PHT5806 Clinical Practicum Syllabus

Additional Syllabus Information

• Prerequisites

  Prerequisites: Successful completion of previous courses in the DPT curriculum. Clinical Prerequisites: documentation of the following:

  • Background Check completed through CastleBranch
  • 10-panel Drug Screen
  • Up-to-date BLS certification
  • Yearly health examination
  • MMR immunization proof
  • Tuberculosis check: Written proof of negative Tb skin test within twelve months, or chest xray within three years
  • Hepatitis B: Written proof of immunity via titer, or a signed waiver
  • Varicella: Written proof of immunity via titer, or documentation of 2 vaccinations
  • Tetanus/Diphtheria immunization
  • Professional Liability Insurance – provided by UNF
  • Additional requirements may be imposed by the clinical site.
• Instructional Methods

  Students receive clinical mentoring by a licensed physical therapist at their assigned clinical site. Students are expected to demonstrate adult learning behaviors by seeking out learning opportunities and clearly communicating goals and expectations to clinical mentors and faculty.

• Self-Assessment Activities

  Students are expected to establish individual goals, review goals with on-site clinical instructors, and evaluate their personal performances. In addition, students will be expected to complete a reflection assignment to help them question their own actions, define moments of success and/or failure, and validate their professional development. Students will be expected to participate in an informational session, a debriefing group meeting held around the end of the semester, and other sessions as scheduled.

• Attendance and Punctuality

  Due to the nature of this experience, much of the learning takes place during the clinical sessions. Attendance is expected for all scheduled classes and clinical sessions. The Department of Physical Therapy at the University of North Florida strongly believes that professional behavior patterns begin during the student’s academic preparation and continue in the clinical setting. Students are expected to notify both the course instructor and the clinical instructor in advance in the event of an absence from the scheduled session. If a student must miss a clinical session due to an unavoidable emergency, student should attempt to work with the clinical instructor to schedule a time to make up the lost hours. If a student is ill and feel his/her presence would put patients at risk, the student must notify the clinical instructor prior to the start of the assigned session. Make-up sessions will be at the discretion of the instructor.

  Punctuality is important in both clinical sessions and in the classroom. Students are expected to arrive on time (this is defined as 15 minutes prior to the scheduled clinical session and prior to the instructor initiating the session). If a student is absent from a clinical session without notification, continuance at the setting will be at the discretion of the course instructor and the clinical instructor. If a student is late, he/she will receive a written warning.

• Dress Code

  Students will be expected to be appropriately dressed. For this course appropriate is defined as UNF PT Program Polo shirt, solid color pants (no denim), UNF PT Program name tag, and closed-toed shoes. For student and patient safety, long, dangling earrings or large loop earrings are not allowed. Hair should be pulled back if it will potentially dangle when leaning over. Artificial fingernails are not allowed.

• Disability Statement

  If for any reason a student is concerned about meeting the objectives and expectations of this course, the student shall notify the instructors within five (5) weekdays of the start of class so that accommodations may be implemented where indicated. Students with disabilities who seek reasonable accommodations in the classroom or other aspects of performing their coursework must register with the UNF Student Accessibility Center (SAC) located in Building 57, Room 1500. SAC staff members work with students to obtain required documentation of disability and to identify appropriate accommodations as required by applicable disability laws including the American with Disability Act (ADA). After receiving all necessary documentation, the SAC staff determines whether a student qualifies for services with the SAC and if so, the accommodations the student needs will be provided. SAC staff prepares a letter for the student to provide faculty advising them of approved accommodations. For further information, contact SAC by phone (904) 620-2769, email (SAC@unf.edu), or visit the SAC website.

• Grading Scale

  This course will be graded on a pass/fail basis. Students must show timely and satisfactory completion and submission of all documentation noted in the Grading Criteria section of this syllabus.

