Nursing

• 100% employment rate within 3 months of graduation
• 85% employment rate prior to graduation
• Enjoy your learning environment on Jewell’s beautiful campus with state-of-the-art labs and the first internationally endorsed simulation center in Missouri and Kansas.
• Take the lead. Learn critical thinking and leadership skills that give you a competitive edge.
• Grow your skills through comprehensive clinical experiences. Attend clinicals in the best hospitals and care facilities in the nearby Kansas City region.
•  During your senior year, you will take part in predictor exams, a content review program and an NCLEX live review.
• Our designated NCLEX Success Coordinator individually guides students to success. If you are actively engaged in the resources provided and the coordinator’s instructions, you can be 100% successful!

When you graduate, you will be prepared to jump into diverse careers and post-graduate experiences. Jewell nursing alumni work across the globe in a wide variety of health care roles:

• patient care in hospital settings including pediatrics, critical care, organ transplant, oncology, obstetrics, neurology, mental health, intensive care, emergency, cardiology, surgery, trauma, neonatal intensive care and telemetry
• certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) in operating rooms and surgery centers
• continued education including master’s degrees as clinical nurse specialist, nursing education, nurse midwifery, nurse practitioner and doctorate degrees including DNP and Ph.D. programs of nursing
• Army Nurse Corps
• clinic practices in specialties such as epidemiology, obstetrics, infertility, pediatrics and dermatology
• hospice, home health, palliative care
• nurse practitioner in trauma, pediatrics, family, mental health, women’s health
• public and private schools
• case manager
• clinical nurse educator and college professor
• community health organizations and departments
• nonprofits and service agencies
• entrepreneurial ventures including starting businesses such as nurse-run healthcare clinics and specialty nursing uniform shops

Outcomes for Jewell graduates who earn a B.S. in nursing are based on the following six hallmarks:

• Integrity: Exhibit personal integrity as a nurse through honesty, accountability, responsibility, fidelity and professional conduct.
• Compassion: Exhibit compassionate care through therapeutic communication with sensitivity to privacy, confidentiality, equity and diversity.
• Leadership: Exhibit effective leadership skills through incorporating professional identity through appropriate decision making, collaboration, inclusivity, and teamwork.
• Scholarship: Exhibit critical thinking through evidence-based practice, use of informatics and application/evaluation of nursing concepts to improve patient and population outcomes.
• Service to All: Exhibit service above expectation through cultural humility, stewardship of resources to address the individual social determinants of health needs.
• Excellence in Practice: Exhibit safe holistic person-centered nursing care incorporating cultural sensitivity, the nursing process, standards of care and clinical judgment through the William Jewell College Nursing Hallmarks.

Hospitals: Advent Health Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Centerpoint Medical Center, Cameron Regional Medical Center, Cass Regional Medical Center, Children’s Mercy Hospital, KC Veterans Administration, The University of Kansas Medical Center (KU Med and affiliated hospitals in the region), Liberty Hospital, Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph – Medical Center, North Kansas City Hospital, Research Medical Center, Score 1 for Health – Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, St. Luke’s Health System, Truman Medical Center (both Hospital Hill and Lakewood locations).

Home Health: Excelsior Springs Home Health, Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, Liberty Home Health & Hospice, North Kansas City Home Health, Shawnee Mission Home Health, St. Luke’s Home Health, Visiting Nurses Association

Public Schools: Kearney, Liberty

County Health: Ford Motor Company, St. Mary’s Home for Mothers, NKC Wound Care, Cameron Correctional Center Health

Mental Health: St. Luke’s North Hospital, Truman Behavioral Health

The baccalaureate degree in nursing at William Jewell College is accredited by:

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
655 K Street NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
202-887-6791

The Department of Nursing is fully approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

In compliance with the Missouri Nurse Practice Act (Chapter 335 of the Missouri Statutes, section 335.066), nursing program applicants should be aware that the Missouri State Board of Nursing may refuse to issue a license for specific reasons related to moral turpitude, intemperate use of alcohol or drugs, or conviction of a crime.

