illegal. Examples of illegal drugs include, but are not limited to, stimulants, depressants, narcotics or hallucinogenic drugs, cannabis substances, such as marijuana and hashish, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, phencyclidine (PCP), and so-called designer drugs and look-alike drugs. Drugs that are legal in some states but not recognized as legal by the federal government are also defined as illegal drugs. This includes such drugs that are recommended by a medical doctor for treatment of a condition (e.g., medical marijuana).

Impaired: A person's mental or physical capabilities are reduced below normally acceptable levels (with or without any reasonable accommodation for a disability). An impaired student manifests deterioration in the level of function as compared to that previously observed, or the student does not function at a level normally expected under the prevailing circumstances. Impairment may exist in one or more multiple domains, including psychomotor activity and skills, conceptual or factual recall, integrative or synthetic thought processes, judgment, attentiveness, demeanor and attitudes as manifested in speech or actions. Impairment will include changes in function related use, addiction to, and / or physical dependence upon chemical substances, illegal or legally prescribed.

Nursing Student: Any individual formally enrolled in a SON program, including those individuals enrolled in distance education courses.

Substance Abuse: The manufacture, use, sale, purchase, distribution, transfer or possession of an illegal drug by any nursing student while on university or affiliated clinical site premises or while participating in any University or affiliated clinical site-sponsored or related activity, including any nursing-related course or clinical training activity.

Drug and Alcohol Use and Duty to Notify of Drug/Alcohol Convictions

1. Any substance abuse, as defined in this policy, or a violation of any term of the University Policy, while engaged in any clinical experience is strictly prohibited. All students enrolled in SON courses or programs are required to abide by these rules when reporting to nursing-related courses and clinical experiences and while at affiliating clinical agencies (including parking lots and grounds). Nursing students who violate these rules will be deemed unable to meet the essential qualifications/functions of the nursing curriculum and thus, subject to dismissal from the nursing program.
2. Under no circumstance should nursing students participate in nursing-related courses or clinical activities while they are impaired.
3. Nursing students determined by appropriate SON officials to have violated these prescriptions may be dismissed from the SON.