Assignment 2: Practicum Experience Plan (PEP) PRAC 6665

Assignment 2: Practicum Experience Plan (PEP) PRAC 6665

NB: This assignment aaplies to all the PRAC including the PRAC 6635, AND PRAC 6645. So, don’t be afraid to place your order in case you are looking for assistance on the two.

Assignment 2: Practicum Experience Plan (PEP)

Practicum Experience Plan

 

 

Overview:

 

Your Practicum experience includes working in a that will help you gain the knowledge and skills needed as an advanced practice nurse. In your practicum experience, you will develop a practicum plan that sets forth objectives to frame and guide your practicum experience.

 

As part of your Practicum Experience Plan, you will not only plan for your learning in your practicum experience but also work through various patient visits with focused notes as well as one (1) journal entry.

 

Complete each section below.

 

Part 1: Quarter/Term/Year and Contact Information

 

Section A

 

Quarter/Term/Year: Summer 2021

 

 

 

Part 2: Individualized Practicum Learning Objectives

 

Refer to the instructions in Week 2 to create individualized practicum learning objectives that meet the requirements for this course. These objectives should be aligned specifically to your Practicum experience. Your objectives should address your self-assessment of the skills found in the “PMHNP Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form” you completed in Week 1.

 

As you develop your individualized practicum learning objective, be sure to write them using the SMART format. Use the resources found in Week 2 to guide your development. Once you review your resources, continue and complete the following. Note: Please make sure each of your objectives are connected to your self-assessment. Also, consider that you will need to demonstrate how you are advancing your knowledge in the clinical specialty.

 

Objective 1: To improve my assessment techniques with individuals age range – adolescent to older adults.

 

Planned Activities: To have at least 160 patient encounters (interview) within this 11-week course to enhance my knowledge and skills set necessary for assessing patients ranging from adolescent to older adults in age.

 

Mode of Assessment: (Note: Verification will be documented in Meditrek)

 

PRAC Course Outcome(s) Addressed:

 

• Recognize the rationale behind each admission and create a plan of care for advanced practice nursing.

 

• Explore practicum experience to assess advanced practice nursing skills for strengths and opportunities

 

Objective 2: Identify and understand the abnormal psychology of psychiatric ailments concerning different age groups.

 

Planned Activities: Evaluate patients from different age groups and discuss their psychopathology.

 

Mode of Assessment: (Note: Verification will be documented in Meditrek)

 

PRAC Course Outcome(s) Addressed:

 

• Explore practicum experience to assess advanced practice nursing skills for strengths and opportunities

 

 

Objective 3: To correctly identify acute and chronic psychiatric disorders in ages adolescence and older adults.

 

 

Planned Activities: Assess and perform a complete psychiatric review of systems in patients with acute and chronic mental illness to develop an accurate and patient specific plan of care.

 

Mode of Assessment: (Note: Verification will be documented in Meditrek)

 

PRAC Course Outcome(s) Addressed:

 

• Explore practicum experience to assess advanced practice nursing skills for strengths and opportunities
• Recognize the rationale behind each admission and create a plan of care for advanced practice nursing.

Part 3: Projected Timeline/Schedule

 

Estimate how many hours you expect to work on your Practicum each week. *Note: All of your hours and activities must be supervised by your Preceptor and completed onsite. Your Preceptor will approve all hours, but your activities will be approved by both your Preceptor and Instructor. Any changes to this plan must be approved.

 

This timeline is intended as a planning tool; your actual schedule may differ from the projections you are making now.

 

I intend to complete the 144 or 160 Practicum hours (as applicable) according to the following timeline/schedule. I also understand that I must see at least 80 patients during my practicum experience. I understand that I may not complete my practicum hours sooner than 8 weeks. I understand I may not be in the practicum setting longer than 8 hours per day unless pre-approved by my faculty.

