Students may not perform any skill in a clinical setting unless they have first learned and practiced the skill in the lab environment. This standard ensures patient and student safety and complies with the professional expectations outlined by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).

Important: Performing a skill in a clinical setting without prior lab instruction and supervised practice is unsafe and may result in disciplinary action or removal from the clinical setting. Violations of this policy can jeopardize student standing and success in the Program.

Attendance at all scheduled lab sessions, including simulations and skills checks, is mandatory. Students must attend during their registered lab time and with their registered lab instructor. Attendance will be tracked each semester.

Lab grading will follow the student assessment policy. Students who miss lab for a legitimate reason following the policy will receive a grade of “E” for excused. Students who miss lab for other reasons will receive a grade of zero. Regardless of the grade received, students need to make-up the missed lab session (see mandatory lab make-up requirements).

Medical Absences: Students must upload documentation to the Student Wellness Documentation Portal. Do not send documentation directly to professors.

Supervised lab attendance expectations: 

If you are booking supervised lab time to make up for a missed lab, please read the following carefully to ensure you are fully prepared and able to make the most of your session:

Supervised Lab Is for Skill Demonstration – Not Re-teaching

Supervised lab is designed for students to demonstrate and practice the skills they missed. Before attending, you are expected to:

• • Review all relevant course materials (readings, videos, lesson plans, learning objectives, lecture slides etc.)
  • Come prepared to safely and confidently practice the required skills
  • Be ready to ask any follow-up questions based on your independent review

Booking Instructions

When booking your supervised lab time, please include the following in the comment section:

• • Your student number
  • Your program and semester
  • The reason for your visit (e.g., missed lab, skills check practice, extra practice)
  • If making up a missed lab, include the module/week number you missed and the content being covered

Bring Your Attendance Form

Download the supervised lab attendance form from MyCanvas, print it, and fill it out before arriving. This helps us track your progress and ensure proper documentation.

Bring Your Lab Kit

Please bring all required supplies with you so you’re ready to demonstrate your skills.

Important: If a student arrives unprepared for supervised lab, they may be asked to leave and re-book at another time. In these situations the attendance sheet will not be signed off for that session. Attendance alone does not guarantee a sign-off — preparation is essential.

Students are responsible for:

• • Tracking their own lab attendance, skill practice, and progress. This will also be monitored by lab instructors.
  • Communicating supervised lab attendance to lab instructors.
  • Uploading proof of attending supervised lab to MyCanvas lab course shell.
  • Maintaining accurate records and demonstrating professional initiative.

Nursing is a self-regulated profession. Taking Accountability for your actions or inactions begins during your education.

Any accommodation required for in-person lab participation/activities may also require a clinical accommodation. Students requiring a lab accommodation must contact Accessible Learning Services to determine if a clinical accommodation is also required.

Proper documentation and coordination are essential for implementing accommodations across all settings.

To ensure that all students meet the required level of clinical proficiency, each student will undergo a Skills Checkpoint Evaluation at the end of every lab course. This evaluation is a critical component of the program and must be taken seriously.

Recording Policy: All Skills Checkpoint Evaluations will be recorded using both audio and video for quality assurance and academic review purposes. Recordings are strictly confidential and will only be accessible to lab faculty involved in the evaluation process. Recordings will not be used for any purpose other than reviewing the evaluation if necessary.

Scheduled Assessment:

• • • Each student will be assigned a specific date and time for their Skills Checkpoint. This appointment may fall outside of your usual lab hours to ensure all students are evaluated.
    • It is the student’s responsibility to be punctual and attend the scheduled assessment time. Rescheduling is only permitted in cases of documented emergencies/extenuating circumstances and must be approved by faculty.

Confidentiality and Academic Integrity:

• • • The content, scenarios, and procedures of the Skills Checkpoints are strictly confidential. Students must not share any details of the assessment with peers. This includes discussing the scenario, specific skills performed, or any part of the evaluation process.
    • Sharing content or discussing scenarios with others is considered a breach of academic integrity and will result in disciplinary action according to the Academic Integrity Policy.
    • Cell phones and personal electronic devices are not permitted in the assessment area. Students must secure their devices outside of the testing environment before entering.
    • Students are not permitted to gather, mingle, or wait in the area after completing their Skills Checkpoint. Once a student finishes their evaluation, they are required to leave the lab area immediately to maintain confidentiality for others who have not yet been assessed.

Grading and Evaluation:

• • • Your performance will be evaluated according to the assignment description and grading rubric available in the MyCanvas course shell. It is the student’s responsibility to review these documents in advance to understand the expectations and standards.
    • Evaluations will be conducted individually and objectively by assigned faculty evaluators. No feedback will be provided during the checkpoint to maintain fairness across evaluations.
    • Grades and feedback will be released only after all students have completed their Skills Checkpoint to preserve the integrity of the process.

