Back to Table of Contents

POLICY ON USE OF ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND OTHER

MOOD ALTERING SUBSTANCES

All students are required to read the following policy on the Use of Alcohol, Drugs and other Mood Altering Substances, and to adhere to it.

Chemical use, as well as abuse, can interfere with your classroom and clinical performance. Even small amounts of mood altering substances can affect your judgment and perceptions and therefore endanger the lives of your clients. The following departmental policy on alcohol, drugs and mood altering substance use has a two-fold purpose:

1. To ensure the safety of your clients.

2. To help you recognize if your actions are problematic and to assist you in seeking help.

The faculty of the Department of nursing strongly opposes the presence of students in the classroom setting who are under the influence of alcohol/drugs and other mood altering substances. The Department faculty’s concerns are not limited to illegal drugs. The Department policy absolutely forbids students to participate in the clinical setting with even the smell of alcohol on their breath or if exhibiting any behavioral manifestations indicative of mood altering substance use, even where the substance is a legally prescribed medication. Any student who is taking a prescribed medication or who has a medical problem that may cause them to appear to be under the influence of alcohol/drugs or other mood altering substances must inform the faculty prior to starting any clinical rotation. The use of alcohol several hours before clinical or heavy use the night before can result in the smell of alcohol on your breath, which is unacceptable. Some illegal substances have a long half-life (such as marijuana) and would show up in the screen one week after use.

The procedure that will be followed by faculty in dealing with students with the smell of alcohol/drugs on their breath or who are under the influence of alcohol/other mood altering substances is as follows:

In the classroom setting:

You will be spoken to by the faculty member. The departmental policy regarding the use of alcohol and other mood altering substances will be reviewed with you. This conversation will be documented in the department’s confidential file and will be shared with the other Nursing faculty.

In the clinical setting:

Both the client’s and your personal safety will be taken into consideration.

• No further client contact will be allowed.
• You will be directed to get an immediate blood alcohol level or to use a breathalyzer or have an immediate drug screen. It will be your responsibility to pay for the costs involved, and to provide proof of the time and the date the testing was done.
• You will be dismissed from the program if your test results indicate the presence of alcohol/drugs or other mood altering substances or if you refuse to take the required test. You may be dismissed from the program if your test results indicate the presence of a prescribed medication and you have not previously notified your clinical faculty member

The Department of Nursing is in full compliance with the SUNY Brockport Policy as stated in the SUNY Brockport Publication “Your Right to Know”.

Updated and passed 7/08

Back to Table of Contents

News

Student Leadership Development Program Receives National Recognition

Brockport Hosts Annual Facilities Training Conference

Brockport Hosts Sports Camp for Children with Visual Impairments

Brockport Launches First Online Master's Degree

Events

Sun, Aug 18

Collaborative Training Dinner
5 pm - 7 pm

Tue, Aug 20

Faculty Staff Convocation
8:30 am - 10:30 am

Wed, Aug 21

Collaborative Training
1 pm - 5:30 pm

Tue, Aug 27

Red Cross Blood Drive
11 am - 4 pm