CLINICAL EDUCATION COMPETENCIES
The ATP has developed clinical education policies relating to the athletic training practicum rotations, clinical hour logs, supervision, and student evaluations. These polices apply to any clinical education environment which the ATP has an affiliation agreement.
A) Clinical Course (Athletic Training Practicum) Rotation:
a. The clinical education field experiences provide the student with opportunity for informal learning and practice of clinical proficiencies. Ample opportunities for supervised experience working with athletic practice and competition are tailored to meet specific goals and objectives.
b. Clinical education is incorporated through athletic training practicums which begin in the second semester of the program. These athletic training practicums follow a particular course that encompasses educational competencies as well as clinical proficiencies. Each practicum has detailed clinical objectives the student must meet for a portion of the course grade. Students must enroll and successfully complete the requirements for the practicum before continuation in the clinical education portion of the program. The percentages of the practicum are 40% clinical experience, 40% skill performance, 10% case studies, and 10% other content areas. The following is a description for each practicum:
Professional Student (Freshman) - Spring Semester
A) Spring Semester: HPS 121 Professional Practicum: Athletic Training Facility
Level I (Sophomore) - First Year Athletic Training Student Professional Phase
A) Fall Semester: HPS 220 Athletic Training Practicum I: Equipment Intensive
B) Spring Semester: HPS 221 Athletic Training Practicum II: Upper Extremity
Level II (Junior) - Second Year Athletic Training Student Professional Phase
A) Fall Semester: HPS 320 Athletic Training Practicum III: Lower Extremity
B) Spring Semester: HPS 321 Athletic Training Practicum IV: Theraputic Modalities and Physical Therapy
Level III (Senior) - Third Year Athletic Training Student Professional Phase
A) Fall Semester: HPS 420 Athletic Training Practicum V: General Medical Conditions and Rehabilitation
B) Spring Semester: HPS 421 Athletic Training Practicum VI: Athletic Training Administration and BOC Certification Preparation
B) Clinical Hours and Log:
a. Clinical hours must be registered in the clinical hour log daily and signed by the student's Preceptor. The Preceptor is responsible to accurately monitor the registering of student hours periodically (at least twice a month). It is the student's responsibility to registered and tabulate hours for Preceptor verification. If the student does not register hours, those missing must be made up for clinical education requirements.
b. Level I-III athletic training students are to accumulate a minimum of 10 hours and a maximum of 60 hours in a week. Athletic training students are to have one day off per seven day period. Work hours must be considered appropriate for learning experiences; therefore dead-time hours are not to be accumulated. Examples: rain delays, time when team is in film sessions, early training facility hours with no athletes, other situations as deemed by preceptor. Therefore, some weeks will have more and some will have less depending of the particular clinical site schedule. The student must continually plan for events, practices, and competition at their clinical site. The Preceptor will notify the ATS of any changes to the schedule when it becomes available. Students are not required to travel out of town during the clinical experience; therefore, release time is provided during off days. Students can travel when opportunities become available baring the fact that academic performance does not falter. Every effort should be made to provide time off for academic performance. Students are not given time off for outside employment.
c. Professional students will work a minimum of 10 hours per week, the KT Woodman Outdoor Track/Field Meet in April, two home events during the spring semester, and any indoor track/filed meets. These are required events. Professional athletic training students are evaluated during the spring semester on three specific areas consisting of: (1) work performance while serving as a student observer in the clinical site (50%), (2) personal attributes and attitude (25%), and (3) participation and preparation of competency reviews, skills, and other content areas (25%).
c. Pre-professional phase students must observe an average of 5-7 hours per week. In addition, student observers must work two home events at WSU during the fall semester, one high school football game with a Level 1 student, and the JK Black/Gold Cross Country Classic in September. All of these are required events. Perspective athletic training students are evaluated during the observation component on three specific areas consisting of: (1) work performance while serving as a student observer in the clinical site (50%), (2) personal attributes and attitude (25%), and (3) participation and preparation of competency reviews, skills, and other content areas (25%).
C) Clinical Supervision:
a. Direct supervision applies to instruction and evaluation of clinical proficiencies by a Preceptor. Constant visual and auditory interaction between the student and Preceptor must be maintained.
b. Clinical supervision applies to the field experience under the direction of Preceptor. Daily personal/verbal contact at the setting of supervision between the student and Preceptor, who plans, directs, advises, and evaluates the student's field experience. The Preceptor shall be physically present to intervene on behalf of the athlete/patent.
D) Clinical Evaluation:
a. The comprehensive assessment plan for the ATP evaluates a variety of issues relating to student skill acquisition, personal/professional attributes, and work performance. These assessments provide the program and student with valuable information to appraise their overall performance. Each evaluation is kept on file in the student's portfolio in the Education Coordinator's office. The ATP reviews the information and uses the evaluation tools to find any weaknesses or strengths of the program.
b. Students provide vital information about the effectiveness and efficiency of the program. Therefore, students will have ample opportunity to complete various assessments about the academic program, Preceptor, clinical sites, and clinical experience. An overview of this comprehensive assessment plan includes:
1. Written student evaluations of individual courses and instructors.
2. Written student evaluations of supervising Preceptor for each CAATE required clinical rotation: equipment intensive, upper extremity, lower extremity, and general medical.
3.Written Preceptors evaluations of the student each semester.
4. Written student evaluations of clinical sites.
5. Written graduating senior evaluation during the last semester in the ATP.
6. Oral exit interviews with graduating seniors during the last semester in the ATP.
7. Written student evaluations of advising with the HPS Undergraduate Major Advisor regarding required coursework and degree requirements.
8.Alumni evaluation regarding professional preparation at 1 year and 3 year.
9. Employer evaluation within the first year of employment regarding professional preparation.