Admission to and graduation from the nursing major does not ensure eligibility for state licensure. Any candidate for licensure who has been charged or convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony will be required to submit documentation of the court proceedings for that charge or conviction to the State Board of Nursing of the state in which licensure is sought.

The Missouri State Board of Nursing determines who is eligible to take the licensing examination. Graduates eligible to apply to take the licensure examination must have completed high school or the GED equivalent and must have successfully completed the nursing program.

Questions may be directed to the Missouri State Board of Nursing, P.O. Box 656, Jefferson City, MO 65102 (573-751-0080), www.pr.mo.gov/nursing.asp.

Students interested in applying for nursing scholarships should visit the sponsoring websites for more information.

Any students who are awarded external scholarships should communicate with the Business Office or Financial Aid to ensure those funds are sent to the College correctly and applied to the student account.

View the Scholarship List

Effective 9/17; Revised: 5/17, 6/18, 8/21, 7/22, 9/24
Updated: 1/26/26
Contact: Department of Nursing

1. When applicants are admitted to the college and declare nursing as their major they are classified as direct admit or pre-nursing. Students are classified as direct admit by completion of the following criteria:

• • High school diploma or GED with less than 12 credit hours of college-level course work other than AP and/or dual credit obtained while in high school
  • Any college level prerequisite courses must be C or better
  • Meeting William Jewell College admission requirements
  • ACT of 22 or better
  • GPA of 3.0 or higher in high school
  • Declaration of nursing as primary major within first semester attending William Jewell College

2. Direct-admit students will complete an intent to begin form on Etrieve upon admission to the college. Direct-admit students’ start dates to the program may only be deferred once.

3. All students, including direct admits, are considered contingently admitted to the nursing program until all preliminary and secondary requirements of admission are met.

Preliminary requirements are as follows:

• Achieve a 2.8 or higher cumulative GPA by the start of the semester prior to beginning the nursing program. If this 2.8 or higher cumulative GPA is not maintained prior to intended program start date, then the student will no longer be considered as direct admit status.
• Record of successful academic progression with prerequisite grades a B- or better on the first attempt.

1. 1. Chemistry and lab (CHE 113 or 121)
   2. Basic Psychology (PSY 101)
   3. Microbiology and lab (BMS 126)
   4. Human Anatomy and lab (BMS 243)
   5. Human Physiology and lab (BMS 250)
   6. Written Communication (CTI 102 )
   7. Math for the Liberal Arts or Calculus I (CTI 105 or 109)

• Has withdrawn from no more than one (1) prerequisite course. An attempt is defined as enrollment in a class with the following indication on a transcript a) course grade, b) incomplete = I, c) Withdraw = W.
• Any nursing courses, such as Nutrition, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, must have a grade of B- or better.
• Successful completion of College-required Core Curriculum level I coursework:

1. 1. The Responsible Self (CTI 100)
   2. Identity and Society (CTI 150)

• Students at any time not meeting preliminary requirements will be advised to change their major.

Secondary requirements are as follows:

4. Secondary requirements for admission are completed during the semester prior, only after preliminary requirements are met. These secondary requirements are as follows:

• Completion of a criminal background check as stipulated by the guidelines of the Department of Nursing’s policy posted on this page.

1. 1. Background check fee to be paid by the student

• Completion of a random drug screening as stipulated by the guidelines of the Department of Nursing’s policy posted on this page.

1. 1. Assignment of drug screening will be designated randomly by the Department of Nursing
   2. Drug screening fee to be paid by the student

• All students, including direct admits, are considered contingently admitted to the nursing program until all preliminary and secondary requirements of admission are met.

Verification of Preliminary Requirements

1. The Nursing Student Liaison (NSL) will verify the GPA and successful completion of prerequisite coursework for direct entry students at the end of every semester.

