Criminal Background Requirements
The College’s clinical affiliates require a background check and drug screen for all Health Science students; therefore, a criminal background check and drug screen are required at the time of program admission. Students who do not meet these requirements may be ineligible for clinical placement necessary for program completion and unable to sit for the Michigan NCLEX licensure examination.
Student Handbook and Schedules
The Nursing program is highly technical and deals with patient safety in the healthcare setting. For this reason, Nursing students are subject to many rules not required of other LMC students. Policies and procedures may be found in the Nursing student handbook. You can contact the Health Sciences Office for a copy.
The Nursing program schedule may not always follow the LMC Academic Calendar or holiday schedule. You could be assigned to clinical shifts in the morning, afternoon, or evening on any day of the week. You will typically be notified of your schedule prior to the semester beginning. Schedules, requirements, and the handbook are subject to change.
Technical Standards and Functions for Program Admission
Nursing students are subject to many rules not required of other College students. The Program Technical Standards and Functions for Admission are listed below. Students must meet these standards in order to safely and competently care for patients and vulnerable populations.
This document is also in the Health Certification Form that must be signed by a physician as part of the program Physical Exam (see below.), in the Nursing Program Application, and in the Nursing Student Handbook. Your physician should review the Health Certification Form in full, including the Technical Standards, before signing the form. Students who do not satisfactorily meet these requirements and/or do not meet or follow rules and requirements set forth by Program faculty, clinical sites, and/or the Nursing Student Handbook may be required to exit the Nursing program. Students who have any concerns or questions regarding the Technical Standards and Functions may contact Health Sciences via e-mail.
The Health Science department faculty has specified the following non-academic criteria which applicants generally are expected to meet in order to participate in the Health Sciences programs and professional practice. These technical standards are necessary and essential and have been developed to provide for the health and safety of the patients receiving care from the health sciences department students.
OBSERVATION
The applicant must be able to participate in all demonstrations, laboratory exercises, and clinical practicum and to assess and comprehend the condition of all patients assigned for examination, and treatment.
COMMUNICATION
The applicant must be able to communicate with patients and members of the health care team with accuracy, clarity, and efficiency within rapidly changing health care settings. The applicant must also be able to give and / or receive verbal directions about or to a patient or members of the health care team within rapidly changing health care settings. The applicant must be able to gather data from written documents, oral presentations, and observation of patients within a variety of settings
PSYCHOMOTOR
The applicant must have motor functions sufficient to provide safe nursing care activities, grasp large or small objects, and manipulate a variety of objects. The applicant must have sufficient hearing ability to identify and differentiate a variety of sounds (i.e.; lung sounds, heart sounds, and monitor alarms). The applicant must have sufficient visual ability to identify measurements on syringes and to detect changes in a patient’s skin or health status
INTELLECTUAL/ CONCEPTUAL, INTEGRATIVE, AND QUANTITATIVE ABILITIES
The applicant must be able to measure, calculate, reason analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information and observations. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of health science practitioners, requires all of these cognitive abilities.
BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES
The applicant must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of intellectual abilities to safely provide care to patients. The applicant must be free of behaviors or evidence indicating addiction, abuse or dependence on alcohol or other drugs that have the potential to impair judgment. Applicants must be able to tolerate physical and mental workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments and conditions, display flexibility and function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical setting and with patients. Compassion, integrity and concern for others, interest and motivation are personal qualities each applicant should possess.
| Standards |
Functions (List is NOT all-inclusive) |
|---|
| Vision sufficient to accurately observe patients at a distance and close at hand. |
Note changes in a patient’s skin color, or facial expression. |
| Vision to be able to read documents, computer screens, and equipment markings. |
Read electronic records, charts, textbooks. Note measurements on syringes of various sizes, IV bags, medications. |
| Speech to be understood by others; ability to understand the communication of others within rapidly changing health settings. |
Communicating with patients, and other health care professionals. |
| Hearing to differentiate various body sounds, alarms, and equipment results. |
Hear and differentiate lung, heart, bowel sounds, blood pressure, and Doppler. |
| Physical condition to perform general and emergency patient care. |
CPR, pressure to control bleeding, walking and standing for extended periods of time. |
| Fine motor coordination to perform tasks related to diagnostic maneuvers. |
Ability to palpate and auscultate, manipulate syringes, insert IVs. |
| Muscle strength, lower back and knee stability to handle patients in a safe manner. |
Lifting and transferring of patients, physically assisting patients. |
| Psychological stability and emotional health to use intellectual abilities, exercise good judgment, complete responsibilities relating to the care of patients, and develop effective relationships with patients. |
Function effectively in stressful clinical situations, adapt to changing environments, demonstrate compassion and integrity, provide care without evidence of behaviors of addiction or abuse of drugs or alcohol. |
The LMC Nursing Program is committed to providing equal access to learning opportunities to students with documented disabilities. To ensure access to this, please contact Student Well-Being & Accessibility Office as soon as you begin your program, as accommodations are not retroactive. LMC encourages students to access all resources available through Student Well-Being & Accessibility for consistent support to complete the requirements of the nursing program. More information can be found on the Student Well-Being & Accessibility webpage or by confidential email at DSS@lakemichigancollege.edu.
