Student Handbook
Armenian College of Nursing & Health Sciences — the authoritative reference for student rights, academic standards, clinical policies, and institutional governance.
Table of Contents
1.1 Mission
The Armenian College of Nursing & Health Sciences (ACNHS) is committed to preparing competent, ethical, and practice-ready nurses through academic rigor, clinical excellence, and structured institutional governance.
1.2 Institutional Status
ACNHS operates under the educational laws and regulatory framework of the Republic of Armenia and maintains institutional oversight consistent with national academic standards.
2.1 Program Description
The Pre-Licensure Registered Nursing Program provides structured theoretical instruction, laboratory practice, simulation training, and supervised clinical education designed to prepare students for professional nursing practice.
2.2 Graduation Requirements
Students must satisfy all of the following to qualify for graduation:
- Successfully complete all required nursing and general education courses
- Achieve minimum passing grades in all nursing courses
- Satisfy clinical competency requirements
- Fulfill attendance standards
- Meet all financial obligations
Student Rights
Students have the right to:
- 1Fair and impartial academic evaluation.
- 2Clear communication of course requirements and academic expectations.
- 3Written notification of all academic decisions affecting their standing.
Student Responsibilities
Students are responsible for:
- 1Adhering to all institutional policies and published academic standards.
- 2Maintaining professional conduct in all academic and clinical settings.
- 3Demonstrating ethical behavior consistent with the nursing profession.
- 4Complying with clinical safety standards at all times.
Academic dishonesty — including cheating, plagiarism, falsification of records, or unauthorized collaboration — is strictly prohibited and subject to immediate disciplinary action.
Professional misconduct, including unsafe clinical behavior or ethical violations, may result in disciplinary action, course failure, or program dismissal.
Academic dishonesty or professional misconduct may result in immediate course failure or program dismissal.
5.1 Purpose
This section establishes standards governing grading, attendance, clinical performance, appeals, remediation, and academic progression within the nursing program.
5.2 Grading Standards
The minimum passing grade for all nursing courses is 75%. A final grade below 75% constitutes course failure. Grades are reported to one decimal place.
| Percentage | Letter Grade | Academic Status |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | A | Excellent |
| 80–89 | B | Satisfactory |
| 75–79 | C | Minimum Passing |
| Below 75 | F | Failing |
5.3 Components of Evaluation
Final course grades are calculated using the following weighted components:
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Examinations & Tests | 40% |
| Assignments & Assessments | 15% |
| Clinical, Skills & Simulation | 25% |
| Attendance & Professionalism | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
(Exams × 0.40) + (Assignments × 0.15)
+ (Clinical × 0.25) + (Attendance × 0.20)
5.4 Attendance Policy
Attendance is mandatory for all didactic courses, skills laboratories, simulation sessions, and clinical rotations.
More than two (2) unexcused absences within a single calendar month may result in administrative course removal. Students will receive written notification of any administrative removal.
Attendance policies are strictly enforced to protect academic integrity and patient safety.
5.5 Clinical Performance & Patient Safety
Students must demonstrate safe and competent clinical practice at all times. Failure to meet clinical safety or competency standards may result in course failure regardless of the calculated numeric grade.
Clinical determinations may be reviewed for procedural fairness but are not subject to appeal based on academic judgment. Patient safety supersedes numeric grading in all circumstances.
Clinical safety overrides all other grade components. Patient safety is non-negotiable.
5.6 Grade Appeals
A grade appeal may be submitted only on the following grounds:
- Mathematical or calculation error
- Data entry or recording error
- Misapplication of a published institutional policy
Appeals must be submitted in writing within five (5) calendar days of grade posting. Decisions are issued in writing and are final.
5.7 Remediation Policy
Remediation is an academic support process. It does not replace earned grades and is offered at faculty discretion.
Eligibility requires all of the following:
- Final course grade between 70.0% – 74.9%
- Clinical performance deemed safe by supervising faculty
- Attendance requirements fully met
- No active professional conduct violations
Remediation limitations:
5.8 Course Repetition & Dismissal
Re-entry into the program following dismissal requires formal academic review and institutional approval.
Failure in two nursing courses constitutes automatic program dismissal.
6.1 General Compliance
Students must comply with all clinical site regulations, facility-specific protocols, and ACNHS clinical standards at every clinical placement. Non-compliance is grounds for immediate removal and course failure.
6.2 Uniform & Professional Appearance
The following standards are mandatory at all clinical sites:
- ACNHS-issued or approved uniform must be worn clean, pressed, and in full at all times
- Official student identification badge must be visibly displayed
- Hair must be neatly secured and away from the face; no excessive jewelry
- Closed-toe, non-slip footwear is required at all clinical sites
- Strong perfume, cologne, or scented products are prohibited in patient care areas
- Fingernails must be short, clean, and free of artificial nails or nail polish in clinical settings
6.3 Confidentiality & HIPAA-Equivalent Standards
All patient information encountered during clinical placements is strictly confidential. Students must comply with all privacy and confidentiality obligations, including:
- No disclosure of patient identity, diagnosis, treatment, or information to any unauthorized party
- No photography, recording, or documentation of patients or clinical environments without written institutional authorization
- No discussion of patient cases in public areas, hallways, or non-secure communications
- Breach of patient confidentiality will result in immediate dismissal from the clinical site and may result in program dismissal
Breach of patient confidentiality is a serious professional and ethical violation. It results in immediate removal from clinical placement and is grounds for program dismissal.