• At that time, students will be classified as having met or not met preliminary requirements.
• Any prerequisite courses still in progress at that time will be evaluated at the end of the semester in which they are completed
• The NSL will notify the Department of Nursing Chair and the department’s Admission and Progression Committee (APC) of each individual student’s status on meeting or not meeting all preliminary requirements of admission.
• APC will send written notification to those students not meeting the requirements that they must change their major to pre-nursing. These students will follow the pre-nursing policy.

2. Students beginning the program in the following semester who have met all preliminary admission requirements satisfactorily (with enrolled prerequisite courses still in progress) will be instructed to complete secondary admission requirements upon notification from the Clinical Compliance Coordinator (PCC).

3. Students beginning the program in the following semester who have not met all preliminary admission requirements satisfactorily (excluding prerequisite courses they are currently enrolled in at the time) will no longer have direct admit status and will no longer be considered eligible to begin the nursing program. These students will be advised to change their major.

Effective 9/17; Revised: 5/17, 6/18, 8/21, 7/22, 9/24
Updated: 1/26/26
Contact: Department of Nursing

1. The Pre-nursing (PRENR) track is for students, not eligible for direct entry, to focus their coursework on fulfilling necessary prerequisites and academic progression requirements to be eligible to participate in a competitive admission process to major in Nursing.
2. Students on this track may be test-optional students or transfer students to the College who have yet to participate in the formal nursing admission process.
3. Students admitted conditionally may not declare Pre-nursing track or Nursing as their major.
4. Upon admission to the College, students who elect the Pre-nursing track will complete an Intent to Begin form on Etrieve declaring the semester they intend to begin the program if accepted. Students may only defer their nursing program intended start date one time before becoming ineligible to continue on the Pre-nursing track.
5. Pre-nursing track students are required to participate in a competitive selection process based upon academic and additional requirements. Due to the limited number of seats in the program and competitive selection process, some students who fulfill necessary prerequisites and academic progression requirements may not be selected for the nursing program or declare a major in Nursing.

Preliminary Requirements

• Achieving and maintaining a 2.8 or higher cumulative GPA at the time of consideration and must be maintained through the start of the program
• Record of successful academic progression with prerequisite grades a B- or better on the first attempt.

1. 1. Chemistry and lab (CHE 113 or 121)
   2. Basic Psychology (PSY 101)
   3. Microbiology and lab (BMS 126)
   4. Human Anatomy and lab (BMS 243)
   5. Human Physiology and lab (BMS 250)
   6. Written Communication (CTI 102 )
   7. Math for the Liberal Arts or Calculus I (CTI 105 or 109)

• Applicants may be admitted with one C, or C+ grade in a prerequisite course.
• No grades of C-, D or F will be accepted for admission consideration.
• Students are permitted to repeat one prerequisite course in which a C-, C, C+ or W was earned for the purpose of grade replacement.
• The repeated course must result in a grade of B– or higher to meet admission requirements.
• This grade-replacement option may be exercised only once, and the repeated course must be completed at William Jewell College to qualify for substitution.
• Any nursing courses, such as Nutrition, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, must have a grade of B- or better on first attempt.
• Successful completion of college required Core Curriculum level I coursework

1. 1. The Responsible Self (CTI 100)
   2. Identity and Society (CTI 150)

• Students must complete the Application to Nursing Program form every semester. This form is to be submitted to the Nursing Student Liaison within two weeks of final grades posting.
• Students at any time not meeting academic requirements will be advised to change the Pre-nursing track to a major other than Nursing.

