheduled start time of the class. A tardy arrival is subject to faculty review.
- Accruing 3 tardy arrivals of 1-14 minutes, will equal one unexcused absence.
Students who arrive 15 minutes or more after the scheduled start time of the class CANNOT stay for the remaining class period, must leave the class and an unexcused absence will be recorded.
Students who choose to leave before the class officially ends; didactic, clinical, or lab session, without prior approval, will receive an unexcused absence for that class period and must take full responsibility for any missed instruction, discussions, or hands-on practice.
Students with excessive excused absences may result in an inability to satisfactorily complete the course. In this case, students may be advised to withdraw from a course or take a leave of absence.
Students are allowed:
- Three excused absences in a didactic/lecture class (that meets once a week) per semester.
- Five excused absences in a didactic/lecture class (that meets twice a week) per semester.
- Two unexcused absences in a didactic/lecture class (that meets once a week) per semester.
- Three unexcused absences in a didactic/lecture class (that meets twice a week) per semester.
- Zero unexcused absences in a clinical class per semester (including simulation lab, skills lab, or onsite).
IMPORTANT: The following will result in being sent home from class and/or exams and will result in a ZERO for the day:
- Accruing 3 tardy arrivals of 1-14 minutes, which equals an unexcused absence.
- Unprofessional, inappropriate behavior or a violation of the Code of Conduct
How Leaving Early May Impact Your Progression:
- Instructors will communicate course-specific attendance expectations in their course syllabi when classes start.
- Students are required to communicate with the instructor regarding emergencies or unavoidable conflicts.
- Missed instruction, or hands-on practice can result in gaps in understanding essential nursing concepts.
- While leaving early will not automatically result in an absence, it may negatively impact learning, skill development and the student's final grade in the class.
- Unannounced quizzes at the end of class: Missed quizzes due to leaving class early will result in a zero and cannot be made up which may impact overall successful completion of the course.
- In clinical and lab settings, early departure may mean missing critical patient care experiences or skill demonstrations, which are necessary for competency.
State and accreditation requirements mandate a minimum number of instructional and clinical hours, and repeated early departures could jeopardize program completion.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding attendance expectations, please reach out to your instructor for further clarification.