Skills Lab Expectations

The nursing skills lab provides learners with an opportunity to apply nursing theory to practice. In keeping with the profession of nursing and the Standards of Practice for LPN’s in Canada and Codes of Ethics for LPN’s in Canada, the goal is to ensure that we prepare the learner who can provide safe, competent, ethical, and compassionate care to clients.

The testing of these nursing skills is required to ensure that learners can demonstrate that they are prepared to provide safe, competent, ethical, and compassionate care to their clients in the clinical setting.

Learners are not to be in the lab without a faculty due to safety practices required by NSCC policy.

Attendance

• Attendance to ALL nursing skills lab, which includes, demonstration, practice and testing is mandatory.
• Demonstration of skills will not be repeated by faculty for learners who miss class. Videos, CDs, or fellow classmates may be avenues for missed classes.
• If a learner is not performing lab skills at a satisfactory level to meet program outcomes which align with the Standards of Practice, (to provide safe, competent, and ethical and compassionate care) they will not be permitted to move forward.
• If a learner misses ANY skills lab, they may incur the cost of a skills lab instructor to ensure that they (the learner) can safely demonstrate all skills before they can attend any further clinical rotations.
• Practical Nursing learner are responsible to report all absences from skills lab to their faculty as per industry standards.

Dress Skills Lab

The School requires a consistent policy across all campuses for Practical Nursing (PN) programs regarding the practice of wearing uniforms and appropriate footwear in lab settings. This is aligned with the preparation of learners  for safe and professional practice in an employment setting.

• Uniforms/scrubs are to be worn in the skills lab. Learners may choose to wear all navy scrubs (as required in clinical), or they may choose to wear uniforms/scrubs of their choosing.
• In keeping with Occupational Health and Safety, non-slip sole, closed toe, and closed heel, clean and in good repair made of impermeable material (waterproof).
• Scent free policy will apply

Learners can be denied entry to the lab if they are not wearing uniforms and appropriate footwear.

Electronic Devices

All electronic devices such as cell phones/Smart Phones/laptops, tablets, etc. are not permitted in the skills lab unless required for learning/educational purposes.

Testing: Skills Lab

To ensure consistency in all NSCC nursing courses that require skills lab testing, the following applies:

• Skills lab testing occurs in conjunction with theory courses.
• If a learner is unable to demonstrate competency in the first lab skills attempt, the evaluator will provide feedback and recommendations (which will include further practice by the learner).
• Learners must practice the skills prior to their retest. The retesting timelines are dependent on the availability of the skills lab and the faculty and must be successfully completed prior to attending clinical.
• Skills lab testing may be videotaped by the faculty (or designate) – this videotaping of the demonstration of skills will be used by the learner  for their own learning. The video will be viewed only by the learner and their faculty.
• A learner is eligible to have two lab skills re-takes, if they are not successful in the two re-takes they cannot proceed to clinical placement.

Learners are given, in total, three opportunities to demonstrate safe delivery of all nursing skills, which include, but are not limited to, the skills in Nursing Skills 1, Nursing Skills 2, Health Assessment of the Adult, Pharmacology, and Integrated Skills courses. If a learner is not able to safely perform the required skills, they will not proceed to the clinical rotation. Skills lab failures are not eligible for supplemental evaluation.

Other

• Learners are required to successfully complete OH&S/WHMIS courses in order to attend lab or clinical. Occupational Health & Safety Policy | NSCC)
• Learners are not to be in the lab without a faculty due to safety practices at NSCC.