1.1 Professional Nursing

1.1.1 Good Professional Character

(b) The Board defines good professional character as the integrated pattern of personal, academic, and occupational behaviors that indicate an individual is able to consistently conform his/her conduct to the requirements of the Nursing Practice Act, the Board's rules, and generally accepted standards of nursing practice. An individual who provides satisfactory evidence that he/she has not committed a violation of the Nursing Practice Act or a rule adopted by the Board is considered to have good professional character related to the practice of nursing.

(c) A determination that an individual does not have good professional character related to the
practice of nursing must be based on a showing by the Board of a clear and rational connection
between a violation of the Nursing Practice Act or a rule adopted by the Board and the individual's ability to effectively practice nursing. When evaluating the rationale connection between the relevant conduct and the ability to effectively practice nursing, the Board will consider the following factors:

1. whether the individual will be able to practice nursing in an autonomous role with patients/clients, their families, significant others, healthcare professionals, and members of the public who are or who may become physically, emotionally, or financially vulnerable;
2. whether the individual will be able to recognize and honor the interpersonal boundaries appropriate to any therapeutic relationship or health care setting;
3. whether the individual will be able to make appropriate judgments and decisions that could affect patients/clients and/or the public;
4. whether the individual has exhibited an inability to conform his/her behavior to the requirements of the Nursing Practice Act, Board rules and regulations, including §217.11 (relating to Standards of Nursing Practice) and §217.12 (relating to Unprofessional Conduct) of this title, and generally accepted standards of nursing practice; and
5. whether the individual will be able to promptly and fully self-disclose facts, circumstances, events, errors, and omissions, when such disclosure could enhance the health status of patients/clients or the public and/or could protect patients/clients or the public from an unnecessary risk of harm.

(d) Actions from Other Jurisdictions A certified copy of the order of the denial, suspension, or
revocation or other action relating to an individual's license or privilege to practice nursing in another jurisdiction or under federal law is conclusive evidence of that action.

The faculty members support the above excerpt from the BON Rules & Regulations relating to Professional Nurse Education. Failure to demonstrate competency in the above criteria can result in a rating of "unsafe clinical performance and not meeting professional conduct standards," as defined in the syllabus of each clinical nursing course.

1.1.2 Professional Behavior

Any statement or behavior perceived as a grievous offense or threat to the safety of students, staff, faculty, and/or patients will be taken seriously and reported to the appropriate authorities for follow-up. Students should also report it to their instructor and/or the appropriate program director. Title IX infractions will be reported to the Student Affairs office, and a reporting form will be completed for Title IX. www.uttyler.edu/titleix/

BSN Students
The Texas BON requires the following before students are eligible to apply for a Texas RN license.
https://www.bon.texas.gov/licensure_examination.asp.html

Successful completion of a criminal background check through the Texas Board of Nursing is required for admission and continuation in the UT Tyler BSN Nursing Programs. Background checks are generally honored for the duration of the student's enrollment in the program if the student has not had a break in enrollment. A break in enrollment is defined as nonattendance for two or more semesters. Students with a break in enrollment for more than two semesters will be required to complete a new background check. 

If a student is arrested, pleads to a criminal charge, is convicted, or is put on deferred adjudication or probation for any criminal charge (other than a Class C misdemeanor minor traffic violation), he/she must notify the BSN Program Director and respective Site Coordinator in writing within 72 hours of the incident. The student will need to complete a petition for Declaratory Order (a formal disclosure to the Texas Board of Nursing) as soon as possible. The Declaratory Order form is on the Texas Board of Nursing website. https://www.bon.texas.gov/

A student's failure to timely notify the BSN Program Director and respective Site Coordinator of an arrest may result in immediate removal or withdrawal from the program.

If a student is found to be ineligible for clinical placement at any time during the program, the student is unable to meet the clinical learning objectives and will be dismissed pending resolution of the situation.

In addition, Rusk State Hospital, used for mental health clinical experiences, requires that all students who could answer yes to any of the questions on the Declaratory Order must have filed the Declaratory Order prior to the beginning of the mental health clinicals. Failure to comply could lead to failure of the course and/or academic disciplinary action.