 

 

	Number of Clinical Hours Projected for Week	Number of Weekly Hours for Professional Development	Number of Weekly Hours for Practicum Coursework
Week 1	16	10	10
Week 2	16	10	10
Week 3	16	10	10
Week 4	16	10	10
Week 5	16	10	10
Week 6	16	10	10
Week 7	16	10	10
Week 8	16	10	10
Week 9	16	10	10
Week 10	16	10	10
Week 11	16	10	10
Total Hours (must meet the following requirements)	144 or 160 Hours	110	110

 

 

 

 

 

Part 4 – Signatures

 

Student Signature (electronic): Jaya R. James                                     Date:06/13/2021

 

 

Practicum Faculty Signature (electronic)**:                               Date:

 

 

** Faculty signature signifies approval of Practicum Experience Plan (PEP)

 

Submit your Practicum Experience Plan on or before Day 7 of Week 2 for faculty review and approval.

 

Once approved, you will receive a copy of the PEP for your records. You must share an approved copy with your Preceptor. The Preceptor is not required to sign this form.

 

 

Photo Credit: Getty Images
As you establish your goals and objectives for this course, you are committing to an
organized plan that will frame your practicum experience in a clinical setting, including
planned activities, assessment, and achievement of defined outcomes. In particular, your
plan must address the categories of clinical reasoning, quality in your clinical specialty, and
interpersonal collaborative practice.
For this Assignment, you will consider the areas you aim to focus on to gain practical
experience as an advanced practice nurse. Then, you will develop a Practicum Experience
Plan (PEP) containing the objectives you will fulfill in order to achieve your aims. In this
practicum experience, when developing your goals and objectives, be sure to keep PMHNP
clinical skills in mind.
To Prepare
 Review your Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form you submitted last week, and
think about areas for which you would like to gain application-level experience
and/or continued growth as an advanced practice nurse. How can your experiences
in the practicum help you achieve these aims? There may be overlap between your
skills goals and your PEP goals.
 Review the information related to developing objectives provided in this week’s
Learning Resources. Your practicum learning objectives that you want to achieve
during your practicum experience must be:
o Specific
o Measurable
o Attainable
o Results-focused
o Time-bound
o Reflective of the higher-order domains of Bloom’s taxonomy (i.e., application
level and above)

 Discuss your professional aims and your proposed practicum objectives with your
Preceptor to ascertain if the necessary resources are available at your practicum
site.

 Select one nursing theory and one counseling theory to best guide your clinical
practice. Explain why you selected these theories. Support your approach with
evidence-based literature.
 Create a timeline of practicum activities that demonstrates how you plan to meet
these goals and objectives based on your practicum requirements.
The Assignment
Record the required information in each area of the Practicum Experience Plan template,
including three to four (3–4) measurable practicum Learning Objectives you will use to
facilitate your learning during the practicum experience.
By Day 7 of Week 2
Submit your Experience Plan for assessment and Faculty approval.
When your Instructor has approved your plan, forward the signed PEP to your Preceptor,
and retain a copy for your records.
Submission and Grading Information
To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:
 Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK2Assgn2+last
name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
 Click the Week 2 Assignment 2 Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the
Assignment.
 Click the Week 2 Assignment 2 link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for
grading criteria from this area.
 Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the
document you saved as “WK2Assgn2+last name+first initial.(extension)” and
click Open.
 If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to
submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
 Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.
Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:
Week 2 Assignment 2 Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:
Submit your Week 2 Assignment 2 draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 2

To participate in this Assignment:
Week 2 Assignment

What’s Coming Up in Week 3?