Secondary Requirements

• Submission of a 250-500-word essay answering the following topics: “Why do you want to become a nurse and what is your plan for success through the program?”
• One letter of recommendation (academic or professional) that addresses the candidate’s character and ability to complete an intensive course of study
• An interview with one or more members of the Department of Nursing
• A written summary of any community, volunteer and health-related experiences
• Completion of a nursing school entrance examination, as administered by the Department of Nursing may be required (exam fee to be paid by the student)

Contingent Requirements

Contingent Requirements for admission are completed during the semester prior, only after contingently admitted to the nursing program. These contingent requirements are as follows:

• Completion of a criminal background check as stipulated by the guidelines of the Department of Nursing’s policy. Background check fee to be paid by the student.
• Completion of a random drug screening as stipulated by the guidelines of the Department of Nursing’s policy. Assignment of drug screening will be designated randomly by the Department of Nursing. Drug screening fee to be paid by the student.
• Once approved to start the program, students are considered contingently admitted to the nursing program until all preliminary, secondary and contingent requirements of admission are met.

Verification of Requirements

1. The Nursing Student Liaison will verify students are on track to start the nursing program upon receipt of the Application to Nursing Program form. Form must be submitted within 2 weeks of final grades posting.
2. Any prerequisite courses still in progress at that time will be evaluated at the end of the semester in which they are completed.
3. The NSL will notify the Department of Nursing Chair and advisor of each individual student’s status. Students will be classified as having met or not met academic and additional requirements.Criteria Met: Students beginning the program in the following semester who have met all academic and additional admission requirements satisfactorily (with enrolled prerequisite courses still in progress) and are classified as meeting academic and additional requirements will be approved to begin the nursing program as a contingently admitted student. Students will be instructed to complete contingent admission requirements (see below) upon notification from the Clinical Compliance Coordinator.Criteria Unmet: Students who have not met all academic and additional admission requirements satisfactorily (excluding prerequisite courses they are currently enrolled in at the time) will no longer be considered eligible to begin the nursing program. These students will be advised to change from Pre-nursing track to a major other than Nursing.
4. Students failing to successfully complete any/all requirements on time will be advised to change to a major other than Nursing.

Adapted from Jameson Health System Department of Nursing
Revised 5/17

Nursing students providing direct patient care, under direct faculty supervision, perform essentially the same physical and emotional activities as a professional nurse. In order to meet the objectives of clinical courses, agreements with our clinical agencies, and ensure the safety of both student and patients, a student must be able to meet these physical and mental demands and fit for duty to attend clinical.

The following information is a description of the physical and mental activities required in nursing.  The listing is not all-inclusive, but is meant to provide information related to these major areas in performing safe patient care.

These activities are considered to be in the medium duty category as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor.

• Walking/Standing: Extended periods of walking/standing may occur while in the clinical area.  Stairs must be negotiated. Clinical shifts in each clinical course vary and can be up to 12 hours.
• Sitting: Occurs in the classroom, computer lab, during clinical conferences and when documenting in the patient’s medical record.
• Lifting/Carrying: Average lifting requirement is 50 pounds.  Nursing requires lifting of patients and carrying of medical equipment, charts, supplies, and medications.  In the clinical area and clinical lab experiences, students are required to lift, move, and transfer patients.  Requesting assistance when lifting or positioning patients is expected, however, the exertion can be up to 50 pounds.
• Pushing/Pulling: Required in positioning and moving of patients and medical equipment.  Pushing on a patient’s chest with considerable force is required in performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Able to pull or push a Code Blue cart.
• Stooping/Kneeling/Reaching/Climbing: Considerable twisting, bending, stooping, kneeling, and reaching are required during many aspects of patient care (moving patients, bathing patients, making beds, setting up and monitoring medical equipment). Able to climb on to patient’s bed for CPR.
• Eyesight/Vision: Utilized in assessment of patient’s health status when inspecting and observing for changes in color, physical appearance, and non-verbal behavior.  Able to accurately read medication labels and prepare medications.  Reads written communication and monitors medical equipment findings.
• Depth Perception: Required for the ability to recognize that objects have depth as well as height and width.  Assists in description of wounds, lesions, etc.  Required for fine task performance when using medical supplies for insertion into the body or medication administration by injection.
• Fine Motor Skills: Needs manual dexterity and coordination to write clearly and precisely to perform various nursing procedures and grasp and control medical equipment as necessary.
• Tactile Sensation: The ability to utilize the hands and fingers as a means of “hands-on” during a physical assessment and medication administration.  The individual must be able to feel vibrations, temperature changes, and pulses.
• Temperament: The skills vital in nursing include the ability to adapt to continually changing environment and critical thinking abilities.  Must demonstrate professional behavior at all times, especially while caring for patients.  Must be able to accept constructive criticism and accept own limits.  Must be aware that they will be exposed to communicable diseases and body fluids.  Students will be provided knowledge on how to handle their own protection as well as the protection of others.  Emotional stability is needed to maintain a therapeutic relationship with patients, families, and health team members.  A student nurse may not pose a significant risk to the health and safety of those in the clinical area.

