MLS - Traditional Preceptorship Information

Preceptorship Information

Philosophy of Clinical Education

All academic preparation is directed towards the acquisition of the knowledge, technical skills, and attitudes necessary for the practice of the laboratory sciences. Clinical Education is an intrinsic part of the preparation process. This integration develops in two environments: (1) clinical classroom preparation to the maximum extent possible and (2) education which occurs in the clinical settings must be responsive to the student’s individual level of academic preparation and readiness. Students are offered clinical rotations in their professional education, allowing them the opportunity to integrate their clinical skills with didactic work.

In selection of clinical sites, the quality of patient care, the enthusiasm of the staff for working with students, and the size of the department or laboratory are all factors carefully considered.

Clinical Affiliates

To view a list of all affiliated facilities, please visit the website: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/bachelor-of-science-medical-laboratory-science/affiliates.aspx.

Affiliate availability is subject to change. A current, updated list of available cities/towns will be provided to the class following completion of the junior year.

MLS Clinical Preceptorship Assignment Policy and Procedure

Policy

It is the intent of the MLS program to provide each student with a meaningful clinical laboratory preceptorship experience. The activities of the clinical preceptorship will include, but are not limited to:

1. Benchwork under supervision.
2. Participation in the quality control program.
3. Attendance at lectures or seminars at the institution.
4. Observation of other departments in the institution.

Students must complete the full requirement hours of the preceptorship rotation. Hours missed due to absences, for any reason, are required to be made up at the discretion and convenience of the affiliate which could affect the student’s ability to complete the program or graduate on time.

To provide each student with a clinical experience, students must be assigned to a preceptorship site months in advance to accommodate the affiliate requirements, needs of the student, and needs of the MLS program. The availability of preceptorship sites for the MLS program is based not only on a contractual agreement between the facility providing the preceptorship and the program but on the ability of the affiliate to accommodate a student in a given semester. Students are expected to be prepared to relocate to complete their assigned preceptorship.

TTUHSC guarantees preceptorship placements at a current affiliate associated with TTUHSC. Students are assigned their preceptorship placement through a procedure as described below. Due to contract policies, students are not allowed to contact current affiliates associated with the MLS program to solicit placement. Students who are employed in a full-service clinical laboratory have the responsibility of informing the employer of their student status no later than the 2nd semester of the program. TTUHSC MLS will not reach out on the students’ behalf to arrange preceptorship placement with the employer. The students’ employer must make contact with the program to discuss potential placement for preceptorship. This type of preceptorship placement is NOT guaranteed.

Procedure

1. Each applicant interviewed will be informed of the preceptorship assignment procedure.
2. Each applicant accepted into the MLS program will be provided an example of the Clinical Preceptorship Assignment Form (CPAF, Appendix B) in their copy of the student handbook. The policy and explanation of the CPAF will be discussed during orientation in August of the junior year.
3. A current, up-to-date CPAF is provided to the student in the summer following the completion of the junior year.
4. The completed CPAF is returned by the deadline determined by the Clinical Education Coordinator.
5. The clinical education coordinator will enter the CPAF ranking into a program utilizing the following to make assignments:

a. Available contracted clinical slots.
b. Class ranking of students.
c. Professional Evaluation score.
d. Needs of the affiliated.
e. Needs of the program.
f. Needs of the student.

6. Each student will receive two copies of a contract during the summer semester informing them of their clinical preceptorship assignment. The student will have five working days to sign and return one of the provided copies of the contract to the Affiliate Coordinator. A student failing to return the contracts within five working days will forfeit their clinical preceptorship spot.
7. Proof of health insurance must be presented to the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs (806) 743-3220) by deadline assigned.
8. Students who are recycling through the program or whose performance at a previous clinical experience was below expectation for the level of training will receive their preceptorship assignment based on availability first, class ranking second, and preference last.

The student is responsible for ALL costs associated with clinical preceptorship experiences including onboarding fees, transportation, housing, meals, uniforms (scrubs, if required), drug screens, additional criminal background checks required by the facility, and other incidental expenses associated with relocation and/or preceptorship requirements. This could include additional immunizations and titers to check immunity.

Any stipend or scholarships offered by an affiliate, applied toward a student’s education, do not imply employment and do not allow student responsibility for direct patient and/or reportable work during scheduled educational periods.

TTUHSC Office of Institutional Health (OIH) reviews all immunizations records submitted by students after admittance into our programs. Each student is responsible for complying with requests from OIH regarding facility-specific requirements that could include titers, TB testing, flu shots, boosters, etc.

