Faculty of Health
Introduction
The Faculty of Health consists of the School of Health and Human Performance, School of Health Administration, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, School of Social Work, School of Nursing, School of Occupational Therapy, School of Physiotherapy, College of Pharmacy, and the School of Health Sciences. The various undergraduate programs are described in the College, School, and other program sections of this Calendar. Details of the graduate programs in the Clinical Vision Science program and offered in the Schools are described in the Calendar of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
In addition to the policies listed, please refer to the following other student related policies at http://healthprofessions.dal.ca:
- Allegation of Professional Unsuitability Policy
- FHP Immunization Policy
- Occupational Health and Infectious Diseases: Pre-clinical Placement Requirements for Health Care Worker Students
- Suspension or Dismissal from a Program on the Grounds of Professional Unsuitability
- Guidelines for Personal Safety in Fieldwork Placements
Policy Statement on Affirmative Action
The Faculty of Health recognizes that Affirmative Action is required to increase the admission of and number of graduates from underrepresented groups; Aboriginal peoples, African Canadians and Persons with (dis)Abilities. The constituent Units of the Faculty will develop and implement Affirmative Action policies that are consistent with the Human Rights Commission.
As a matter of priority, the Faculty will develop strategies to identify and create recruitment and support systems that will encourage and support members of these underrepresented groups to apply to and graduate from the Faculty of Health.
Policy Statement on Interprofessional Health Education
Students in the Faculties of Dentistry, Health and Medicine are required to participate in interprofessional health education activities. These activities, together with specific program requirements, are currently evolving and in transition and are integrated into the curricula of individual programs. Participation is mandatory. The objective of interprofessional education in the Faculty of Health include developing:
- knowledge and understanding of, and respect for, the expertise, roles and values of other health and human service professionals.
- understanding the concept and practice of patient/client/family-centred care.
- effective communication, teamwork and leadership skills applied in interprofessional contexts.
- positive attitudes related to the value of collaboration and teamwork in health and human service contexts.
- an understanding, from a multi-disciplinary perspective, of the Canadian health and social systems, the legal and regulatory foundation of professional practice, how health and human service institutions are organized and operate, and how different health and human service professions contribute to the systems and institutions.
Students in the entry-to-practice programs in the Faculty of Health, are required to maintain enrolment in IPHE 4900/ IPHE 5900 (see calendar section on Health Professions Interprofessional Health Education) for the duration of their studies. Successful completion of this course is a requirement for graduation in all programs and will be recognized further with the awarding of a Certificate in Interprofessional Collaboration. For more information, students should contact their specific school/college.
Statement Regarding Criminal Records Check
The Faculty of Health of Dalhousie University does not require a Criminal Records Check or other screening procedure (e.g., Vulnerable Sector Screen) as a condition of admission into its programs. However, students should be aware that such record checks or other screening procedures may be required by facilities outside the University used for clinical, fieldwork or co-op placements or experiences related to an academic class assignment, which, in some instances, may be a requirement for graduation. It is the student’s responsibility to have such procedures completed.
Such facilities may refuse to accept students on the basis of information contained in the record check or other screening procedures. If the student is unable to complete a clinical requirement due to a failure to meet the record check or screening requirements of the facility, or if the student is refused access to the facility on the basis of the information provided, such a student may fail the class, and as a result, in some instances, may not be eligible for progression or graduation.
Students should check with their School/College for details concerning any record checks or screening requirements relevant to clinical, fieldwork, or placements in their particular program. Note that facility requirements may change from time to time and are beyond the control of the University.
Students should also be aware that some professional regulatory bodies may require a satisfactory record check as a condition of professional licensure.
Practicum/Fieldwork Placements Outside Halifax
Students enrolled in programs of study in the Faculty of Health (Health Sciences, Nursing, Health and Human Performance, Social Work and Pharmacy) are advised that they may have to do some or all of their required clinical education/fieldwork at sites outside Halifax, and hence may have to incur additional personal expenses for travel and temporary accommodation.
In some situations, sites may require a payment to the site for support of clinical education/fieldwork supervision, and some sites may require separate disability insurance in lieu of eligibility for Worker Compensation coverage. Such costs are the responsibility of the student.
Student Disclosure of Health Information
Faculty of Health
Students registered in this Faculty are encouraged to inform both the School/College and the field work learning sites if they have a health concern that has the potential to compromise client, student and/or agency personnel safety and/or has the potential for limiting their ability to learn and perform their role as learner.
For the purposes of this policy, the term health concern refers to any cognitive, affective, and/or physical health problem, injury, or condition that may place the student and/or others at risk and/or inhibit the student’s learning ability and performance.
Guidelines for Disclosure
The student has the right to decide if disclosure of health information is appropriate. The method, timing, and extent of the disclosure is at the student’s discretion (for consultation options, see below). Early disclosure of the following information regarding the health concern may be helpful to students in the academic and/or field work sites.
To disclose this information:
- Clearly describe the nature of the health concern and the potential limitations with regard to the learning tasks expected in either the academic or field work site. Appropriate verification of the information may be required.
- List any adaptations, modifications, and/or safety procedures that may be required in planning the student’s learning experiences in either setting.
- Provide clear and appropriate advice regarding the management of this health concern.
If the disclosure of health information in field work and/or academic sites produces difficulties, students are encouraged to report these difficulties immediately to the appropriate person(s) within both the field work site and/or within their educational program (see below). Discrimination in any form will not be tolerated.
Students are advised to make the initial contact with the person with whom they are most comfortable from the lists below. These individuals would be available for consultation/advocacy:
- Academic /faculty advisor
- Field work coordinator(s)
- Director of the School or College where student is enrolled
- Dean of the Faculty of Health
- Advisor to Students with Disabilities, Dalhousie University
- Dalhousie/King’s Association of Students with Disabilities
- Human Rights Commission
College of Pharmacy
- Preceptor
- Site coordinator
- Externship administrator
School of Nursing
- Clinical instructor
- Class professor
- Associate Director, Undergraduate Student Affairs
- Nurse Practitioner/Arctic Nursing Program Coordinator
School of Occupational Therapy
- Preceptor
- Field site director
- Provincial or Atlantic Region fieldwork education coordinators
School of Physiotherapy
- Clinical Instructor
- Centre Coordinator of Clinical Education
- Provincial Coordinator
School of Social Work
- Agency field instructor
- Program coordinator
- Faculty field instructor
School of Health Administration
School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
School of Health and Human Performance
- Student Services Administrator
School of Health Sciences
- Clinical Education Coordinator