• Grading Criteria

  The on-site clinical instructor will assess and document the student’s performance of skills and written and verbal communication with patients, families, and colleagues utilizing the practicum evaluation form during the final week of the rotation. Students will also self-assess their clinical performance and professional behaviors using the evaluation form during the final week in addition to the reflective journal. Students and Clinical Instructors should meet on an on-going basis throughout the clinical experience to discuss goals and objectives, strengths and weaknesses, and to plan future learning experiences.

• Minimal acceptable criteria for this clinical experience are as follows
  1. Satisfactory completion of all prerequisite requirements as outlined above. Immunizations and certifications must be in compliance with site policies.
  2. Attendance at scheduled clinical sessions.
  3. Timely completion of any written or oral assignments by the DCE/CCCE/CI.
     1. Assignments turned in late without prior communication and agreement will receive a 25% deduction for each day late and a zero after 4 days.
  4. Completion and submission of documentation provided to the DCE according to deadlines provided. Documentation includes, but is not limited to: reflection assignments, practicum evaluation completed and signed by student and the CI.
  5. No “unresolved significant concerns” by the CI.
  6. Must score 85% of the possible points in order to pass.
• Evaluation Methods

  Evaluation Methds

  Method	Percentage
  Attendance at all class meetings scheduled before, during, and after experience; Attendance at all scheduled clinical sessions and adherence to professional, legal, and ethical standards of practice	30%
  Directed Activities - Reflective Journal	40%
  Assignments; Satisfactory completion of all items on Practicum Evaluation Form as determined by the DCE and/or ADCE in conjunction with the CI	30%
  Total	100%

• Course Objectives

  Upon completion of this course the student should be able to:

  1. Identify the need for effective time management in the clinical environment. (Level 1) (7D1, 7D4)
  2. Begin to communicate in a professional manner with professional and support staff at a level appropriate to the experience. (Level 1) (7D5, 7D7, 7D8, 7D25)
  3. Observe the foundations of safe, professional, ethical and legal practice. (Level 2) (7D1, 7D4, 7D5)
  4. Adhere to proper body mechanics and safety procedures at all times. (Level 2) (7D37)
  5. Apply patient confidentiality practices and HIPAA regulations during clinical observation. (Level 3) (7D1, 7D4, 7D5)
  6. Comply with the administrative policies and procedures of the practice environment. (level 2) (7D2)
  7. Determine factors that may affect communication with patients, therapists, and physicians, and develop strategies that will aid in communication and facilitate learning. (Level 3) (7D5, 7D7, 7D8)
  8. Demonstrate ability to gather and communicate pertinent patient information contained in the medical record. (Level 3) (7D1, 7D20, 7D32)
  9. Execute previously established patient care plans utilizing clinical problem solving and professional judgment, with guidance from the clinical instructor. (Level 3) (7D10, 7D20, 7D21, 7D22, 7D24)
  10. Demonstrate professional behaviors that foster positive relationships and explain how a lack of these behaviors can negatively impact learning and patient care. (Level 3) (7D4, 7D5)
  11. Reflect on experiences and reactions in the clinical environment; consider steps to take in adjusting future reactions. (Level 6) (7D, 7D38)
• Academic Integrity Code And Academic Misconduct Policies

  Students are expected to abide by the graduate school’s policy on academic integrity. The academic integrity of UNF and the Physical Therapy Program will be strictly enforced. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to: Cheating, Fabrication and Falsification, Multiple Submissions, Plagiarism, Abuse of Academic Materials, and Complicity in Academic Dishonesty. Adherence to this policy is consistent with behaviors expected of a health care professional and reinforces the APTA Code of Ethics that forms the foundation for ethical practice of physical therapy. Failure to abide by the UNF policy on academic integrity will result in immediate dismissal from the Physical Therapy Program.

• Course Schedule
  • Orientation to Clinical Education Practicum
  • Wednesdays at scheduled times throughout spring semester
  • Meeting scheduled during and after experience for wrap-up and assessment