Students must consistently demonstrate professionalism in all lab settings.

General Conduct

• • The Mohawk College Student Behaviour Policy applies at all times.
  • Respect must be shown toward lab property, equipment, instructors, standardized patients, staff, and classmates.
  • Inappropriate language, conversations, or conduct will not be tolerated.
  • Students may be dismissed from lab for unsafe, unethical, or unprofessional behaviour.
  • Lab spaces are to be used only for learning purposes.
  • Respect the privacy, health, and safety of all individuals.
  • Disruptive behaviours such as tardiness or off-task activities are not permitted.

Attendance and Communication

• • Students are expected to arrive on time and prepared for all lab sessions.
  • In the event of unexpected lateness or absence, students must email the lab instructor as soon as possible.

Electronics Use

• • Students cannot take any photos, videos, or audio recordings in the lab.
  • Video and audio recordings will occur during simulated scenarios and skills check evaluations. The recordings are used for debriefing, learning, and/or evaluation purposes. All participants must sign a consent form before participating in these activities.
  • Phones and personal devices must be silenced and not used during lab time.

Punctuality

Punctuality and regular attendance are essential for future work in the field, as they reinforce professionalism and commitment to learning.

• • Students are expected to arrive to the lab on time every week. A student is considered late if they arrive more than 10 minutes after the lab start time.
  • It is understood that a student may be late for reasons beyond their control; however, consistent lateness will not be tolerated. Students who are late more than twice for lab may be asked to leave and book a supervised lab session.
  • The Lateness algorithm is explained in more detail on the next page.

Equipment and Preparedness

• • Bring all required personal equipment (e.g., stethoscope, lab kit etc.).
  • Students must arrive with completed pre-lab materials and a professional attitude.
  • Students unprepared for lab may be asked to leave and book a supervised lab session.

Personal Belongings

• • Personal items (backpacks, coats etc.) are not permitted inside the Practice or Simulation Labs.
  • Use day-use lockers to store items; locks must be removed at the end of the day.
  • For long-term locker use, contact the Registrar’s Office.

Prohibited in the Lab

• • No food or drink in simulation or practice labs.
  • Do not sit or lie on beds occupied by mannequins.
  • No shoes, pens/markers, or personal items on beds or stretchers.
  • Avoid jewellery that could pose a risk to yourself or others.

Lab equipment safety

• • Wash hands before and after mannequin use.
  • Injection sites may not be used on mannequins. Please use “injecta” pad.
  • Alcohol wipes cannot be used on simulated mannequins as they will permanently stain the “skin”.Use wipes in blue packages provided at each bedside
  • Do not move mannequins in any way.
  • “Patients” (real or practice) must remove shoes when lying on beds.

Scent-Free Environment

• • Labs are scent-free. No perfumes, colognes, or scented products allowed.

The lab is a clinical space and as such, students must follow appropriate dress for a clinical environment. This is based on principles of professionalism, infection control, personal safety, and role identification

• • Wear appropriate uniforms (scrubs) during lab sessions and simulations. The scrub top should have the Mohawk College embroidered emblem indicated for the Mohawk College Practical Nursing program.
  • Students should always have their ID badge with them and visible.
  • Hair should be off the face.
  • No artificial nails or nail enhancements.
  • Jewelry must be kept to a minimum.
  • Masking policies follow current healthcare facility guidelines.
  • Footwear must be secure, have an enclosed toe and heel, no mesh or holes, low-heeled, and slip-resistant soles as per Occupational Health and Safety requirements

Considerations are made for individual dress that is specific to cultural or religious beliefs. Consult program guidelines for dress code clarity.

Allow 10 minutes at the end of lab for cleaning and organizing.

• • Clean your station and return supplies to carts.
  • Reset the area: lower beds, tidy linens, return furniture to original positions.
  • Clean mannequins using blue-packaged wipes.
  • Bag used linens and place them on the designated cart.
  • Clean any writing off the whiteboard.
  • Return supply carts in neat, original condition.
  • Do not remove dressings/wounds unless you applied them.
  • Clean and tidy your area following independent open lab practice sessions.

Failure to adhere to the Nursing Lab Policy and Code of Conduct may result in:

• • Dismissal from the lab session.
  • Loss of lab privileges.
  • Academic penalties.
  • Risk to course and program completion.

If you have questions regarding this policy, reach out to your Lab Instructor, Lab Professor, or the Program Coordinator.