NOTE: Based on their contracts, each facility has the right to terminate their affiliation with the MLS program up until the student enters their clinical preceptorship. On occasion, a facility will terminate a contract prior to the beginning of the clinical preceptorships. The MLS Program will make every effort to find the student another preceptorship spot in that location; however, be aware the only available preceptorship spot may be located in another city or another preceptorship spot may not be available at that time. Any and all expenses in changing a preceptorship site are the responsibility of the student.

Each student will be given a score based on their class ranking, 74%, and professional evaluation grade, 26%. Students who are not placed in a preceptorship will go on a waiting list (in order of class rank) and will be placed if, and when, a preceptorship site becomes available.

Students who are in the grade appeals process will not start preceptorship until the outcome of the appeals process is determined. This may delay the start date of preceptorship, thereby delaying the completion date of preceptorship and, potentially, the student’s graduation date.

Students who have a PR (in progress) grade for any coursework prior to the preceptorship semester cannot begin preceptorship until the coursework is successfully completed.

If a student is unable to complete preceptorship in the assigned semester, there is no guarantee a preceptorship site will be available outside of the MLS program’s lock-step curriculum.

Appeal of the Preceptorship Assignment

Upon receiving the contract, the student has five working days to appeal, in writing, the preceptorship assignment. The written appeal with the CPAF and attached documentation will be submitted to the Program Director who will forward the appeal to the Preceptorship Assignment Appeal Committee. The committee will meet within seven working days to review the appeal. Upon reviewing the appeal(s), the committee will provide a written report within three working days to the Program Director. The Program Director will inform the student of the final decision.

Preceptorship Expectations

Professional Behavior in the Classroom and Affiliate Lab

All students are expected to exhibit consistent professional conduct in the classroom and laboratory setting. Students are expected to maintain an environment that will ensure that all students have an opportunity to learn and participate. Disruptive behaviors include the use of cell phones, challenges to faculty authority, demanding special treatment, tardiness, leaving early, offensive remarks, chattering, reading newspapers or magazines, general internet browsing, sleeping, or overt inattentiveness. It is unacceptable for any School of Health Professions student to interact with any patient or client outside the scope of clinical practice. This includes any and all social networking sites, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, text messaging, and email. Inappropriate behavior will result, minimally, in a request for the student to leave class. After the first incident of inappropriate behavior, the instructor or Program Director will discuss the behavioral deficiency with the student as soon as possible. If a second incident occurs, the instructor will refer the student to the regional chair or Program Director for formal counseling. Counseling sessions will be documented and become part of the student’s permanent file. Repeated offenses will result in disciplinary action deemed appropriate to the offense according to the Department of Laboratory Sciences and Primary Care Student Handbook and the Program Director.

HIPAA Routine Monitoring of EMR User Access

TTUHSC HIPAA Privacy Policy HPP 7.1 and TTUHSC Ambulatory Clinic Policy ACP 5.09 require that TTUHSC workforce members, including students, should not access their own or their family members’ PHI, nor request other employees to access the PHI, in order to protect the integrity of information contained in the records. This is monitored regularly by the Office of Institutional Compliance. Upon program notification of the 1st offense, the student will receive a warning and documented behavioral counseling. The second offense will result in a recommendation for program dismissal.

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to follow the rotation schedule as set forth by their affiliate. Any changes to preceptorship schedules required by the program or the affiliate site must be approved by both the program and the affiliate site. The department and program affiliates are required to document attendance. Students must clock in and out daily via Trajecsys. Daily attendance and promptness are absolute requirements of the program. Absence is excused only by permission of the Clinical Education Coordinator and Education Coordinator. All absences must be made up. Make-up days can occur during student holiday periods and/or after the scheduled preceptorship. In the case of multiple absences (2 or more days) or an extended absence due to medical reasons, a physician’s statement will be required. Document absences and the make-up schedule on the Student Absence Report Form provided. Excessive tardiness or absences are considered in the event that issues of professionalism and/or remediation arise. When absences jeopardize a student’s standing in a class, it is the responsibility of the instructors to report that fact to the student and to the Program Director. Excessive absences, 20% of class, may constitute cause for dropping a student from class; in such a case, the grade of WF will be given (withdraw/failing).