Photo Credit: [BrianAJackson]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images
Next week, you will select a clinical patient from your practicum setting and complete a
Focused SOAP Note to formulate differential diagnoses and document treatment. Based on
this evaluation note, you will then develop a case study presentation on this patient. You
will also track your clinical hours and patient encounters in Meditrek.
Next Week

To go to the next week:
Week 3

 

Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (n.d.). Toolbox of forms.
Retrieved November 18, 2020, from
https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Member_Resources/AACAP_Toolbox_for_Clinical_Practi
ce_and_Outcomes/Forms.aspx

American Geriatrics Society 2019 Beers Criteria Update Expert Panel. (2019). American
Geriatrics Society 2019 updated AGS Beers Criteria for potentially inappropriate
medication use in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 67(4), 674–694.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15767

Carlat, D. J. (2017). The psychiatric interview (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
 Section I. General Principles of Effective Interviewing (Chapters 1–13)
 Section III. Interviewing for Diagnosis: The Psychiatric Review of Symptoms
(Chapters 19–22)
 Appendixes A–C

Meditrek
https://edu.meditrek.com/Default.html
Note: Use this link to log into Meditrek to report your clinical hours and
patient encounters.

Pumariega, A. J., Rothe, E., Mian, A., Carlisle, L., Toppelberg, C., Harris, T., Gogineni, R.
R., Webb, S., Smith, J., & American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Committee on Quality Issues. (2013). Practice parameter for cultural competence in child

and adolescent psychiatric practice. Journal of the American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(10), 1101–1115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2013.06.019

Walden University Academic Skills Center. (2017). Developing SMART goals.
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/ld.php?content_id=51901492

Document: Practicum Experience Plan Template (Word document)

Reminder: Introductory Communication

Photo Credit: Ellagrin / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
This week, you must coordinate an introductory email with your Clinical Faculty and
Preceptor. The purpose of this communication is for orientation and onboarding, goals
discussion, and questions.
By Day 7 of Week 2
Complete your orientation email. Attach your clinical schedule calendar developed in
Week 1 in your email. Include a summary of your goals and objectives for this practicum
experience.

PRACTICUM GOALS

 

During the clinical practicums the medical laboratory science student will:

 

1. Perform assigned tasks under the direction of a practicum preceptor according to established policies and procedures.

 

1. Develop skills in laboratory tasks by:

 

1. 1. performing test and related tasks
   2. operating and maintaining instruments
   3. evaluating acceptability of laboratory data
   4. correlating patient laboratory data
   5. evaluating and comparing procedures and methods

6. reporting patient values according to standard procedures
7. obtaining and evaluating acceptability of patient specimens

 

1. Demonstrate skill development after initial instruction and practice by:

 

1. completing checklist tasks according to written criteria
2. recording clinical practicum progress in a daily log book

1. 1. completing unknowns, if applicable

 

1. Enhance knowledge by completing assigned reading, study materials and review questions for each unit. Topics will include:

 

1. 1. pathophysiologic evaluation and correlation of data
   2. clinical tests

1. theory and principle

• performance limitations

1. clinical significance

• normal values and reporting criteria

1. quality control
2. specimen requirements

1. 1. safety considerations

4. principle of operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting procedures for instruments

 

1. Demonstrate cognitive knowledge by:

 

1. maintaining a daily log of practicum activities as directed
2. responding correctly to verbal questions

 

1. Demonstrate professional attributes including, but not limited to:

 

1. honesty and integrity
2. respect for persons and patient confidentiality
3. awareness of limitations

1. 1. willingness to comply with safety regulations
   2. willingness to accept responsibility for own actions
   3. adherence to hospital and laboratory policies and procedures

7. punctuality and being dependable

1. 1. being collegial and cooperative
   2. responsible to patient and community
   3. concerned for the welfare of patients

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRACTICUM POLICIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRACTICUM ROTATION ASSIGNMENT AND PLACEMENT

You are eligible for clinical placement when you are enrolled in the MLS Program and have taken the required courses and earned satisfactory grades. (See MLS Program Probation Policy.)

 

Students will be asked to rank their ideal clinical practicum site (this may be done more than once). From this information, the clinical coordinator and program director will then match the student to a clinical practicum site.  Students will be matched in the spring semester.  Practicum rotations begin in June with specific dates provided during the orientation.