Revised: July 2021

The William Jewell College Department of Nursing is committed to the health, safety and well-being of all students who participate in its programs and represent the college in clinical agencies. Substance abuse is one of the most important issues facing society today. The use of illegal drugs, misuse of legal drugs and dietary supplements, misuse of alcohol and inappropriate use of tobacco products are inconsistent with standards expected of students at William Jewell College. The use of these types of substances can pose risks to the student’s health, negatively affect his or her academic performance, pose risks to the safety of others and diminish clinical performance. It can also compromise the integrity of patient care and the ideals of William Jewell College.

William Jewell College has an institutional drug-testing program consisting of education, testing, rehabilitation, and counseling intended to protect the health and welfare of all students. Amendments to these procedures may be issued with or without notice as deemed appropriate by College personnel. Nothing in these procedures shall be construed to create a contract between students and William Jewell College. However, signed consent and notification forms shall be considered affirmation of the student’s agreement to the terms and conditions contained therein and to this policy and these procedures, and shall be legal contractual obligations of the student.

The Department of Nursing at William Jewell College believes it is our responsibility to do everything possible to protect the health and well-being of our students. It is our desire, therefore to educate our students about the effects (both long and short term) of drugs and over-the-counter dietary supplements on their clinical practice and much more importantly, on their lives. It is our hope that our students will recognize the dangers of drug use, and therefore, practice and live free of all dangerous substances.

Purpose

The central purpose of the program is to protect students from the detrimental effects of drug use/abuse and meet clinical compliance requirements set forth by the Department of Nursing’s clinical partners. The drug testing program should discourage the use of drugs and illegal substances, and appropriate intervention will take place should drugs or illegal substances be detected during a random drug test. Other specific goals of the comprehensive testing program are as follows:

• Education – to provide educational guidance to students to ensure awareness of the physical, mental, and legal consequences of illegal drug use.
• Prevention – to discourage students from drug experimentation and possible drug abuse and dependency by imposing significant sanctions on offenders.
• Detection of abuse – to detect students who may be involved in substance use or  abuse through random testing methods.
• Treatment and Rehabilitation – to assist those students for whom a possible drug problem exists in obtaining rehabilitation through drug counseling programs available through referral for counseling services.
• Promote health and safety of student nursing clinical practice – to provide reasonable safeguards assuring that every student is able to participate in nursing practice unimpaired by illegal or banned drugs.
• Meet clinical compliance requirements – to assure clinical agencies that student nurses have been screened for substances which could negatively impact patient safety in accordance with the requirements of the Joint Commission.

Consent to Participate

As a condition of participation in the nursing program at William Jewell College, each student will be required to sign a consent form agreeing to undergo drug testing and authorizing release of test results in accordance with this policy. A student will not be permitted to participate in clinical activities until completed. Failure or refusal to sign this consent or comply with the requirements of this policy may result in ineligibility to participate in clinicals, and therefore, may result in dismissal from the nursing program at William Jewell College. Students will be given the opportunity to ask any questions regarding the information contained in the policy, the testing program, or other related issues prior to signing the drug-testing consent form. See Appendix A section below.

