Readiness to Return to Clinical Policy

Lakehead University Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

In the context of professional education students are responsible for maintaining competencies required for safe clinical practice. The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) requires the maintenance of nursing competence. According to the CNO practice guideline, Supervising Learners (2009) “In any practice setting, the primary responsibility of the nurse is to the client(s)” (p. 3). The student is also advised to be aware of the following School of Nursing Academic Regulations: (a) Unsafe Practice and (b) Year Progression and Program Sequencing.

Any student, who has experienced a disruption in the normal sequencing of clinical courses or has not completed clinical courses for one term or more, must demonstrate their ability to meet the nursing competencies necessary to enter the next clinical course. The student will be required to contact the Undergraduate Coordinator in the spring to initiate discussion regarding the student’s readiness to return to clinical studies.

The Undergraduate Coordinator, in consultation with the most appropriate clinical course lead(s) or clinical instructor(s), will create a plan for assessing the student’s competencies. The plan for the assessment of clinical competencies may include, but is not limited to, the use of:

  1. Simulated clinical experiences
  2. Pharmacology and calculation tests
  3. The assessment of nursing clinical skills and holistic health assessment
  4. Written or oral examinations to demonstrate knowledge
  5. Other strategies resulting from the consultation

Following the implementation of the plan an evaluation will be completed and discussed with the student. The completed evaluation will be submitted to the Undergraduate Coordinator. Satisfactory performance will enable the student to progress in the program. A student that does not demonstrate competence will be required to repeat nursing courses or may be counselled to consider withdrawal from the program as deemed necessary.

The student is responsible for bearing any and all costs associated with the evaluation of their competence.

Draft: April 3, 2012
Policy Created: June 2010
Approved: January 2011, June 2011
Revised: June 2011, April 3, 2012