 

ASSIGNMENT DISCLAIMERS: Every effort is made to match students to their ideal clinical practicum site.  However, if that is not possible you may be placed in an alternate site. The alternate site may require relocation or travel.

 

In addition, due to a limited number of sites in the campus area (Hazard/Lexington) we cannot place ALL students in the immediate campus area (Hazard/Lexington). Thus, some students will have to relocate or travel to their clinical practicum site.

 

Although we strive to place a student at 1 site for all rotations, it is sometimes necessary for student to be assigned to 2, possibly 3 sites, to achieve completion of all rotations. Assignment to multiple sites will require travel and/or relocation.

 

WHEN CLINICAL ROTATION CANNOT BE GUARANTEED:  The UK MLS Program provides clinical placement for all MLS students from mid to late June through mid to late November. In the unlikely event that a clinical practicum site is, at the last minute, unable to fulfill their obligation of training a student then every effort will be made to find another practicum site. (Fortunately, there is an almost 4 week cushion between the “typical” end date of practicums and graduation thus a delayed start is possible.)  In the event that an alternative practicum site cannot be found within a reasonable time frame the student might be delayed one semester in graduation.

 

 

PRACTICUM HOURS

Specific times for arrival and departure will be determined by the clinical site and specific department practicum preceptors. The student should note that the time for arrival will vary by clinical site and rotation area.

 

During each work day, one half hour lunch will be scheduled by the practicum preceptor. Breaks will also be determined and scheduled by the practicum preceptor.

 

 

ATTENDANCE 

Attendance in the clinical practicum for ALL of the scheduled days is required. Primarily, attendance is Monday through Friday, for 8 hours, during day shift hours (see Hours section above).(Occasionally, clinical sites might request that students attend four days for 10 hours per day or three days for 12 hours per day to parallel their staffing schedule. Students may expect to spend roughly 40 hours per week at the clinical site. Students are expected to seek out opportunities to learn, to gain experience, and to assist scientists/technicians when appropriate. When checklists are completed, students must continue to make the most of their educational experience throughout the required schedule for each rotation. Please note required numbers of attempts on the checklist are minimal. You need to continue practicing to become proficient so take advantage of the opportunities to do so.

 

Absences

The student is expected to adhere to the absence (and tardiness) policy that is in place at the assigned clinical site. Excused absences consist of serious sickness, bereavement of immediate family, academic functions, or other special circumstances such as court appearance, jury duty, and childbirth.

 

In the event of a necessary absence, the practicum preceptor/clinical supervisor and the MLS clinical coordinator MUST be informed at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled time to report on the day the student will be absent. Each day the student must “call-in”, even if it was predetermined the previous day. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the appropriate individual(s) at each institution (university and hospital). Lack of notification will automatically result in an unexcused absence. Any student with more than 3 unexcused absences may be dropped from the clinical rotation.

 

Students should not be tardy or absent from practicums to study for tests or complete other course work requirements, sick pets, oversleeping, routine medical/dental appointments, etc.

 

Any request by a student to be excused from the practicum should be verified by the practicum preceptor/lab supervisor and with the UK MLS clinical coordinator.

 

Make Up Days

Excused and unexcused absences must be made up. The clinical site has discretion as to when this day or days will be made up. In the event that time cannot be made up by the end of the semester, the student will receive an “Incomplete” and will be responsible for making up the days during the following semester at the convenience of the clinical site.

 

Tardiness

The student is expected to report to his/her assigned department and be ready to work by the scheduled time. Tardiness is not permissible. Tardiness is defined as greater than 7 minutes past the scheduled starting time or as leaving prior to being dismissed from the site. Three unexcused tardy incidents will be counted as an unexcused absence, and a make-up day will be required. If the student expects to be late by 15 or more minutes, then he/she must contact the practicum preceptor. Failure to notify appropriate personnel or failure to make-up missed clinical days may result in failure to satisfactorily complete the course.