Participants

All William Jewell College students admitted to the nursing program and who have signed the institutional consent form shall be subject to drug testing under the terms of this policy. All admitted nursing students shall be subject to the terms of this policy throughout the calendar year.

Clinical Agencies

William Jewell College students are subject to drug screening policies and procedures of the clinical agency in which they are assigned. Clinical agencies have the right to deny students clinical placement in their facilities.

Drugs/Substances Screened

In accordance with the Joint Commission’s requirement, the William Jewell College drug screening process at a minimum will include screening for amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, opiates, marijuana, codeine and cocaine. Reasonable suspicion and reportable accident testing may include amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, carisoprodol, opiates, fentanyl analogues, methadone, meperidine, marijuana and cocaine. William Jewell College explicitly reserves the right to test for substances not listed above and to test at varied detection levels.

Ignorance of the legality of a substance is no excuse for a positive test.

Alcohol Policy

The William Jewell College Department of Nursing will defer to the Alcohol Policy in the William Jewell College student handbook. Violations of this policy will be handled as outlined in this handbook.

Types of Drug Testing

• Entrance to Nursing Program
  Testing will be required for all students admitted to the nursing program in accordance with Jewell’s agreements with clinical agencies. If a student tests positive, he or she will not be admitted to the program. A student with a positive drug test may reapply after one year. Additional testing may occur if deemed appropriate by the Department of Nursing Chair.
• Requirement for Clinical Placement
  Testing may be required of any nursing student as part of clinical placement requirements stipulated by the Department of Nursing’s clinical partners.
• Reasonable Suspicion
  Any nursing student participating in clinical practice is subject to drug testing upon request if there is reasonable cause to believe that the student may be using illegal drugs, misusing legal drugs and dietary supplements or misusing alcohol or tobacco products. Circumstances which constitute reasonable cause, include but are not limited to, the following: current or  past involvement with the criminal justice system for drug related activities, notification from the Department of Student Life of any report that includes the presence of drugs and/or drug paraphernalia, prior treatment for drug problems, admission of a current drug problem, prior positive drug test, physiological signs of possible impairment from drugs or a pattern of abnormal behavior.The possession and/or use of illegal substances may be determined by means other than urinalysis. When an individual is found to be in possession and/or using such substances, he/she will be subject to the same procedures that would be followed in the case of a positive urinalysis. See Appendix B for the Reasonable Suspicion Form.
• Re-entry Testing
  Any student testing positive for an illegal substance will be subject to testing prior to release from administrative sanctions. An increase in drug metabolite from the most recent test indicates usage and therefore a subsequent offense.
• Follow-up Testing
  Any student testing positive for an illegal substance may be subject to repeated follow-up testing. A test result of negative dilute shall necessitate retesting. Retesting may be at the student’s expense.

Notification Process

Usually, but not always, students will be notified of an impending drug test no more than 24 hours prior to the test session. However, under this policy, no notice testing is permissible. The Nursing Department Clinical Compliance Coordinator or his/her designee will notify the student, in person or by direct telephone communication of the date and time to report to the lab for sample collection. Voice messages and emails are not acceptable forms of notification.

Faculty or clinical instructors may initiate reasonable cause testing for reasonable suspicion during any clinical experience. In the case of reasonable suspicion, a Reasonable Suspicion Report Form (appendix B) must be completed and submitted by the faculty to the Department Chair. Notification for drug testing will be made to the student once the faculty person has notified and gained approval for drug testing from the Nursing Department Chair or his/her designee. The student will read and sign the Nursing Student Notification form acknowledging that he/she has been notified of the drug test and verifying the date and time of the test. (Appendix C) Drug testing for reasonable suspicion may include blood as well as urine. The student also acknowledges that failure or refusal to appear, or tampering with the urine sample will constitute a positive test result and will be subject to disciplinary action. Additionally, tardiness will not be tolerated and failure to appear within the designated testing window will be considered a missed test.