Student Counseling

In the event that the Clinical Education Coordinator and/or clinical instructor deems an event necessary for disciplinary action, a Student Counseling Report must be completed and signed by the student, clinical instructor, and Clinical Education Coordinator. The original is forwarded to the university, and the Clinical Education Coordinator retains a copy. The following are examples of events that would require counseling: tardiness, unexcused absences, demonstration of poor professionalism, retake of an exam, and poor didactic/preceptorship application.

Student Employment & Service Work Policy

Students often work outside of class time and scheduled preceptorship work. Student employment at an affiliate site must be non-compulsory and must be outside of assigned preceptorship hours. In this capacity, the student is an employee of the institution that hired them, and they have no affiliation with the Molecular Pathology program. In NO case should the work time be scheduled such that it will interfere with scheduled class time or preceptorship hours. Participation in service work (health fairs and screenings) is strictly a student volunteer service and not a requirement of the program. In addition, volunteer positions and/or shadowing health professionals in areas outside the clinical lab must NOT be scheduled such that they interfere with scheduled class time or preceptorships.

The clinical affiliates are committed to teaching and are adequately staffed for service without student assistance. Students are under supervision at all times. If the clinical supervisor feels that the department cannot adequately teach a student due to a temporary shortage of personnel or other reasons, no student is scheduled in that department. Students must not be substituted as regular staff during their Preceptorship. Stipends and scholarships toward a student’s education do not imply employment and do not allow student responsibility for direct patient and/or reportable work during scheduled educational periods.

Emergency Related Closures

Students on preceptorship or clinical placements are to follow the policies of their affiliate or clinical site regarding emergency-related closures. Suspension of classes or office closures on a TTUHSC campus does not supersede the policies of the affiliate or clinical site.

Clinical Preceptorship Grade Policy

Students must follow the academic and professional conduct standards as prescribed by the university. Clinical Preceptorship I will be on campus in the fall of the 2nd year. Successful completion of this course will allow the student to matriculate to Clinical Preceptorship II and III.

The student must meet or exceed to Minimum Passing Score on each End-of Rotation (EOR) test, a 70% or better on any practical exams given by the preceptor, a 60% or above on the professional evaluation, and complete all tasks on each Departmental Task List with a minimum score of 2.0 (70%). In addition, the average score on each task list must meet or exceed 2.0 (70%) to pass the corresponding clinical rotation to successfully complete HPML 4741, Clinical Preceptorship II, and HPML 4842, Clinical Preceptorship III.

The student is allowed two attempts of each EOR, with the higher grade being recorded. The second EOR is not a repeat of the first attempt but a new test with different questions.

If a student fails to meet or exceed the MPS on both attempts of an EOR test in a rotation they will receive a written (email) warning from the Clinical Education Coordinator and a remediation plan will be developed. The failure to meet or exceed the MPS after two (2) attempts of a second EOR test will result in counseling and a written (email) warning from the Program Director. A remediation plan will be developed. Remediation may require an extension of the clinical rotation which could prevent or delay a student’s graduation from the program.

Remediation is limited to two (2) different EORs. Failure to meet or exceed the MPS after two (2) attempts on a third EOR will result in a score below 70% (or 66% for Micro) and may result in dismissal from the program. There is no remediation plan available for failure to meet or exceed the MPS in two attempts of a third EOR. 

**If any student fails to make a 70% or better on a practical exam, the Clinical Instructor should notify the Clinical Education Coordinator immediately. Documentation of Student Counseling and remediation plan will be noted on the Student Counseling report. The remediation plan may be developed by the Clinical Education Coordinator, Education Coordinator/Clinical Instructor, Program Director, and university and clinical faculty. Remediation may include an extension of the clinical rotation. This could prevent or delay a student’s graduation from the program.

Dress Code

The TTUHSC MLS program is a professional program. Students are expected to dress accordingly anytime while on campus or at an affiliate site, including attendance at tests and exams. Some items that are prohibited include:

1. halter tops
2. spaghetti straps
3. midriffs
4. short shorts
5. short skirts
6. clothing items with excessive rips and tears
7. exercise attire

Student’s hair should be clean and well-groomed. It is recommended that long hair be pulled back while in the lab. 

While tattoos, body piercings, and alternate hair colors are not prohibited they cannot be overtly distracting or a safety hazard.

For preceptorship, information regarding specific dress codes of the clinical sites will be provided by the affiliate site, Affiliate Coordinator, or Clinical Education Coordinator.

At all times students must wear name badges. Failure to do so may result in a request to leave and will result in an unexcused absence.