 

 

PERSONAL APPEARANCE

1. Attire

1. 1. Students should be aware that clinical affiliates may choose to enforce a stricter dress code and/or behavior code and students must follow this policy. Students not conforming to these codes may not be accepted at the clinical site(s) and, consequently, may jeopardize their continued enrollment and progress in the program.
   2. Scrubs are recommended and if not required then attire should be business casual.
   3. Denim pants and shorts should not be worn at any time.
   4. Caps and hats (including knit hats or toboggans) should not be worn at any time.
   5. Uniforms, laboratory coats, and shoes will be clean, neat, and in good condition at all times.
   6. Visible tattoos need to be covered at all times (if possible) and no facial piercings can be worn while during practicums.
   7. Identification badges may be provided by each site. If identification badges are not provided, the student shall wear their UK MLS Student identification badge. They are to be worn in plain view at all times while on the premises of the clinical site.
2. Personal Hygiene
   1. All students will bathe regularly and wear an effective deodorant. Strong aromatic scents should not be used. Conservative hair-style and color and fingernail length is required. All long hair will be pulled back and fastened.

 

 

CELL PHONES AND SMART PHONES

Students are NOT to receive or place phone calls, text, surf the web, or check email on their personal phone during clinical hours except during breaks. Exceptions will be made for emergencies and with the consent of the preceptor.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICS

Student will conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times during the Clinical Practicum. SEE Healthcare College Code of Student Professional Conduct and ASCLS Code of Ethics below. Both apply to MLS student while in practicum rotations.  Specific conduct codes as defined in each institution’s policy manual will be adhered to while at the site as well.

 

Health Care Colleges Code of Student Professional Conduct

The student will be required to follow the Health Care Colleges Code of Student Professional Conduct.

 

ARTICLE 1: INTRODUCTION

Rationale

The credibility of a health care professional is based, to a large extent, on maintaining a high degree of trust between the professional and the individuals he or she serves. Each health profession has a code of professional conduct administered by a professional organization or regulatory agency that prescribes and imposes high standards of conduct and principles of professionalism upon its members. Students must understand and adhere to these standards during their education in preparation for careers in which they must conduct themselves in the manner expected by their profession. Consequently, students in the health care colleges have a particular obligation to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that reflects appropriate professional moral and ethical character.

 

 

Applicability

The purpose of the HCC Code is to provide a professional behavior code that applies uniformly to all students enrolled in a degree program, leading ultimately to a profession requiring licensure or certification, offered by any of the health care colleges (“HCC students”). The health care colleges are: Dentistry, Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health.

 

ARTICLE 2: STANDARDS

A HCC student shall be expected to adhere to accepted standards of professional practice.

 

All HCC students must possess the qualities of appropriate professional moral and ethical character. Each student must apply these standards to his or her academic career as well as his or her professional career. A student’s continued enrollment shall depend on the student’s ability to adhere to recognized standards of professional practice and conduct. The standards are drawn from the duly legislated practice acts of the professions that have educational programs in the health care colleges of the University.

 

Violation of one or more of the standards shall be sufficient grounds for the dean of the appropriate health care college to initiate a review of the status of the student’s continued enrollment in courses or programs of the college.

 

ARTICLE 3: PROHIBITED CONDUCT

This Article summarizes a representative, but non-comprehensive, list of violations of this HCC Code that are punishable, disciplinary offenses. The list includes items specific to the training programs of the health care colleges as well as those in the UKCSC. Some overlap among items is to be expected. At a minimum, health care college students shall not:

 

1. Commit any offenses enumerated under the UKCSC to the extent that the violation reflects adversely on the student’s professional moral and ethical character;

 

2. Misappropriate or illegally use drugs or other pharmacologically active agents;

 