Test Site

Drug testing will commonly be conducted at an approved lab contracted by the Nursing Department. After registering online with the Department of Nursing’s contracted drug screening partner, students will report to the lab within the testing window outlined on the Nursing Student Notification form. A government-issued photo ID should be brought with the student to the drug testing site. The student is identified and begins the actual testing process.

Student Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality and protection of the rights of the student is a critical factor in drug-testing. Every effort will be made to protect the confidentiality of students under this policy, including those who test positive, undergo reasonable suspicion testing or enter treatment programs. Only persons with a “need to know” will be informed of the drug testing results. Under no circumstances will any William Jewell College personnel or anyone else associated with the drug testing program be permitted to discuss publicly any information acquired in their capacity. All infractions will be referred to as “violation of compliance policy” in communication with any persons not directly affected by the infraction. 

College Personnel

The Nursing Department Clinical Compliance Coordinator or his/her designee will serve as the site coordinator and liaison between the Nursing Dept. Chair, drug screening contractor and the laboratory conducting the tests. The Department of Nursing Chair will be involved in all cases of positive tests. 

Medical Exception Process

William Jewell College recognizes that some banned substances are used for legitimate medical purposes. Documentation from the student’s prescribing physician will be requested by the Medical Review Officer of the drug screening vendor if a positive test occurs. The Medical Review Officer will confirm medical need and render the test negative, as appropriate.

Drug Testing Procedure

The drug testing collection process will be administered by the contracted drug screening vendor and its lab partners.

Results Notification

The Nursing Department Clinical Compliance Coordinator will receive results (positive or negative). All results will be handled using strict confidentiality. The Nursing Department Chair will be notified in the case of a positive or dilute test.

Sanctions for Positive Test Results

Among the sanctions that may result from positive institutional drug tests are:

• Loss of clinical participation privileges
• Clinical course failure
• One-year suspension from the nursing program
• Permanent dismissal from the nursing program
• Financial responsibility for retesting and/or clinical make-up costs

Positive drug test results are cumulative for the student’s nursing career at William Jewell College. Not meeting any or all of the sanction requirements will be considered another violation of this policy and the subsequent sanction shall apply. Additionally, failure to sign the consent to test form, failure to appear for requested testing or any attempt to manipulate test results will be considered a positive test and appropriate sanctions will apply.

First Violation

• The Nursing Clinical Compliance Coordinator will schedule a confidential meeting with the student, Nursing Clinical Compliance Coordinator and Department of Nursing Chair to inform them of the positive test result.
• The student will be immediately suspended from participation in any clinical rotation. Due to clinical agency policies, the student will be unable to participate in any nursing courses for one year. See re-entry information below.
• The student will be required to attend two counseling sessions with the college’s counselor for the purposes of evaluation, education, and if necessary, treatment, counseling or referral. The counselor will determine if additional sessions are warranted based on his/her initial evaluation of the student. He/she will determine when the student has satisfactorily met counseling requirements and thereby released from required counseling sessions.
• The student will be required to attend one educational session with a staff member from the Department of Student Life. Student Life staff will determine if additional sessions are warranted based on his/her initial evaluation of the student.
• One year from the initial positive drug test date, a student may be eligible for re-entry testing. Re-entry testing with a negative result will be required before a student can be released for return to participation in clinical.  Cost of retesting will be the student’s responsibility.

Second Violation

• The Nursing Compliance Coordinator will schedule a confidential meeting with the student, the Compliance Coordinator and Nursing Department Chair to inform them of the positive test result.
• The student may no longer be eligible to participate in clinical rotations resulting in failure of the student’s clinical course. In addition, the student may be permanently dismissed from the nursing program at William Jewell College. The student may not be permitted to reapply to the program.

