International Nursing Student Exchange

Policy

This policy guides visits during a formal educational exchange program, either graduate or undergraduate, for international students visiting the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing. For purposes of this policy, exchange students are international students that come to the College of Nursing for either a short experience or a full semester experience. International students (hereafter referred to as students) may have patient care responsibilities if they are directly supervised by faculty or a preceptor. Students may take up to three classes for credit (see policy 5.2.10) from UNMC. A certificate of completion may be provided at the end of the experience for students who have engaged in class or clinical experiences and who are not receiving other academic credit.

Procedures

The host school will follow these procedures:

1. It is customary to receive up to four or five students from each international location at any one time. Both the number of students and the length of the experience can be revisited as needs change.
2. Academic qualifications and standards, i.e., admissions criteria, including English proficiency, must be met by students who will be taking courses for credit.
3. International Nursing Program Director will coordinate all schedules of courses and clinical facilities with the permission and approval of participating nursing faculty members and or the Director of the BSN/MSN/DNP/PhD programs.
4. International Nursing Program Director will be the focal point of all communications and will be responsible for determining final class and clinical schedules, in cooperation with key course faculty leaders. Host students will volunteer to share Nebraska cultural and social experiences.
5. Students may request clinical observational experiences outside the chosen course and clinical experiences if this can be arranged outside the assigned learning activity.
6. If an unusual situation arises, the International Nursing Program Director will be contacted. The Director may also work with the Housing Coordinator, and/or the Director of the Office of Global Engagement.

Visiting Students will need to:

1. be responsible for fulfilling all requirements and financial needs of the rotation including visas, insurance, housing, transportation, etc. UNMC International Studies and Programs will also provide assistance to the students in these matters.
2. provide proof that all UNMC CON required vaccinations have been administered (see Policy 5.2.3).
3. document that all UNMC compliances have been met (see Policy 5.2.3).
4. obtain a valid nursing license before participating in any clinical activities (for RN-BSN, MSN, DNP & PhD students). Clinical activities include, but are not limited to:
   1. Assessing human responses to actual or potential health conditions
   2. Establishing nursing diagnoses
   3. Establishing goals and outcomes to meet identified health care needs
   4. Establishing and maintaining a plan of care
   5. Prescribing nursing interventions to implement the plan of care
   6. Implementing the plan of care
   7. Teaching health care practices
   8. Delegating, directing, or assigning nursing interventions that may be performed by others and that do not conflict with the Nurse Practice Act
   9. Maintaining safe and effective nursing care rendered directly or indirectly
   10. Evaluating responses to interventions, including, but not limited to, performing physical and psychological assessments of patients under restraint and seclusion as required by federal law, if the registered nurse has been trained in the use of emergency safety intervention
   11. Teaching theory and practice of nursing
   12. Conducting, evaluating, and utilizing nursing research
   13. Administering, managing, and supervising the practice of nursing
   14. Collaborating with other health professionals in the management of health care. (Source: Statutes relating to nurse practice act (2012). Retrieved August 6, 2014) ^*

^* URL to Nurse Practice Act document on Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services website changed. Link updated in this policy to point to current document location.