Skip to main content
Site navigation
APRN Preceptor Toolbox

Graduate Preceptor Handbook: Policies

In this section

Class Absences

Graduate Class Attendance Policy: SDSU’s general attendance policy  stated in the Graduate School Catalog will be followed.

Attendance at all on-campus sessions is expected. Attendance for an on-campus session at the end of the semester to evaluate clinical competence is also required.

All students are held accountable for attaining the course outcomes criteria despite absences. Students will notify course faculty of all absences prior to the absence or immediately thereafter in the case of an emergency. Students hold the responsibility for making up missed content and will submit written proposed plans to make up the missed class activities. After submission, the faculty will review the proposed written plans and will take one or more of the following actions:

  1. Approve the student’s proposed methods to make up class materials;
  2. Require students to complete additional assignments under faculty direction;
  3. Lower student’s participation grade for the missed class and associated assignment(s);
  4. Lower student’s total course grade, or;
  5. Fail the student, based on professional accountability violations.

The written plan is due a minimum of one week prior to a planned absence. In cases of emergency where students are unable to submit written plans prior to the absence, the written plan is due within one week of the missed class period.

Clinical Practicum Absences

Attendance at all scheduled clinical practicum is expected and required. Students are required to notify course faculty members and the preceptor of all absences prior to the absence or immediately thereafter in the case of an emergency. Students hold the responsibility for making up missed clinical days. Students are highly discouraged from traveling for personal reasons not covered in the excused absences section, during the academic year.

Excused Absences

There are activities that are regarded as College of Nursing approved events for excused absences from nursing classes, labs, or clinical practicum. To be an excused absence, students must be attending these events either in conjunction with their participation in a professional organization, as a class assignment, or as a professional board or committee member. Students must arrange in advance with the course faculty member and

or clinical preceptor to request an excused absence from class and/or lab or practicum experience to attend approved events. The student is responsible for any missed course content.

Such events include but are not limited to the following: the South Dakota Nurses' Association Convention or board meetings; Nurses' Day at the Legislature; Sigma Theta Tau Research Day or regional and national research meetings; wellness or health events on campus which are sponsored as University events; the Ethel Austin Martin Nutrition Forum; South Dakota Rural Health Conference; South Dakota Environmental Health Association, South Dakota Public Health Association. Additional excused absences include illness, emergency, poor weather conditions, and death.

Events not included in this list will be reviewed on an individual basis by the course professor in the context of this policy. Absences from non-nursing courses are regulated by the respective course professor. University policies pertaining to absences, trip permits, and travel must be followed.

Academic Dishonesty

Student Academic Integrity and Appeals: The University has a clear expectation for academic integrity and does not tolerate academic dishonesty. University Policy 2.4 sets forth the definitions of academic dishonesty, which includes

but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, misrepresentation, and other forms of dishonesty relating to academics. The Policy and its Procedures also set forth how charges of academic dishonesty are handled at the University. Academic Dishonesty is strictly proscribed and if found may result in student discipline up to and including dismissal from the University.

Clinical Setting Selection

  1. Faculty members select MS, PG-Certificate, & DNP student practicum sites and preceptors based on feasibility of achieving specified learning outcomes.
  2. Student input into selection of a clinical area/facility and preceptor may be solicited for some courses. In general, sites of direct employment (e.g. unit student works on or clinic student works in) cannot be used as clinical site. Additionally, family members CANNOT be used as preceptors.
  3. To obtain specific clinical experiences to meet course objectives, students may be required to travel to clinical settings in a variety of geographic settings. Students should be aware of the possibility of direct and indirect expenses associated with such travel.
  4. To maximize learning outcomes, students may be required to travel to distant or out-of-state clinical sites.
  5. Student refusal to accept a clinical site may result in the student’s inability to complete the clinical hours requirement – which may delay and/or impede progress in the program plan of study.
  6. Clinical agency contracts and preceptor agreements must be in place prior to starting any clinical experience.
  7. Students should be aware that clinical site and preceptor placement by the APRN Clinical Coordinator or designated faculty is not a guarantee and is based on clinical site and preceptor availability and which may delay and/or impede progress in the program plan of study. Student assistance with clinical site and preceptor placement may be required under certain circumstances.

Students in Clinical Facilities (specific policies)

  1. Professional apparel that meets clinical experience agency guidelines and program requirements is expected (see below for program dress code requirements).
  2. The student will work within the policies of the agency and maintain a constructive relationship with the agency.
  3. The student is required to provide personal health information and background checks to clinical experience agencies as requested, including, but not limited to, information required by Veteran's Administration or Indian Health Service facilities.
  4. The student is required to wear a name badge with a picture which identifies their status as a South Dakota State University graduate nursing student.
  5. The student is responsible for their own individual costs related to clinical experiences. This may include transportation, overnight hotel, and meal costs.