3. Engage in any behavior that may endanger clients, patients, or the public, including failure to carry out the appropriate or assigned duties, particularly when such failure may endanger the health or well-being of a patient or client, or treatment is dispensed without appropriate faculty supervision;

 

4. Engage in behavior or action that deceives, defrauds, or harms the public or the public’s perception of the profession;

 

5. Falsify or, through negligence, make incorrect entries or failing to make essential entries in health records;

 

6. Deliberately deceive a patient or client through failure of the HCC student to disclose his or her student’s status unequivocally to the patient;

 

7. Fail to maintain client or patient confidentiality including failure to follow the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards;

 

8. Obtain any fee or compensation by fraud or misrepresentation;

 

9. Engage in any course of conduct, act, or omission that would be considered unprofessional conduct as a basis for discipline under the professional standards recognized by the licensing, certifying, or professional association or agency of the health care college student’s intended profession for which the health care college student is in training;

 

10. Fail to report a felony conviction pursuant to Article 4 in this HCC Code.

 

To access the entire Health Care Colleges Code of Student Professional Conduct (HCC Code):

 

As students that are enrolled in a program of professional study, all students are expected to abide by professional conduct standards. It is expected that each student will adopt the Code of Ethics of their profession and maintain a demeanor appropriate to the Code at all times.

 

 

ASCLS Code of Ethics

The student will be required to follow the principles and standards set forth by the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS).

 

1. Duty to the Patient:

 

Clinical laboratory professionals are accountable for the quality and integrity of the laboratory services they provide. This obligation includes maintaining individual competence in judgment and performance and striving to safeguard the patient from incompetent or illegal practice by others.

 

Clinical laboratory professionals maintain high standards of practice. They exercise sound judgment in establishing, performing and evaluating laboratory testing.

 

Clinical laboratory professionals maintain strict confidentiality of patient information and test results. They safeguard the dignity and privacy of patients and provide accurate information to other health care professionals about the services they provide.

 

1. Duty to Colleagues and the Profession:

 

Clinical laboratory professionals uphold and maintain the dignity and respect of our profession and strive to maintain a reputation of honesty, integrity and reliability. They contribute to the advancement of the profession by improving the body of knowledge, adopting scientific advances that benefit the patient, maintaining high standards of practice and education, and seeking fair socioeconomic working conditions for members of the profession.

 

Clinical laboratory professionals actively strive to establish cooperative and respectful working relationships with other health care professionals with the primary objective of ensuring a high standard of care for the patients they serve.

 

III. Duty to Society:

 

As practitioners of an autonomous profession, clinical laboratory professionals have the responsibility to contribute from their sphere of professional competence to the general well-being of the community.

 

Clinical laboratory professionals comply with relevant laws and regulations pertaining to the practice of clinical laboratory science and actively seek, within the dictates of their consciences, to change those which do not meet the high standards of care and practice to which the profession is committed.

 

Pledge to the Profession:

 

As a clinical laboratory professional, I strive to:

• Maintain and promote standards of excellence in performing and advancing the art and science of my profession.
• Preserve the dignity and privacy of others.
• Uphold and maintain the dignity and respect of our profession.
• Seek to establish cooperative and respectful working relationships with other health professionals.
• Contribute to the general well-being of the community.

 

I will actively demonstrate my commitment to these responsibilities throughout my professional life.

 

 

CONFIDENTIALITY

All patient and institutional information will be held in the strictest confidence at all times. The discussion of any patient information outside of the “classroom” setting is not permissible. Confidential information concerning the institution is not to be discussed with any unauthorized individuals.

 

Students may be required to sign a confidentiality statement at the hospitals. Violation of this policy and/or of other hospital or laboratory policies may result in the dismissal of the student from the hospital and clinical practicum course(s).