6.4 Clinical Orientation & Preparedness
All students are required to complete a mandatory clinical orientation before their first placement. Attendance at orientation is non-negotiable. Students who miss clinical orientation without documented medical justification will not be permitted to begin clinical rotations until orientation is completed.
6.5 Punctuality & Absence at Clinical Sites
Students are expected to arrive on time and fully prepared for all clinical assignments. The following standards apply:
- Arriving more than 10 minutes late to a clinical session without prior notification constitutes an unexcused clinical absence
- Two (2) unexcused clinical absences will result in clinical course failure
- All clinical absences must be reported to the supervising faculty member prior to the scheduled start time
- Make-up hours are not guaranteed and are granted only at faculty and site discretion
Two unexcused clinical absences result in automatic clinical course failure, regardless of didactic performance.
6.6 Prohibited Conduct at Clinical Sites
The following conduct is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate removal and disciplinary review:
- Performing any clinical skill or procedure beyond the student's authorized scope of practice
- Accepting gifts, money, gratuities, or personal favors from patients or their families
- Using personal mobile devices for non-emergency purposes during clinical hours
- Reporting to a clinical site while impaired by any substance, including prescription medications that impair function
- Falsifying documentation, patient records, clinical logs, or skills sign-off forms
Falsification of any clinical record or documentation constitutes academic dishonesty and will result in program dismissal.
Prior to and throughout clinical participation, students must maintain:
- All required immunizations as specified by the program and clinical sites
- Current CPR/BLS certification
- Health clearance documentation as required by institutional policy
Students are solely responsible for maintaining compliance with all health and safety requirements. Non-compliance may result in removal from clinical placement.
Electronic devices may not be used during examinations unless explicitly authorized by the presiding faculty member.
Academic dishonesty during any examination — including unauthorized use of AI tools, electronic devices, or external materials — may result in course failure or program dismissal.
Use of AI-assisted tools in academic work must comply with all institutional academic integrity policies.
Unauthorized use of technology during examinations is treated as academic dishonesty and subject to the full range of disciplinary measures.
9.1 Voluntary Withdrawal
A student who voluntarily withdraws from the program must submit a formal written withdrawal request to the program administration. Verbal notice is not accepted. The effective date of withdrawal is the date on which the written request is received and acknowledged in writing by the institution.
Voluntary withdrawal does not exempt the student from outstanding financial obligations incurred prior to the withdrawal date.
9.2 Medical Leave of Absence
A student experiencing a documented medical condition may apply for a Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA). All of the following are required:
- Written request submitted to the program administration before or on the first day of absence when possible
- Supporting documentation from a licensed medical provider
- Approval granted in writing by institutional administration
Students on approved MLOA retain their academic standing but may not access clinical sites, academic resources, or institutional services during the leave period unless specifically authorized.
9.3 Bereavement Leave
Students experiencing the death of an immediate family member (spouse, parent, sibling, or child) are entitled to a bereavement leave of up to three (3) consecutive calendar days. Extended leave requires written documentation and administrative approval. Bereavement leave is not counted as unexcused absence when properly documented and reported.
9.4 Unauthorized Absence
Absence from the program for ten (10) or more consecutive calendar days without an approved leave of absence or written administrative authorization will be treated as an administrative withdrawal. The student will be notified in writing, and the effective withdrawal date will be retroactive to the last recorded day of attendance.
Disappearing from the program without notice is treated as administrative withdrawal and may affect re-entry eligibility.
9.5 Re-Entry Policy
Re-entry into the program following any form of withdrawal — voluntary, medical, or administrative — or following academic dismissal is not guaranteed. Re-entry requires:
- Formal written re-entry application submitted to the program administration
- Academic review by the faculty committee
- Demonstrated resolution of the circumstances that led to withdrawal or dismissal
- Financial clearance
- Written approval from institutional administration
Approved re-entry students must comply with the curriculum and policies in effect at the time of re-enrollment, not those at the time of original enrollment. No course credits or clinical hours from prior enrollment are guaranteed to be accepted without re-evaluation.
Re-entry is a privilege, not a right. Each application is reviewed on its individual merits and circumstances.
Students must satisfy all tuition and fee obligations in accordance with institutional payment deadlines and financial agreements.
Refund eligibility is governed by the institutional financial policy in effect at the time of withdrawal or dismissal.
Outstanding financial obligations may result in the withholding of academic records, transcripts, or graduation credentials until resolved.
Graduation from the Pre-Licensure Registered Nursing Program requires:
- Successful completion of all required program coursework
- Verified clinical competency as determined by program faculty
- Financial clearance from the institution
Completion of the program does not guarantee licensure in any jurisdiction. Licensure eligibility is determined solely by the applicable regulatory authority.
This handbook governs all students enrolled in the Pre-Licensure Registered Nursing Program at the Armenian College of Nursing & Health Sciences.
The College reserves the right to amend, supplement, or revise any policy contained herein as required by regulatory, legal, or institutional needs. Amendments are communicated to students in writing and take effect upon publication.
Students are responsible for remaining current with all published institutional policies and handbook updates.
For clarification on any policy contained in this handbook, contact the ACNHS Office of Academic Affairs. All policy inquiries must be submitted in writing.
All official identification documents, enrollment files, and student records require a passport-style photograph meeting the specifications below.
Figure A.1 — Official Photo Specification Diagram, Armenian College of Nursing & Health Sciences