Professional Conduct

Handbook Home

Program-Specific Handbooks

Professional Conduct

Responsibilities & Rights of Students

The Bylaws of the Board of Regents protect the rights of each member of the university community. Each individual has the right to be treated with respect and dignity, and each has the right to learn. With these rights comes the responsibility of each individual to maintain an atmosphere in which others may exercise their human rights and their right to learn. Chapter V of the bylaws fully delineates the rights and responsibilities of students. This is also detailed in the " BYLAWS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS" section in the UNMC Student Handbook.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

The University of Nebraska Medical Center is committed to being an institution in which employees can realize their maximum potential in the workplace and students can engage fully in the learning process. Diversity in a representative faculty, student, and staff population is a hallmark of a premier academic and dynamic institution. To read the UNMC Non-discrimination policy in its entirety, refer to the UNMC Student Handbook. The policy and enforcement of the policy are detailed in the Chancellor’s memorandum on conduct. The College of Allied Health Professions supports and adheres to this non-discrimination policy, as outlined in the UNMC Student Handbook.

Statement of Diversity

It is the belief of the College of Allied Health Professions that diversity within the College at all levels enhances the quality of the education offered to our students. It also improves the level of service our professions provide to other healthcare professionals and to the public. A broad range of viewpoints facilitates better answers to complex questions. Understanding those viewpoints facilitates the delivery of better healthcare and service to those served by our professions.

UNMC Code of Conduct

The University of Nebraska Medical Center faculty, administrators, staff and students comprise an academic health science community. Within this community professionalism is expected and should be fostered at all levels. To review the policy on professionalism, refer to the “University of Nebraska Medical Center Code of Conduct” in the UNMC Student Handbook.

General Performance & Conduct

During clinical service rotations, students in the College of Allied Health Professions will adhere to the performance and conduct guidelines established for employees of the institution in which they are serving, including the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Additionally, students must abide by the following:

1. Any conduct which interferes with goals of UNMC or of the individual departments or programs in the College of Allied Health Professions will result in disciplinary procedures in accordance with the CAHP Student Discipline Policy.
2. Faculty or supervisors should address the student’s inappropriate conduct at the time it occurs in order to provide counseling and effect corrective behavior. Such conduct must be reflected in the performance appraisal, but should also be discussed in advance of the appraisal.

Privacy, Confidentiality & Information Security

Students must observe the same principles of confidentiality as do staff and employees. It is the responsibility of all UNMC workforce, including students, to respect the highest level of privacy for their patients, colleagues, and other members of the University community, as is detailed in UNMC Policy No. 6045 Privacy, Confidentiality and Information Security.

In addition to UNMC Policy No. 6045, students will adhere to the following guidelines for the College of Allied Health Professions:

Patient Privacy & Confidentiality

• No information about a patient’s care or an institution’s affairs is to be repeated to anyone not directly involved in the situation.
• All patients have the right to expect that case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment will be conducted in a setting which provides maximum privacy. Students and staff should endeavor to review records in a location which provides privacy and which protects the information from unauthorized persons.
• Knowledge of patient information should remain confidential and not open to discussion in hallways, the cafeteria, elevators, and social situations outside the institution.

Student access

• Students must present proper identification and written permission of the instructor when requesting records from the Medical Records Department. They must review these records in the Medical Records Department. Discussion of patient information is allowed while on bedside rounds, but students are not to include patient-identifiable elements in class presentations.

Research

• Medical records will be made available for research purposes only if the requesting individual has obtained approval from the Institutional Review Board.

Dress & Grooming

Students are required to maintain a neat, professional appearance in all educational activities. Individual programs publish specific requirements appropriate for their own students in different settings, and may be found in the appendices.

Students whose attire or grooming does not meet the program’s standards may be dismissed from the educational activity, and disciplinary action may be taken as specified in the program requirements.

Professional Address

Students are to show respect through the forms which they use in addressing patients, staff and faculty.

1. Patients should be addressed with the titles Mr., Miss, Mrs., or Ms. as appropriate.
2. Staff and faculty who hold doctoral degrees should be addressed as Doctor. Others should be addressed with courtesy.
3. Any uncertainty about the appropriate form of address should be resolved by asking the person involved how he or she prefers to be addressed.
4. Slang names are discouraged.

Alcohol & Drugs

The University of Nebraska Medical Center students are expected to read, understand, and abide by the “Substance Abuse or Dependency Standards of Conduct – Alcohol & Drugs.” The Standards of Conduct statement covers counseling programs, health risks, uses and effects of controlled substances, federal and state legal sanctions and UNMC sanctions for violations. To review the Standards of Conduct, refer to the UNMC Student Handbook.

Tobacco Use

The UNMC campus is tobacco-free. This policy prohibits tobacco use on all indoor and outdoor properties owned and maintained by UNMC, including leased properties as well as parking lots. To view the Tobacco-Free Campus policy in its entirety, refer to the UNMC Student Handbook.