 

 

LABORATORY INFORMATION SYSTEM/HOSPITAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

Each facility has established policies and procedures relating to use of their respective hospital and/or laboratory information computer system. This includes the use of passwords, keys, or code words and patient data entry. Students should adhere to the protocol as communicated by the clinical supervisor and/or practicum preceptor. In some institutions, students are allowed the opportunity to learn the respective computer systems and report results under the direct supervision of the practicum preceptor.

 

 

MEDICAL RECORDS AND PATIENT DATA

Students have completed HIPPA training and will abide by HIPPA policies.

 

 

HEALTH INSURANCE

The clinical site does not provide for health coverage. Therefore, the student must obtain (and provide evidence of) appropriate coverage via insurance or other method. If an exposure or accident does occur, notify the practicum preceptor immediately. Each facility has established policies and protocols to adhere to in these circumstances in addition to the UK Policy on Educational Exposure to Blood Borne Pathogens. (See Appendix A.)  The student may be responsible for payment of services such as testing and prophylactic treatment.

 

 

LINES OF COMMUNICATION

Under most circumstances, the student should communicate directly with the practicum preceptor. The practicum preceptor should communicate with the student and if necessary the MLS clinical coordinator may be notified by the practicum preceptor.

 

The laboratory manager or director should be approached only if a student’s action(s) have compromised the professional and/or policies of the laboratory or the safety of personnel and/or patients.

 

Any concern or problem may be brought to the attention of the appropriate UK MLS Clinical Coordinator after the student has followed the appropriate lines of communication.

 

 

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS/DRUG TESTING

Some clinical affiliates of the MLS program may require criminal background checks and/or drug testing prior to acceptance of the student into clinical facilities. Students who do not pass the criminal background check and/or drug test may be unable to attend clinical courses and therefore may be unable to complete their program of study. Any fees or cost associated with background checks and/or drug testing are the responsibility of the student.

 

 

SEVERE WEATHER

During adverse weather conditions, students are expected to report to clinical rotation sites at the scheduled time as long as it is possible and safe to do so. This policy remains in effect regardless of UK announced delays and cancellation of classes. Practicum preceptors/lab managers must be contacted prior to the rotation start time to discuss any safety issues that may prevent a student’s ability to report to his/her assigned practicum.

 

 

SAFETY POLICIES

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements must be observed at all times for your safety and the safety of your peers and patients. Students must adhere to all safety and policy regulations in the student laboratory and in the clinical laboratory. Students who fail to follow safety and policy regulations will be asked to leave the facility. Students who fail to follow safety and policy regulations for a second time may be suspended from or dismissed from the program at the discretion of the program director. Students who are subject to penalty may request review by the MLS program director or the Dean of the College of Health Sciences.

 

 

STUDENT IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

All students must meet the immunization requirements including annual TB screening. Clinical sites will require documentation and it is the students’ responsibility to provide this, and maintain compliance of immunizations.

NOTE: Once Practicums start, UK MLS students will no longer pay the Student Health Fee (as all courses are now considered distance learning). Thus, if you get your TB screening at UHS, you will be charged. Most clinical sites will screen students free of charge or at a discounted rate. In addition, TB screens can be performed at the health department for a small fee.

 

Tuberculosis Screening

Baseline tuberculin screening must be performed before you are allowed into clinical settings. Documentation of a negative Mantoux PPD skin test within 6 weeks of initial enrollment must be provided to the Division on the first day of orientation.  If you have a history of a positive TB skin test, please provide documentation of the skin test, a copy of the chest x-ray report if one was performed, and records of any medication that you have taken as a result of the positive skin test.

 

Rubella, Rubeola, Mumps

Proof of immunity to rubella, rubeola and mumps is required if you were born in 1957 or later. You may use one of the following for documentation:

1. written physician documentation of two MMRs after one year of age, or
2. written physician documentation of rubella, rubeola, and mumps diseases, or
3. written medical documentation of positive rubella, rubeola, and mumps titers.

If you do not have documentation, you will be required to have the appropriate number (1or 2) of MMR vaccine(s).

