Progress, Promotion, and Graduation Policies

The following sections relate to your progress as you matriculate through your program of study. Policies that may affect your progress, promotion and graduation are included.

Progression from Pre-Nursing Status to Acceptance in Professional Nursing Curriculum
Pre-nursing students may apply for admission to the Professional Nursing Curriculum at the sophomore level contingent upon maintenance of:

• minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or greater
• a "C" in all required pre-nursing courses
• documentation of C.N.A. certification

Admission is competitive.

Failing Grade in a Nursing (NUR) course
A student must repeat any Nursing (NUR) course in which they do not receive a “C” before progressing to the next semester. NOTE: Repeating a nursing course is permitted on a space available basis only. Priority enrollment in nursing courses is given to students who are on track.

Repeat Option
Students may use repeat options to replace grades - up to three different courses repeated one time.  The attached form should be completed and returned to Student Services by the beginning of the last week of classes any semester, in order to apply the repeat option to that semester.

Cheating and Plagiarism
The University Senate has established the minimum penalty for cheating and plagiarism as the assignment of a grade of "E" in the course (see Student Rights and Responsibilities).

Achievement Examinations
You will be required to complete standardized achievement examinations at the end of major clinical courses, and at the end of the program, to facilitate the evaluation of program effectiveness and to help you diagnose your level of preparation for NCLEX.

Part-Time Study
As a degree candidate, if you do not complete all requirements within a seven year period (five years for R.N.s) after admission to the College, your records will be re-evaluated and you may be required to repeat or take selected courses (see UK Bulletin). If you need to pursue part-time study, ask your advisor to plan an individualized program of study to meet your degree requirements.

Bulletin Boards
Policy changes are posted on the small bulletin board by the door in the mailbox room outside Student Services. You are responsible for noting changes posted as you will not be informed in any other way. Policy changes may affect your progress. Many items of interest to students are posted on the College's bulletin boards. Articles about employment opportunities, applications and information on financial aid, and notices from faculty are also posted. You will find additional information such as general college announcements, scholarship notices, and special events on the bulletin wall in the Office of Student Services.

Behavioral Standards
As a student you are expected to read and adhere to the Behavioral Standards in Patient Care and the Health Sciences Student Professional Behavior Code for the University of Kentucky Medical Center, as well as other such documents and policies in agencies where clinical experiences are obtained. Violations of the standards and behavioral code may affect your ability to progress through the program.

Med-Math Competency Policy
Accurate dosage calculation is a major function of professional nursing practice and essential for safe nursing care. The med-math competency policy is one measure of assuring that nursing students and graduates of the University of Kentucky are competent in this area.

Each student must demonstrate competency at 100% mastery on the med-math exam in each clinical course in which enrolled. The date and time for completion of med-math mastery exam is established by the course faculty and published in the syllabus. Failure to demonstrate 100% mastery by the designated date will result in failure in the course.

Beginning with NUR 861 (the first semester sophomore course), each clinical course syllabus will outline the med-math policy and the expectations for demonstrating competency with a specific timeframe to complete requirement. Every clinical course will administer a med-math test.

Students may use whatever method of calculation they desire to arrive at the correct answers. Students may use non-programmable calculators purchased in Student Services.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
College of Nursing policy requires that you obtain cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.

Current certification in CPR is a program requirement that is a prerequisite to junior and senior level courses.

You must complete the CPR requirement prior to beginning clinical experiences in the first semester of your sophomore year. You will be required to submit documentary evidence of certification in CPR certificate granting program that follows the American Heart Association curriculum, to the Office of Student Services.

There are some people who, for good cause, such as a physical handicap, cannot be certified in CPR. Exceptions to this requirement, therefore, may be made by the assistant dean for the undergraduate program in consultation with the appropriate faculty committee.

You are responsible for your re-certification on an annual basis. Each year you must present your CPR certification card to Student Services so that they can make a copy for your student file. 

You may not engage in patient care activities without a current certificate.

I. Challenge Policy and Procedures (Approved Spring 1994)

• The student must be enrolled in the College of Nursing and in good academic standing before submitting an application to challenge a nursing course.
• The student who is interested in challenging an undergraduate course must request challenge information from the Student Services Office. Student Services will provide the student with

-One copy of the general challenge information and
-One copy of challenge criteria and procedures for the specific course the student is considering challenging.

• If the student decides to begin the challenge process the following steps will be taken:
  • The student must obtain a Request for Special Exam form from the Registrar's Office. This form is to be completed, signed by the student, the challenge administration faculty, and the assistant dean.
  • The assistant dean is responsible for placing a copy of the request in the student's file and sending the original copy to the registrar. Once this has been completed, the challenge can be administered.
  • Refer student to individual course challenge criteria for specific deadlines for initiating the challenge process.
  • The Registrar's Office will send the challenge administering faculty a Grade Assignment form. If the challenge process is completed, the faculty will place a photocopy of the Grade Assignment in the student's file and will send the original to the Registrar's Office.

II. The Challenge Process

• Once the student has read the general and course specific challenge criteria and procedures, and the process listed in I B has been completed, the student will contact the designated challenge faculty member for the course.
• The designated challenge faculty member will make the necessary arrangements for student challenge and will notify the primary faculty and assistant dean.
• All challenges will be completed by the last drop/add day of fall semester.

UK Healthcare | College of Nursing | Search Our Site | Contact Us