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TENETS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
As per Faculty Policy Series 12 (B):
“No student shall be expelled or refused admission to Hofstra University because he or she is unable to participate in any examination, study or work requirement because of his or her religious obligations and practices. However, all students are expected to complete all assignments and examinations. It is understood that no adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student who avails him or herself of religious observances. The University, faculty, and student shall work together to achieve a reasonable accommodation concerning any conflicts between educational and religious obligations.”
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Faculty will publish notice of this policy in their syllabi and announce it during the first week of each semester and will further make reasonable efforts to avoid scheduling exams and/or due dates of assignments that would otherwise interfere with religious observances of students.
Additionally, in accordance with New York State Law, each student who is absent from school because of his or her religious beliefs will be given an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study, or work requirements which he or she may have missed because of that absence on any particular day or days.
Students must always adhere to standards of professional behavior. These standards are the ethical foundation of medical practice and of our integrity as physician assistants. Professional behavior is expressed through respect for instructors, fellow students, patients, preceptors, and colleagues. Violation of one of the Tenets of Professional Conduct may result in the need to appear before the Academic Standing Committee. Professional behavior is evaluated throughout the course of study and is also formally evaluated during advisement sessions.
Examples of unprofessional behavior include but are not limited to: • tardiness • unexcused absences or not following program protocol for notifying program personnel of an absence • not following program protocol for reporting lateness or leaving early • lack of preparation • lack of involvement • plagiarism • falsifying documents • falsifying procedure or patient encounters • inability to accept constructive criticism • lack of respect for the rights of patients to competent, confidential service • lack of respect for others • failure to follow protocol, or directions of a physician, physician assistant, member of the healthcare team, or program faculty • performing unauthorized procedures or administering services not permitted by the supervisor, the facility, or the program • endangering the health and welfare of any patient • utilizing illegal substances
• being under the influence of alcohol during class, while on clerkships, or completing other aspects of the program curriculum • violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) • failure to perform all or part of assigned tasks and responsibilities • leaving the clinical setting without permission from the preceptor • performing any activity which is beyond the scope of the role of a student • failure to identify as a physician assistant student • failure to report all observed unethical conduct by other members of the health profession, including other students • engaging in conversation with others during a class or lecture • leaving the classroom during lectures • using personal e-mail, Facebook, or other social media while in class • posting inappropriate content on social media platforms or otherwise violating the social medial policy • connecting on social media with faculty, preceptors, or supervisors while a student in this program • exhibiting un-truthful behavior • lying to preceptor, faculty, or staff • failure to submit program evaluations in a timely fashion • neglecting to turn off cell phones, texting or talking on a cell phone during class, examinations, meetings, on the clinical site, or during any other professional functions • unacceptable dress • failure to submit required documents • using scrap paper other than what is distributed by the program; and • not replying to emails within 24 hours
DRESS REQUIREMENTS
Dress requirements as outlined below, and each clinical site’s policies and procedures must be strictly adhered to in the clinical year. One reason is safety – dress can increase or decrease the potential for injury. The second is that clinical year students represent both the PA profession and Hofstra University. Therefore, students must look professional while interacting with patients and health professionals at clinical sites and related facilities.
Students should wear business attire while on clinical clerkships and at related facilities. Button-down shirts with ties, dress slacks, professional tops or blouses, appropriate length skirts and dresses should be worn. Closed-toed shoes with socks or stockings as well as a short white lab coat must be always worn by students. Each student should wear a watch with a second hand. Bracelets are not permitted on clinical clerkships or at program related facilities. Students should avoid wearing insignia, buttons, or decals of a political nature while on clinical clerkships or at program related facilities. ID badges must be worn daily and should be easily visible.
Unacceptable clothing includes: • Revealing clothing • Open-toed shoes • Tight pants or leggings • T-shirts, sweatshirts, or sweatpants • Any clothing made of denim • Clothing that exposes the mid-abdomen • Clothing that is soiled, in poor repair, or not well maintained
Students may wear scrubs only while in the operating room, emergency room or in the delivery room. Students may wear sneakers only while wearing scrubs as listed above. Students may not wear scrubs while outside the hospital, or while traveling to or from the hospital. All students are required to follow each facility’s designated scrub policy.
