Code of Conduct

27 Health Care Code of Conduct

Code of Student Professional Conduct

A graduate of a Murray State College Health Care program becomes a member within the health care profession, as such, the program graduate functions as a self-directing, accountable member of the profession; practices within the ethical and legal framework of each code of professional conduct; and accepts responsibility for ensuring high standards of healthcare practice. Health care students must understand and adhere to the standards of their program during their education in preparation for careers as characterized by a commitment to professional growth, continuous learning, and self-development.

Students in the health care programs have a particular obligation to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that reflects appropriate professional, moral and ethical character. The value of the student within the community comes ultimately from their value to each individual patient. From each contact with a patient, students have an opportunity to make an impact in a positive way. As students recognize these roles and their responsibilities to each role, they become who the educational program want them to become.

The Health Care Program Code of Student Professional Conduct (HCPC) provides standards for professional conduct and procedures to be followed when questions arise about professional, moral or ethical character of a student enrolled in the health care programs; classroom and clinical setting. Professions and bodies that grant licensure were consulted and considered for guidance of interpretation of the standards of conduct.

Purpose:

The HCP Code is to provide a professional behavior code that applies uniformly to all students enrolled in a degree program, ultimately leading to a profession requiring licensure, offered by Murray State College. The Health Care programs are: Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Veterinary Technology.

Procedure:

Students enrolled in healthcare programs are expected to exercise maturity and sound judgment in the process of becoming professional productive members of the health care community. Graduates will ultimately be valued members of the community as they grow and recognize the importance of these roles.

A student’s continued enrollment shall depend on the student’s ability to adhere to recognized standards from the duly legislated practice acts of the professions that have educational programs at Murray State College. Murray State College Health Care Program’s also adhere to all policies of clinical facilities with which the College affiliates for student clinical learning experiences.

Violations of one or more of the standards shall be sufficient grounds for the appropriate health care program chair to address matters of conduct and discipline. The specific disciplinary action taken will depend on the seriousness and nature of the offense, and the student’s history. Student’s will be removed from the clinical site when previous disciplinary actions fail to produce desired changes in behavior, or conduct presents a danger to self and others.

Health Care Program Chairs (HCPC) may impose disciplinary actions against MSC students enrolled in health care programs for one or more of the following:

  1. Failing to abide by the standards of professional and student conduct outlined in the MSC Disciplinary Rules and Regulations (See Student Handbook) to the extent that the violation reflects adversely on the student’s professional, moral and ethical character.
  1. Failing to abide by any of the student guidelines outlined in the MSC Health Care Program’s Student Handbook.
  2. Commission and/or conviction of any infraction that would violate the Oklahoma Practice Act or the Rules and Regulations Relating to the practice of Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Veterinary Technology in the State of Oklahoma.
  3. Being adjudicated as mentally incompetent, mentally ill, chemically dependent or dangerous to the public or being committed by a court of competent jurisdiction.
  4. Use of substances including but not limited to; illegal drugs, legal prescription drugs without a current, legal valid prescription and intemperate use of drugs and alcohol.
  5. Failure on the part of the student to meet necessary academic requirements.
  6. Any behavior which violates a clinical site regulation and/or resulting in denial by the clinical site of clinical privileges.
  7. Action which knowingly or through neglect endangers the health or well-being of a student, a fellow student, patient, or the public.
  8. Fail to maintain patient confidentiality by failing to follow the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Standards.
  9. Obtaining money, property or services from a patient, other than reasonable fees for service provided to the patient, through the use of undue influence, harassment, duress, deception or fraud.
  10. Fail to report a felony conviction pursuant to enrollment in the health care programs. Felony convictions must be disclosed pursuant to enrollment to MSC. Students convicted of a felony must report to the HCPC prior to enrollment in the Health Care program or within 10 days of such a conviction.
  11. Fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.
  12. Criminal activity within the clinical site or college.

Procedure for violation of one or more of the above referenced HCPC codes or rules:

  1. The appropriate HCPC shall investigate the circumstances and pursue the case in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
  2. When the HCPC completes the preliminary investigation into the alleged violations of the standards and determines the student has violated the HCP Code, the student will be notified by email and should the student not reply then the notification will be sent by first class mail to the student’s address of record.
  3. Student will meet with the HCPC to review the violations and for counsel. The student will receive a disciplinary action written notice which will become part of the student’s permanent file.
  4. When a student does not agree with the decision of the HCPC, then the student will be reminded of their right to appeal the decision following the Student Conduct or Grade Appeal Procedure outlined in the MSC student handbook.
  5. A decision taken by the Health Care Program Chair under this code will not impede any action by legal authorities outside the college.

 

Due Process, Student  Complaint Procedure, and Grade Appeal Procedure

Please refer to the MSC’s student handbook for an explanation of the Student Conduct and Grade Appeal Procedure. Actions for anything other than academic issues will follow the Student Conduct Procedures.

 

License

Murray State College Student Handbook 2024-2025 Copyright © 2023 by Murray State College Academic and Student Affairs. All Rights Reserved.