 

Hepatitis B Vaccine

The Hepatitis B vaccine series is required. The complete series consists of 3 doses at 0, 1, and 6 months. If you have already received Hepatitis B vaccine or have had a Hepatitis B titer, please provide written documentation from a physician including dates the vaccine was given and/or the titer was performed.

 

Varicella Immunity

You must demonstrate immunity to varicella (chicken pox). If you have had chickenpox, you have met the requirement; no further documentation other than verbal history is necessary. If you have not had chickenpox, you will be required to have a varicella titer to determine whether you are immune. If the titer is negative, i.e. you have no immunity to chicken pox, you will be required to receive a dose of varicella vaccine and a second dose a month later. If you already have had a positive varicella titer or have received the vaccination series, you must provide written documentation from a physician stating the positive titer results or the dates the vaccine was given.

 

Proof of vaccinations may be required by the hospital clinical sites. Students not completing these requirements prior to practicum will not be allowed to start the practicum.

 

Seasonal Influenza

One dose of the seasonal influenza vaccine is required if a student is present in a UK HealthCare facility at least one day during designated influenza season (October 1 – March 31). This may be required by clinical practicum sites other than UK Healthcare.

 

ON-SITE ORIENTATION

An in-house orientation will be conducted by the Practicum preceptor or designee for each medical laboratory science student. In addition, the student may be required to attend a hospital/new employee orientation. The following items should be addressed:

 

1. Identification badges.

 

1. Parking assignments and/or permits.

 

1. Lunch & Break hours and policies.

 

1. Tours of the facility and laboratory. Availability of student workstations and library facilities will be identified

 

1. Organizational Chart.

 

1. Institutional and/or departmental policies. All policies pertaining to the Medical laboratory science student will be reviewed by the student and the practicum preceptor and/or instructor.

 

1. Facility and Laboratory Safety. Some facilities will require the student to successfully pass a safety exam.

 

1. Personnel. Introductions to practicum preceptors, pathologists, and other appropriate laboratory personnel.

 

1. Laboratory Information Management. Review policies and procedures relating to access codes/passwords etc. on the LIS or HIS.

 

1. Policies and procedures for medical records.

PRACTICUM PROGRESSION

Practicum progression relates to the continuation or progression as deemed by the practicum preceptors and site. Thus, if a practicum site requests that the UK MLS Clinical Coordinator remove a student from their laboratory due to unsatisfactory progress regardless of reason (e.g., lack of skill, lack of knowledge, unsatisfactory affective behavior) the student will be removed immediately as this only occurs when grievances are severe.

 

The UK MLS Clinical Coordinator will consult with the MLS Program Director and dependent upon the severity and validation of the grievances one of two actions will occur. 1) The practicum coordinator will attempt to find another practicum site for the student. If a second practicum site is obtained and the student is asked to be removed from the second site, the student will fail the practicum rotation thus resulting in dismissal from the Program. 2) Or grievances will be presented to the MLS faculty members and they will vote upon failing the student from the practicum or allowing the student to enter a second practicum site.

 

 

SERVICE WORK

The following is the UK MLS service work policy for students and is applicable during practicum rotations. Sometimes students are offered paid positions at their practicum rotation site and this is entirely voluntary for both parties. The laboratory does not have to offer paid positions to students nor does the student have to accept an employment offer if not interested.

 

If a student does accept a paid position within the same laboratory as performing practicum rotations, then the paid hours or work is known as service work.  Service (or paid) hours and practicum rotation hours must be separated by the employer and student.

No UK MLS student may engage in service hours while present as a student completing practicum rotation hours. Service hours may be completed prior to or after practicum rotation hours.

 

If you are employed by the practicum rotation site, you must be compensated for your work and follow the employment policies of that facility. While you are on service (or paid) hours, you are not covered by the University of Kentucky’s liability insurance as this only applies to practicum rotation hours.