Hair must be pulled back away from the face if it is longer than shoulder length. Fingernails must be less than ¼ inch long. Nail polish should not be worn while on rotations that requires the student to scrub. No artificial nails, wraps, multi-colored or designer nail polish or nail paintings are permitted.
Some patients may be particularly sensitive to fragrances. Students should be sensitive to the needs of patients and avoid wearing fragrances while in the health care setting.
Only post earrings are permitted. All tattoos should be concealed. Other body piercings should not be worn during rotations.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Cheating and plagiarism are grave infractions of academic and professional ethical behavior and are contrary to the purpose of any educational institution. They must be addressed seriously for student scholarship to have validity. Faculty are required to report all suspicions of academic dishonesty. Faculty may require students suspected of cheating or plagiarizing to confirm the originality of their work. Student breaches of academic standards may be subject to disciplinary or academic action. Please refer to URL: http://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/Senate/Senate_FPS_11G.pdf As members of Hofstra, we abide by the following honor code:
HONOR CODE
“As a member of the Hofstra community, I pledge to demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior in all aspects of my life, both inside and out of the classroom. I understand that I am accountable for everything I say and write. I will not misrepresent my academic work, nor will I give or receive unauthorized assistance for academic work. I agree to respect the rights of all members of the Hofstra community. I will be guided by the values expressed in the P.R.I.D.E Principles (http://www.hofstra.edu/studentaffairs/deanofstudents/commstandards/commstandards_prideprinciples.html. I accept the responsibility to follow this Honor Code at all times.”
Exxat TRACKING SYSTEM
For the program to ensure that each student has adequate exposure to a diverse mix of patients regarding demographics and type and severity of disorder, we use a web-based tracking system called Exxat. As each clerkship progresses, it is expected that the student’s level of involvement in patient care and the complexity of patients seen will increase as well. Students are required to log information regarding each patient seen daily. Student will print their Exxat logs at the end of their rotation for preceptors to review. All patient logs must be signed and stamped by the preceptor and should be uploaded onto session required documents on Exxat
CLERKSHIP SPECIFIC PATIENT ENCOUNTER REQUIREMENTS
Students must log specific types of patient encounters during each clerkship. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they satisfy all Program requirements and seek assistance from the Program/preceptor as needed to ensure that these requirements are satisfied. The minimum requirements for the clinical year are presented in the table below:
Pediatrics Discipline
Family Medicine Internal Medicine Psychiatry Ob/GYN
Prenatal Care
Gynecologic Care Emergency Medicine Surgery
Pre-op
Intra-op
Post-op Elective Requirements
15 per week/90 per clerkship 15 per week/90 per clerkship 10 per week/60 per clerkship 10 per week/60 per clerkship 10 per week/60 per clerkship 15 per clerkship 15 per clerkship 15 per week/90 per clerkship 10 per week/60 per clerkship 10 per clerkship 10 per clerkship 10 per clerkship 5 per week/30 per clerkship
CLINICAL YEAR PATIENT ENCOUNTER REQUIREMENTS
Exxat also tracks the types of patient encounters seen on student clerkships. The clinical encounters below are required to be completed by the end of the clinical year. These requirements may be met on any of the eight clerkships. Preceptors must sign off on patient encounters. The preceptor’s signature not only confirms exposure, but competence in these areas of care. Competency in these areas is required for graduation. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they satisfy all Program requirements and seek assistance from the Program/preceptor as needed to ensure that these requirements are satisfied.
Preventative
Acute
Chronic
Emergent Developmental Disabilities
Types of Clinical Encounters
20 encounters during clinical year 20 encounters during clinical year 20 encounters during clinical year 20 encounters during clinical year 15 encounters during clinical year
Medical Care Across the Life Span Encounters
Infants- less than 1 years of age 15 during the clinical year Children-1 y/o – 11 y/o 30 during the clinical year Adolescents-12 y/o – 17 y/o 30 during the clinical year Adults- 18 y/o – 64 y/o 100 during the clinical year Geriatrics-greater than 65 y/o 100 during the clinical year
PROCEDURE LOGGING
Students are required to perform and log a number of procedures. These procedures are tracked through the Exxat System. Please make sure the student performs rather than observes or assists as many procedures as possible, as credit is given only for those logged as “done”. Preceptors must sign off on the procedure logs.
