Editing Herzing Issues: Clinical Intensives and Simulation (section)

=== HU-009: Handbook labels unlicensed nursing students leaving clinical early as 'patient abandonment' ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
! style="width:14em" | Severity
| Medium
! Status
| CONFIRMED
|-
! Issue type
| Policy Language Concern
! Date added
| 2026-04-30
|-
! Owner
| colspan="3" | School of Nursing / Legal / Academic Affairs
|}
'''Finding.''' Per the tracker's evidence, the handbook labels unlicensed nursing students who leave a clinical site early, without faculty approval, as committing patient abandonment, a characterization that results in a failure of the course.

'''Evidence.''' Handbook p.16: "Leaving a clinical site early, without faculty approval, is considered patient abandonment. This will result in a failure of the course."

'''Reported statement.''' <blockquote>Leaving a clinical site early, without faculty approval, is considered patient abandonment. This will result in a failure of the course.</blockquote>

'''Standards.''' Patient abandonment is a licensure standard under state nurse practice acts, and it applies to licensed RNs, not unlicensed nursing students. NCSBN standards distinguish patient abandonment from student policy violations. Mischaracterizing the conduct may mislead students about their legal exposure.

'''Impact.''' Students may believe they face licensure-threatening patient abandonment charges rather than an attendance policy violation. Language is inaccurate and potentially coercive.

'''Notes.''' This is a policy language issue with implications for all enrolled students.

<span id="HU-039"></span>