Attendance Policy

Nursing graduates are legally responsible for knowing what a nurse should know. The Colorado Board of Nursing requires a minimum number of hours for theory and clinical before being eligible to take the licensing exam. Therefore, absenteeism is monitored closely in the Nursing Program.
All students are required to inform the nursing program office daily of any absence. The student should personally call 521-6701 at least fifteen (15) minutes before the start of class and no later than fifteen (15) minutes after the start of class or lab that will be missed.
Students are encouraged to use the Student Health Center (Family Care Clinic) or see their private physician for illness. Students who are ill or physically unable to attend school three consecutive days or more must obtain a written statement from the attending physician that they may resume classes. Prolonged or frequent absences must be discussed with the director.
Outside appointments (Dr., Dentist, Lawyer, Counselor, etc.) must be made outside of class hours and are not excusable from class. If class is missed due to an appointment class activities may not be able to be made up.
Court appearances will be evaluated on an individual basis. If at all possible, problems requiring legal appearances should be dealt with prior to entry into the program.
Students should use their own judgment during times of severe weather. No absence will be excused due to weather, unless the college is closed, the road is closed or the instructor is not able to get to class or clinical. Instructors may decide to start class or clinical on a delayed start schedule and students will be notified accordingly of this plan including times by the administrative assistant or instructor.
If the student must be absent when an exam is scheduled the student must notify the instructor or director before the test. If the student does not notify the nursing office of the absences the students will be allowed to take the test; however, the student will only be able to obtain 50% of the total possible points.
It is expected that the exam will be made up on the first class day following the absence. Make-up exams will be taken in the Nursing Programs office, Room 214 in Phillips-Whyman, during regular work hours.
Class work and Assignments: Assignments are due the day the student returns. Students are responsible for contacting individual instructors regarding work missed. Instructors are not required to contact students.
Classroom Absence: See individual course syllabus for absence policy. Three unreported absences or no shows may result in dismissal from the program.
Tardiness: Consistent tardiness in any NUR course is not allowed. Instructors will deal with this on an individual basis.
Lab absences: Attendance is mandatory for all lab sessions. Laboratory hours and days vary by course. See course syllabi for specific requirements of each course.
Clinical Absences Reporting: The clinical facility must be notified at least one hour before the shift begins if the student is to be absent. A reason for the absence must be stated. Failure to notify the clinical facility of an absence will be dealt with in a private counseling session with the director and will result in a lowering of the clinical grade. The college should also be notified of the absence per #2 above. There is no clinical absence day that is allowed. If the student misses a clinical day it must be made up. One clinical make-up day will be scheduled at the end of each semester. If there is more than one day that must be scheduled the student will be required to pay a fee of $45/hour to the clinical instructor for make-up time needed. Excessive absences cannot be made up and may result in dismissal from the program.