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. For this reason, extensive integration of classroom learning with experiences in the clinical setting must occur. 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 continuously 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, the testing menu offered, and the size of the department or laboratory are all factors carefully considered.
MP Clinical Affiliates
Some affiliates may require an application and interview process.
Additional criminal background checks, urine drug screens, and vaccinations are required for some affiliates.
To view a list of all affiliated facilities, please visit the website at https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/master-of-science-molecular-pathology/affiliates.aspx.
Affiliate availability is subject to change. A current, updated list of available cities/towns will be provided to the class after completion of the summer semester.
Molecular Pathology Clinical Preceptorship Assignment Policy and Procedure
Policy
It is the intent of the MP program to provide each student with a meaningful molecular laboratory preceptorship experience. The activities of the clinical preceptorship include, but are not limited to:
- Benchwork under supervision.
- Participation in the quality control program.
- Attendance at lectures or seminars at the institution.
- Observation of other departments in the institution.
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 MP program. Currently, the preceptorship sites are located throughout the United States. The availability of preceptorship sites for the MP program is based not only on a contractual agreement between the facility providing the preceptorship (usually a hospital, reference laboratory, or university laboratory) and the program but on the ability of the affiliate to accommodate a student in a given semester. Due to contract policies, students may not contact current affiliates associated with the MP program to solicit placement. Students are expected to be prepared to relocate to complete their assigned preceptorship.
Procedure
1. Each applicant interviewed will be informed of the preceptorship assignment procedure.
2. Each applicant accepted into the MP program will be provided an example of the Clinical Preceptorship Assignment Form (CPAF, Appendix B) in the student handbook. The policy and the explanation of the CPAF will be discussed during orientation in May.
3. A current up-to-date CPAF is provided to the student following completion of the summer semester.
4. The completed CPAF is returned, along with any documentation the student wants to be considered during the preceptorship assignment process, by the deadline determined by the clinical education coordinator.
5. The clinical education coordinator will enter the CPAF rankings into a program utilizing the following to make assignments:
a. Needs of the affiliate.
b. Class ranking of students.
c. Needs of the MP program
d. Needs of the student.
6. Each student will receive two copies of a contract during the fall 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 by deadline assigned.
8. Students who are recycling through the program or whose performance at a previous clinical experience was below expectations 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 stipends 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 MP 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 MP 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.
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.
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.
Clinical Preceptorship Grade Policy
Students must follow the academic and professional conduct standards as prescribed by the university. The student must score at least a 70.000% on the professional evaluation and demonstrate or have observed all tasks at the PAS level. Additionally, students must complete disease case reports on molecular tests scoring at least a 70.000% on each report, submit journal entries at the PAS level, and complete the Program Exit Paperwork to successfully complete HPMP 5342.
In addition, each student will complete the following: Exit Survey, Affiliate Evaluations, and Outstanding Teaching Tech nomination. These items are to be completed by the date designated by the instructor. Any student that does not complete these requirements will receive a PR for preceptorship and will not receive their diploma until all requirements are met. By May 1, each student is responsible for checking that their mailing address is correct in WebRaider since this is where their final transcript and diploma (if necessary) will be mailed.
Dress Code
The TTUHSC MP 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:
- halter tops
- spaghetti straps
- midriffs
- short shorts
- short skirts
- clothing items with excessive rips and tears
- 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.
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 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 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).
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.
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 member’s 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.
Preceptorship Student Counseling
In the event that the Clinical Education Coordinator and/or clinical instructor deems an event necessary of 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 and 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 it interferes with scheduled class time or preceptorships.
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.
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