Clinical Compliance
Clinical compliance broadly refers to all of the processes and requirements needed for clinical readiness: pre-clinical background check and drug screenings, immunizations and physical exams, CPR training, and other specific trainings (e.g., pre-clinical modules in WorkDay for Corewell Health). The minimum requirements for clinical compliance are established by the healthcare organizations that provide you with access to the clinical setting.
Student Responsibility
LMC does not provide or pay for criminal background checks, drug screens, health physicals, and/or any required vaccinations. You are responsible for obtaining and paying for all screening and healthcare related costs. You are also required to maintain health insurance throughout the duration of the program.
Complio by DISA Healthcare
Admitted students will create an account in LMC’s clinical compliance portal, Complio by DISA Healthcare. Students will purchase a background check, drug screen, and program tracker access. You will use Complio upload and maintain your immunization records and other program documents required for clinical access.
Background Check & Drug Screening
You will complete a background check and drug screening. Both are required to be completed in Complio before the scheduled Orientation session. Flagged reports are subject to additional review and may result in program exit.
Returning students who previously completed a background check and drug screen are required to repeat these screenings. Admitted students who were previously enrolled in another health science program will be required to complete new screenings and will be required to change their program in Complio. Additional screenings may be required periodically to meet specific clinical site requirements.
Health Records
All admitted students must upload the following health records as a part of clinical compliance. If you have questions about these requirements, you can contact us in advance. These items must be on file before starting clinicals. Failure to provide documentation will prevent you from participating in clinicals.
- Documentation of the following vaccinations:
- COVID-19 (if required by the clinical site)
- Hepatitis B
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap)
- Varicella (chicken pox)
- Seasonal influenza
Titer test results documenting immunity for Hep B, MMR, and Varicella are accepted.
- Documentation of a negative tuberculosis (TB) test through ONE of the following options:
- Two PPD TB skin tests completed consecutively within a 21-day period
- One TB blood test (QuantiFERON gold or TSPOT)
- Documentation of clear chest x-rays from within the last three years
TB test results must be from within the last year. TB testing must be completed annually during the duration of the program.
- The program physical exam form signed by a healthcare provider
- Completion of Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider CPR training through the American Heart Association. BLS Provider certification must remain valid through the duration of the entire program. Other levels of CPR training, such as Heartsaver, CPR/AED, or fully-online certification, are not acceptable.
Immunization Exemptions
If you wish to request an immunization exemption, please notify the Health Sciences Office after program admission. Exemption requests will not be processed until you have been admitted to your program as it will allow us to better plan for your assigned clinical group or rotation(s). After submitting your request for an immunization exemption, you will meet with the Director of Nursing and review the process for requesting an exemption or accommodation from your expected clinical location(s). Some clinical sites may have different requirements or accommodation processes.
Per the Health Sciences Immunization Request procedure: Lake Michigan College does not require immunizations or health screenings. However, some healthcare certificate or degree programs (including the Nursing program) require immunization and health screenings as a part of clinical education and presence at the onsite clinical environment. Therefore, you should be prepared to meet these requirements or seek an exemption by following the healthcare organization’s accommodation process.
The decision to grant an exemption request is made by the healthcare organization, not Lake Michigan College. If a student is unable to secure a clinical education placement because they do not meet the relevant healthcare organization’s immunization or health screening requirement, they will be unable to participate in the required clinical education component of their program and therefore unable to complete their program. Our goal is for every student to complete their clinical education. If you seek exemption from an immunization or screening requirement, we will work with you, within our capacity, and the healthcare organization to assist with the process, but ultimately Lake Michigan College does not control the outcome.
Transportation & Attendance
All Nursing students must have their own dependable transportation. Attendance rules are strict and are enforced. Children are not allowed in nursing classes, labs, clinical sites, or in the Nursing Education Center.
Requirements for CPR Certification
CPR certification (BLS Provider through American Heart Association or CPR for Professional Rescuer through Red Cross) is required for all Nursing program students, and should be obtained after admission to the Nursing program. Fully online courses, Heartsaver, and Race for Life are NOT considered valid forms of CPR certification for the Nursing program.
All admitted students must obtain or hold a current CPR certification to participate in the Nursing program. Students are strongly encouraged to complete or re-certify their CPR training during AFTER program admission, prior to starting Nursing program courses. Students should ensure that their CPR certification does not lapse during the program. Lapse in certification or failure to obtain certification will result in inability to attend clinical.
CPR classes may be taken at Lake Michigan College. Available class days and times are located on the website.
