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PRECEPTOR INFORMATION
INTRODUCTION
The Preceptor Guide outlines the policies and procedures of the Hofstra University Department of Physician Assistant Studies regarding expectations for student performance in clinical clerkships. Furthermore, this handbook contains the objectives and discrete subject matter to which the student will be held responsible on a written examination. As physician assistant education is constantly evolving, this guide is reviewed and updated annually. Therefore, preceptors are encouraged to forward comments to the program on any portion of this guide that merits reexamination. Additionally, this handbook can be found on our program website at http://www.hofstra.edu/academics/colleges/nursing-physician-assistant/physician-assistant/physician-assistanthandbooks.html.
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The faculty of the Hofstra University Department of Physician Assistant Studies would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to our preceptors for their hard work and dedication to this program and our physician assistant (PA) students. The clinical experiences the student will obtain in your office; clinic or institution are of critical importance to a successful learning experience in the program. The clinical setting synthesizes concepts and application of principles for quality health care delivery. You, as a clinical preceptor, are the key to successful learning experiences in the clinical setting. The PA student will work closely with you, learning from your advice and example. Through your supervision, the student will progressively develop the skills and clinical judgment necessary to become a practicing PA. Thank you for your commitment to PA education and for your support in helping to educate the next generation of health care providers.
At any time, should you have any questions, comments, or feedback regarding our students, please feel free to contact the program.
THE CLINICAL YEAR
The clinical year takes students from the theoretical classroom setting to an active, hands-on learning environment to prepare them for a lifetime of continued refinement of skills and expanded knowledge as a practicing PA. To this end, the goals of the clinical year include:
• Apply didactic knowledge to supervised clinical practice • Develop and sharpen clinical problem-solving skills • Expand and develop the medical fund of knowledge • Perfect the art of history taking and physical examination skills • Sharpen and refine oral presentation and written documentation skills • Develop an understanding of the PA role in health care delivery • Prepare for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam • Develop interpersonal skills and professionalism necessary to function as part of a medical team • Prepare our students to deliver high quality care to patients and individuals with developmental disabilities
The preceptor is an integral part of the teaching program. Preceptors will serve as role models for the student and, through guidance and teaching, will help students perfect their skills in history taking, physical examination, communication, physical diagnosis, oral presentation, problem-solving/critical thinking, and plan development.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
A link to the specific minimum learning objectives for each clinical experience can be found in each discipline’s syllabus in the back of this handbook. Preceptors use the objectives by helping students accomplish basic clinical competencies. They are also used as a guide to evaluate the clinical acumen of physician assistant students when completing the Preceptor Evaluation Form, a sample of which is found at the end of each syllabus.
Students are required to review the objectives and topic list for their clerkship with the preceptor during the first week of the clerkship. In addition, students are asked to have their preceptor sign the Student/Preceptor
Review of Clinical Instructional Objectives and Learner Outcomes Form so that both student and
preceptor have a common understanding of what is expected during the clerkship. Once reviewed and signed, it is the students’ responsibility to assure that this form is uploaded to Exxat by the end of the first week of their clerkship. Failure of the student to upload the student/preceptor review of clinical objectives form will result in a (3) three-point reduction off the student’s overall clerkship grade. A copy of this form can be found at the end of this handbook in the “Clinical Year Forms” section.
PRECEPTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Preceptor responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
• Orient students at the onset of the clerkship with the practice/site policies and procedures and review the expectations and objectives for the clerkship • Provide ongoing and timely feedback regarding clinical performance, knowledge base, and critical thinking skills. This can be done with the student informally each week or at a designated time and can be formally reported to the clinical coordinator by submitting mid-clerkship and end-of-clerkship evaluations • Supervise, demonstrate, teach, and observe clinical activities to aid in the development of clinical skills and ensure proper patient care • Delegate to the student increasing levels of responsibility for clinical assessment and management as appropriate to the student’s experience and expertise • Participate in the evaluation of clinical skills and medical knowledge base through the following mechanisms: o Direct supervision, observation, and teaching in the clinical setting o Direct evaluation of presentations (including both oral and written) o Assignment of outside readings and research to promote further learning • Dialogue with faculty during site visits to evaluate student progress and assist the learning process • Audit and co-sign charts to evaluate the student’s ability to write appropriate and complete progress notes, histories, physical examinations, assessments, and treatment plans • Complete and promptly return the evaluation forms provided by the program reflecting on student knowledge and skills as well as their improvement throughout the clerkship • Promptly notify the PA program of any circumstances that might interfere with the accomplishment of 14
the above goals or diminish the overall training experience • Maintain an ethical approach to the care of patients by serving as a role model for the student • Demonstrate cultural competency through interactions with patients • Spend a few minutes each week in a candid summary discussion with the student as to whether each is meeting the other’s needs and expectations, and what changes need to be made in the roles and relationship • Provide timely feedback to the student and the program regarding student performance
THE PRECEPTOR STUDENT RELATIONSHIP
The preceptor should maintain a professional relationship with the PA student and always adhere to appropriate professional boundaries. Social activities and personal relationships outside of the professional learning environment should be appropriate and carefully selected so as not to put the student or preceptor in a compromising situation. Contact through web-based social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) should be avoided until the student fully completes the educational program. If the preceptor and student have an existing personal relationship prior to the start of the clerkship, a professional relationship must be always maintained in the clinical setting. Please consult the clinical coordinator regarding specific school or university policies regarding this issue or additional questions.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND OTHER UNLAWFUL HARASSMENT
Sexual relations between a PA student and a patient are unethical, regardless of who initiated the relationship. Sexual relations between a PA student and clinical staff at a site are similarly unacceptable. As a result, no PA student shall engage in sexual relationships or conduct that may reasonably be perceived as inviting or encouraging a sexual relationship, with a patient or with clinical staff at a site. Violation of this policy by a PA student will result in dismissal from the program.
Sexual harassment of a physician assistant student by a preceptor or other rotation site employee is a serious matter. Hofstra University has a Harassment Policy, found at www.hofstra.edu/harassment- prohibiting sexual harassment and prohibiting harassment based on any characteristic protected by law.
Any PA student who experiences sexual harassment or any form of unlawful harassment must report it immediately to the Hofstra clinical coordinators and/or to the University’s Equal Rights and Opportunity Officer. Hofstra University policies, procedures, and resources for those who believe they have experienced sexual or other unlawful harassment may be found in Hofstra University’s Nondiscrimination Policy at www.hofstra.edu/eoe. Retaliation against anyone who makes a report of sexual or other unlawful harassment is prohibited.
CLINICAL SITE EVALUATION
Each student will have one (1) site evaluation during the clinical year. The student will be visited in person by one of the clinical coordinators at their clinical site, or remotely via zoom, within the last two weeks of the clerkship. The site visit schedule for each rotation will be posted in the “Student Packet” section of Exxat. The site evaluation assesses student command of clinical knowledge of the discipline practiced at the site. Notification for a visit can vary from five weeks to 24 hours beforehand. In the unlikely event that a student is unable to be present for the site visit, the clinical coordinators must be notified at least 24 hours prior to the visit. If a student is scheduled for a remote site visit, the clinical coordinator assigned to the site visit will send you a zoom link with the date and time of your visit. All students should be prepared to present the course assignment (i.e., Health Promotion, H & P/SOAP, or Interesting Case) outlined in the syllabus at the time of the site visit. Students should review the grading evaluation forms in the appendix section of the handbook or in the “student packet” section on Exxat under “Grading Forms for Clinical Assignments.” Students should be prepared to present on all required components of the grading rubric.
Students are responsible to have the below documentation uploaded onto Exxat in the “Session Required Documents” section designated for that rotation prior to their in-person or remote site visit:
1. Depending upon the clerkship syllabus, presentation* of one H&P or SOAP note, if applicable. 2. Presentation of three (3) pharmaceutical agents (called “drug cards”). Students will be asked questions by the clinical coordinator during the site visit. Students will not be able to read from their drug cards. Students are responsible for knowing all information on their drug cards. 3. Depending upon the clerkship syllabus, if applicable, presentation* of one of the following: • Interesting Patient Case Assignment • Health Promotion Project
An unexcused absence will result in a failure of this component of the clerkship grade. If the student is not
prepared for the clinical coordinator at the time of the site visit, thestudent will receive a zero for any missing component of the site visit grade.
*Presentation can be done via Microsoft Word or PowerPoint
SECURITY AND PERSONAL SAFETY
Clinical year clerkship sites are evaluated by the clinical coordinators and deemed secure and safe for all students. If at any point a clinical year student feels that their personal safety is being compromised, the student should contact the on-site security department, the program, and alert their preceptor. If the site does not have a security department, the student is unable to reach a faculty member at the program, and the preceptor is unavailable, the student is to call 911. If a clinical year student has questions or concerns regarding site security or safety, he/she may contact the program main office at 516-463-4074 or call the emergency clinical coordinator program mobile at 516-509-6470 after office hours. All students are required to complete ilearn
