Nursing Student Handbook - John Tyler Community College

10. Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs
Alcoholic beverages, unlawful drugs, or other illegal substances shall not be consumed, used,
carried, or sold at the nursing education center and surrounding property or any affiliated clinical
site. Students suspected of being impaired will be dismissed from the class/clinical site and
required to provide a medical release prior to returning to the nursing program. If warranted, they
may be required to arrange for safe transportation off site .Students failing to comply may be
dismissed from the nursing program.
11. Drug Screening
Definitions:
recognized drugs of abuse
: Under the influence of alcohol, any drug, or the combined influence of alcohol
and any drug or substance to a degree that renders the person incapable of safely
operating a vehicle and/or performing the cognitive and physical functions of a student
nurse resulting in risk to the safety of self or others.
Expectations:
1. The John Tyler School of Nursing requires a 10 panel urine drug screen on all nursing
students upon admission to the School of Nursing and any time a student has been out of
the program for one semester. Then, randomly thereafter, if behavior warrants another
screening during the student’s tenure in the Department of Nursing.
2. Behavior that may warrant further drug screens includes but is not limited to: failure to
comply with facility protocols while working in clinical settings, being evaluated as
clinical experiences. Observable phenomena, such as direct observation of drug use
and/or the physical symptoms or manifestations of being under the influence of a drug;
such as, but not limited to, unusual slurred or rapid speech; noticeable change in
appearance and hygiene; impaired physical coordination; inappropriate comments,
behaviors or responses; trembling hands; persistent diarrhea; flushed face; red eyes;
unsteady gait; declining health; irritability; mood swings; isolation; decreased alertness;
and/or pupillary changes.
impaired by clinical faculty and/or clinical staff, suspicion of drug use during school and Abnormal
conduct or erratic behavior on the clinical unit or classroom setting to include absenteeism, tardiness
or deterioration in performance;
Evidence of tampering with a drug test;
Information that the individual has caused or contributed to an incident in the clinical agency;
Evidence of involvement in the use, possession, sale, solicitation or transfer of drugs while enrolled in
the nursing program.
Odor of Alcohol:
3. Admission and continuing status in the nursing program is contingent upon satisfactory results
of initial and subsequent drug screens. Failure to submit to a requested drug screen may cause
immediate dismissal from the nursing program.
4. If a faculty member or clinical agency staff member observes or suspects such behavior,
the faculty member must dismiss the student from the educational or clinical setting
immediately and contact either the Director of Nursing. The Director of Nursing, will
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