Referrals to the Counseling Department

When counseling services for the purpose of assessment and/or treatment are required, the referring party will make known to the counseling provider a time frame when the assessment or treatment will be needed by the Nursing Department. This will allow the Counseling Department to schedule interviews in a timely manner. The student will be required to sign a release of information to allow communication between the counselor and the nursing department. Failure by the student to meaningfully participate in the evaluation/counseling process as defined by the counselor will be considered as a second offense.

Appeals Process

Students who test positive for a banned substance may contest the finding within 48 hours following receipt of notice. A written request for appeal must be submitted to the Nursing Department Chair within the 48 hour time frame. The Nursing Department Chair or his/her designee will request the laboratory to perform confirmation testing on the student’s specimen. The second test findings will be final. If the second test results are negative, the drug test will be considered negative. If the second test findings are positive, the student will be responsible for any costs incurred with analysis.

Appendix A

William Jewell College Department of Nursing Drug Testing Consent
You must sign this form to participate in the nursing program at William Jewell College, per the requirements set forth by the department’s drug-testing policy. If you have any questions, you should discuss them with the Department of Nursing Clinical Compliance Coordinator or the Nursing Department Chair. This consent form must be signed at the start of each academic year.

By signing this form, you affirm that you are aware of the William Jewell College drug-testing program, which provides:

• A student who tests positive shall be subjected to the sanctions set forth by the departmental drug-testing policy.
• A student who tests positive has an opportunity to appeal the positive drug test.
• The penalty for missing a scheduled drug-test is the same as the penalty for testing positive for the use of a banned substance.
• Students incur the costs of drug screening. Students may petition the costs to be waived for costs associated with reasonable suspicion testing.

Download PDF version of Drug Test Consent form to sign.

Effective Fall 2017; Revised 5/17; 6/18; 7/20; 7/21

Rationale

• Clinical Compliance Coordinator (CCC) must check each clinical compliance item prior to a student going to a clinical agency.
• Clinical compliance verification is due to clinical agencies three (3) weeks prior to the start of clinical.
• When a student does not meet the compliance due date, the clinical agency will not allow him/her to attend.
• Students not attending clinical will not meet the objectives of clinical courses.

Procedure

1. New students will receive clinical compliance requirements immediately following the registration meeting.

2. All compliance must be submitted and verified by noon on the last business day prior to:

• March 1 for January start
• May 1 for May Accelerated Track start
• October 1 for August start

There may be additional site-specific compliance requirements prior to clinical orientations. These will be requested from the student, and a deadline will be given. If students have missing or incomplete site-specific compliance items after the due date, students will be notified by the CCC through email and phone. Students will be given an additional 48 hours after notification by the CCC to comply. If site-specific compliance is not completed within the 48 hours, the student will be considered non-compliant, and the Chair will be notified.

3. If a student is non-compliant, the student, Course and Clinical Coordinator, and the advisors will be informed by the Chair of the Nursing Department via email:

• For any incomplete and/or late compliance item(s) the student will have five percentage (5%) points deducted from the final course grade in each clinical course the student is enrolled in.
• The student will meet with the Chair about the non-compliance. The Chair will initiate the Performance Feedback Form (PFF) process with the student and discuss the process to comply.
• For incomplete compliance items and/or late compliance items the student will be held accountable for the policies of the course, be at risk for not being permitted to attend clinical orientation and/or attend clinical, failing clinical and/or failing the course.
• Late and/or noncompliance resulting in course final grade deductions may result in failing the clinical course or clinical courses student is currently enrolled.
• Students not attending clinical orientation may not attend clinical and must drop the course
• The student may not return to class, clinical or attend clinical orientation for the related course(s) until the compliance documentation is verified by the CCC.
• If a second occurrence of noncompliance occurs in a semester, the Chair and student will complete a PFF.

4. Upon verification that compliance is complete, the Chair will inform the student, faculty and advisors via email.