Grading Standards

THEORY GRADE REQUIREMENTS
Grading Scale: A satisfactory or pass grade will be given to any student who successfully performs all clinical skills and achieves an average of 80% or higher on classwork. The assessment in the classroom is based on individual presentations, tests, exams, and lab skills demonstrations. Students are to take all exams on the scheduled date and time. A minimum of 80% on all exams is required to pass the course. If a student does not take the exam on the day and time that were scheduled by the BNA Instructor, the student must make arrangements with the BNA instructor to take a Make-up exam. You are responsible for 64 hours of theory, lab skills, and 40 hours of clinical practice.

SKILL LAB COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT

Skills demonstration and practice are integrated in the program. Students are taught the 21 required skills by IDPH with other skills necessary to provide basic healthcare services.

There is time allotted for skills practice. Students need to demonstrate competency of skills learned in the classroom.

Lab evaluation is graded as satisfactory, unsatisfactory or needs practice. Students are expected to be able to demonstrate satisfactorily on campus the 21 skills before he or she will be allowed to perform these skills in the clinical setting.

Skills validation is done before the students go to clinical and at the end of the program. Every student who has not been able to demonstrate successfully on the first attempt will be given a Remediation slip and will be asked to remediate before a retest maybe given. There are two additional chances to demonstrate competency. Students who fail to demonstrate competency on the third attempt may be required additional learning activities or maybe precluded from the program.

SKILLS LAB USE
To ensure safety, the following rules must be observed by all students:

1. Use of Skills Lab:
   All students must be under the direct supervision of a qualified Covenant Healthcare Institute, Inc. instructor.
2. Personal Belongings
   Coat and student belongings are not to be placed on top of the beds or in the sink area. Coats are to be kept with the student or hung on the coat racks on the wall of the lab. Other student belongings are to be kept with the student or left at the student’s desk/table area.
3. Smoking is not allowed inside the building.
4. Desk/Table Area:
   All desks, tables and chairs must be returned to the original location after use.
5. Spills or Wet Areas:
   All spills or noted wet areas should be wiped up as soon as possible to prevent slippery surfaces. Please notify the management if you notice spills on the floor to avoid injuries.
6. Razors:

   All simulated practice razors are to be covered with the appropriate cover. Razors are to be discarded in the designated red sharps containers and not in other lab trash containers.

   If you are cut with a razor or your skin comes in contact with contaminated material, notify your supervising instructor immediately and they will be able to assist you with treatment.

7. Waste Materials:
   Discard all waste materials in the appropriate designated trash containers. Check under lab beds and other floor areas for possible waste and discard appropriately before leaving the lab area.
8. Linens:
   Return all un-used linens to the linen cabinet. Place all used/soiled linens in the appropriate laundry bags. Do not re-use linens that have been previously discarded in the laundry bags.
9. Lab Equipment:
   Return all equipment to the appropriate designated storage location. Notify lab supervisors of any malfunctioning equipment as soon as problems are noted. Check all electrical cords for fraying or loose plugs before inserting into sockets.
10. Student Valuables:
    Covenant Healthcare Institute, Inc. and staff members are not responsible for purses or other valuables left in the lab. It is highly suggested that all valuables not be brought into the lab area while students are practicing lab skills.

CLINICAL ROTATION HOURS
Students are required to spend at least 40 hours in the clinical to have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in practice. The clinical hours will typically follow the following activities:

Student / Instructor Ratio 8:1

NOTE: Clinical groups will be announced just prior to the beginning of the scheduled clinical rotation. Punctuality is absolutely mandatory. All procedures per School Catalog/Student Handbook must be followed.

CLINICAL GRADE REQUIREMENT

The following guidelines are used for clinical evaluation: Each student will be evaluated on a “Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory or Needs Improvement basis.

Satisfactory: Student consistently meets the criteria established for effective clinical performance.

Needs Improvement (did not pass): Student inconsistently meets the criteria established for effective clinical performance.

Unsatisfactory: Student consistently fails to meet the criteria established for effective clinical performance.

Students are evaluated and provided feedback throughout the clinical experience. Each student will have a post conference with their instructor at the completion of the program to discuss clinical performance and receive a written evaluation.

Any student having difficulty meeting the standards will have a weekly conference with the instructor so that appropriate assistance can be provided and minimum competency can be achieved.

Students will have the chance to complete a self-evaluation during the clinical experience and be able to review this with their instructors.

Students receiving a “NEEDS IMPROVEMENT” or “DID NOT PASS” rating during a clinical will discuss their performance with the instructor, and the written evaluation will include a specific plan for improvement when appropriate.

Needs improvement ratings which have not been brought to the level of satisfactory by the end of the clinical experience will be termed “UNSATISFACTORY”.

“DID NOT PASS” rating in one or more areas at the end of the clinical will result in an Unsatisfactory rating in clinical performance for the course. The student will not be eligible for application to sit for the SIUC Competency Exam.

Upon completion, the original written evaluation will be submitted to the program office and compiled into the student’s file. Also, one copy of the evaluation will be given to the student.

CLINICAL SUPERVISION

1. Direct one-to-one observation of student skill performance, as when a skill is being done for the first time with a client and the safety of the client can only be assured by direct observation and assistance as needed.
2. With guidance a student is completing the skill independently when both student and instructor feel assured that it will be completed safely.
3. Spot observation of student skill performance at any time during the procedure, as when safe performance can be expected without continuous observation.
4. Student skill performance without direct observation, to be carried out when the student’s ability to do so safely is a reasonable expectation applied to all students.

The specific method of supervision used at any time is determined by the instructor with consideration of the following variables:

1. Assured safety for the client.
2. Previously observed safe performance of a skill in the simulated lab and/or clinical area.
3. Needs for varying degrees of continued observation per strengths and weaknesses identified by both instructor and the student.
4. Students are encouraged at all times to identify, evaluate and discuss with instructor their strengths and weaknesses in clinical skill performance and their needs for specific learning opportunities. They should be thorough in their written self-evaluation at the end of the clinical experience.