SDSU Graduate Nursing ARPN Practicum/Clinical and Lab Attire

  • Men’s and women’s pants should be no shorter than ankle length and they should not touch the ground. Leggings should not be worn as pants. No blue jeans.
  • If skirts/dresses are worn, they must be no shorter than just above the knee.
  • No wearing of clothing items that are transparent, midriffs, low cut tops, tank tops/camisoles and no exposed undergarments. No clothing with graphic designs or any clothing that may be considered disrespectful.
  • Closed toes shoes and stockings must be worn. Sandals and high heel shoes are not acceptable.
  • Lab coats and name/picture badges must be worn.
  • Clothing or jewelry that may dangle or hang low, such as bulky scarves or cardigans with wide collars, bangle bracelets, or long necklaces is not allowed.
  • Hair should be worn above the collar and off the face or pulled back into a ponytail in clinical situations that warrant this such as while performing or observing sterile procedures.
  • Engagement and wedding rings may be worn but may need to be removed when safety or infection control is a concern. There is a limit of one ring worn per hand.
  • Clean-shaven or a neatly trimmed beard or mustache is acceptable.
  • Fingernails should be clean, short, neatly trimmed, and unpolished. The definition of "short" is that when you look from the palm side of the hand you should not see the fingernail.
  • All body and facial piercing jewelry should be removed when in clinical or lab.
  • If removal of pierced jewelry is not an option and the reason is justified, the jewelry will need to be covered. Ear piercing is the exception to this rule. Small stud earrings may be worn with a limit of two per ear. No dangling or hoop earrings.
  • Tattoos should be covered as much as possible.
  • Clinical site policies supersede College of Nursing policies if more stringent.

General Guidelines Regarding APRN Clinical Practicum

The Student will:

  1. Participate in approved clinical experiences at the required number of hours for each specific course; must be prepared, active, informed, accountable, and professional.
  2. Demonstrate effective and appropriate communication skills.
  3. Demonstrate effective and appropriate documentation on patient’s records, and clinical logs, including correct spelling.
  4. Meet with the preceptor and clinical faculty for the faculty site visit.
  5. Complete clinical logs documenting a variety of experiences using the required system.
  6. Complete clinical conferences with faculty (midterm & final) as required.
  7. Complete personal/professional reflection and self-evaluation of progress.
  8. Complete a Clinical Rotation Requirements document. The document is designed to assist the student in acquiring targeted clinical experiences to support their learning in the course. The student is required to partner with the preceptors to secure all of the clinical experiences listed on the document. These experiences are considered foundational and practice with these disorders in a natural clinical environment is essential. The document requires the initials of both the preceptor and the student for each item as it is completed.

Attendance at Clinical Experiences

  • Students are to negotiate acceptable hours with the preceptor PRIOR to starting the clinical practicum.
  • The student is expected to accommodate the preceptor's availability and schedule.
  • Students are expected to treat the agreed upon clinical hours as they would a place of employment.
  • If the student is to be absent for a scheduled clinical day due to illness, weather, or emergency, the preceptor should be notified prior to the beginning of the clinical day. Students are not allowed to be absent from already scheduled clinical experiences for personal travel reasons.
  • The student should negotiate the procedure for contacting the preceptor in case of absence prior to starting clinical practicum. Make-up hours are then to be negotiated.
  • Students also must contact the faculty member promptly.
  • Students are required to keep a log of completed clinical hours. Specific intervals required are set by each course.
  • If the student is not attending clinical as scheduled, the faculty member needs to be notified promptly.

Graduate Student Health Requirements

Students are required to complete the Health Status Report upon admission to the College of Nursing and are required to be immunized with Hepatitis B vaccine.

Annual TB Mantoux or QuantiFERON-TB Gold and annual Influenza tests are also required.

General Statement on COVID-19 Pandemic

Participants in this course are subject to, and expected to comply with, the policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the SDBOR and SDSU as modified throughout the duration of the course. Due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic, the SDBOR and SDSU have adopted provisions to minimize COVID-19 exposure to the SDSU community that are compliant with changing CDC and SD DOH guidelines. These guidelines apply to all classes and activities held by SDSU. Anyone who does not comply with these important provisions may be subject to the SDSU Student Conduct Code 3:1 and other applicable policy provisions found in SDBOR and SDSU policies. Current information concerning COVID-19 may be viewed online at on the SDSU COVID-19 page. Please check these sites frequently for updates.