Code of Ethics and Professional Behavior

Professional Integrity

Professional Integrity is a sense of personal satisfaction and self-esteem derived from a confidence in one's established values. This sense of honor is an integral part of personal identity and influences thinking so that one can understand and exhibit integrity, respect for others, and assume responsibility for one’s actions as a professional nurse.

Integrity and self-esteem are necessary in the provision of proper patient and health care. Accordingly, students are required to comply with University/Clinical Agency policies and standards of ethical and professional behavior. Courtesy, consideration, and respect for others’ beliefs and values are essential. Confidentiality of patient information and individual rights to privacy and safe care are also included under the subject of this code, as well as in the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Academic Ethics

Students will not seek help during examinations except needed and legitimate clarification from the instructor. They will not use supplementary materials during examinations in a manner unauthorized by the instructor. All work including examinations, papers, laboratory exercises, presentations, and other written work are to be the student's own, and the student will properly cite references for sources of quotations, information, opinions, or ideas contributing to his or her work. These standards pertain to on-line/internet work as well as direct/in-person classroom work.

Academic irregularities (including cheating, plagiarism, falsification of records or credentials, revealing contents of examinations to anyone who has not yet taken the exam, or any other unethical behavior) or the disregard of professional conduct, ethical standards, and individual rights, which might place patients in physical or emotional jeopardy, are examples of infractions of the Ethics Code and breaches of Professional Integrity.

In the event a faculty member becomes aware of an infraction of any of these codes by a student, the faculty member will report this concern to the course coordinator and program director. The faculty, course director and Program Director will immediately meet with the student(s) in an attempt to explore and resolve the issues. In the event the issue is not resolved at the faculty/student level, the Dean of Students will be notified to determine if the issue warrants the Dean’s Disciplinary Process. For details, see “Dean’s Disciplinary Procedure.” In case of a serious breach of conduct, a student may be subject to immediate suspension and withdrawal. If it is determined that a student has violated the Code of Ethics and standards of Professional Behavior, the student can be summarily dismissed from Columbia Nursing.

The principles expressed in the Ethics Code are to be internalized and practiced whether or not a faculty member is present in the classroom or clinical setting. At the discretion of the Program Director and/or faculty, students may be asked to sign this statement before beginning a program of study, course, examination, or clinical experience.

Students are expected to read and be familiar with both the above Code of Ethics and Professional Behavior, and the Standards and Discipline issued by Columbia University School of Nursing and Student Conduct and Community Standards (SCCS).

Examples

The following are examples of some violations of the Code of Ethics and Standards and Discipline. They are illustrative, but are not intended to be all inclusive:

Academic Related Violations:

  1. Falsification of records (see Falsification – Standards and Discipline p.6).

  2. Signing in, or reporting time of arrival or departure for another student or requesting another student to do so for him/her (see Cheating, Dishonesty, and Facilitation of Academic Dishonesty – Standards and Discipline p. 9).

  3. Copying answers off of another student's examination; using notes of other references during an examination in a manner unauthorized by the instructor (see Cheating and Violation of Testing Conditions – Standards and Discipline p. 9 and 10).

  4. Unauthorized acquisition of exam questions or answers; communicating with a student during an exam to share or obtain exam answers (see Obtaining Advanced Knowledge – Standards and Disciplined p. 10).

  5. Using quotations, ideas, or other information from other than ones' own sources without properly cited references (see Plagiarism – Standards and Discipline p. 10).

  6. Submission of own work used previously for another course, without identifying it as such; submitting or borrowing another student's work as one's original work, without identifying it as such (see Self-Plagiarism – Standards and Discipline p. 10).

Behavioral and Professional Related Violations:

  • Leaving clinical without permission during working hours for other than a pre-scheduled rest period, or failing to return to work after lunch (see Ethics, Honor Codes, and Professional Standards – Standards and Discipline p. 10).

  • Unexcused lateness or absenteeism (see Ethics, Honor Codes, and Professional Standards – Standards and Discipline p. 10).

  • Inattention to duty during clinical hours, including loafing or sleeping during clinical (see Ethics, Honor Codes, and Professional Standards – Standards and Discipline p. 10).

  • Creating or contributing to unsafe or unsanitary conditions by act of omission (see Endangerment and Ethics, Honor Codes, and Professional Standards – Standards and Discipline p. 5 and 10).

  • Any action or attitude that would be detrimental to the interests, safety or health of any patient (see Ethics, Honor Codes, and Professional Standards – Standards and Discipline p. 10).

  • Unauthorized possession, use, copying, reading or sharing of hospital records or disclosure of information contained in such records to unauthorized persons (see Unauthorized Copying and/or Distribution and Ethics, Honor Codes, and Professional Standards – Standards and Discipline p. 5 and 10).

  • Xeroxing medical records (see Unauthorized Copying and/or Distributing – Standards and Discipline p. 5).

  • Sharing of patient information inappropriately (see Ethics, Honor Codes, and Professional Standards – Standards and Discipline p. 10).

  • Improper handling, thefts, fraud or misappropriation of University/Clinical facilities or another person's property (see Theft – Standards and Discipline p. 8).

  • Neglect or deliberate destruction of misuse of property belonging to the hospital or to another person (see Damage to Property/Vandalism – Standards and Discipline p. 8).

  • Insubordination including refusal to accept an assignment (see Failure to Comply – Standards and Discipline p. 6).

  • Immoral or indecent conduct of any nature (see Disruptive Behavior – Standards and Discipline p. 5).

  • Fighting, "horseplay," or other disorderly conduct (see Disruptive Behavior – Standards and Discipline p. 5).

  • Threatening, intimidating or coercing others by word or deed (see Harassment – Standards and Discipline p. 6).

  • Possession of any firearms or any other type of weapon while on University/Clinical facilities (see Weapons – Standards and Discipline p. 8).

  • Using vile or abusive language (see Ethics, Honor Codes, and Professional Standards – Standards and Discipline p. 10).

  • Smoking in unauthorized areas (see Violation of Smoking Policy – Standards and Discipline p. 8).

  • Use or possession of intoxicating beverages, narcotics, or drugs on University/Clinical facilities (see Violation of Alcohol Policy – Standards and Discipline p.4).

  • Unfitness for duty, such as being under the influence of intoxicants or narcotics (see Violation of Illegal Drugs Policy – Standards and Discipline p. 7).

  • Gambling, selling raffles, conducting games of chance, or possessing gambling on hospital premises (see Ethics, Honor Codes, and Professional Standards – Standards and Discipline p. 10).

  • Unauthorized solicitation or distribution of literature of any type on University/Clinical facilities.

  • Unauthorized posting or removing of notices in the University/Clinical facilities.

  • Soliciting, accepting tips or gratuities or conducting private enterprises on health facilities premises (see Ethics, Honor Codes, and Professional Standards – Standards and Discipline p. 10).

  • Violation of any rule, regulation or practice of the hospital or of a division or department of the clinical facility/University (see Violation of University Polices – Standards and Discipline p. 8).

Violations of professional integrity and the Code of Ethics are referred to the Dean’s Disciplinary Process, as outlined in the Standards and Discipline.