ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance at clinical sites is an essential component of the student’s
clinical education. The student must be in their assigned area of
rotation and prepared for instruction at the scheduled time for that
rotation.
SIGNING IN AND OUT
Each student is required to document their clinical hours on the sign-in sheet in the
clinical portfolio. The sign in/out for each clinical day will be signed by the therapist with
whom the student has worked on that clinical day. Each student will complete 18, 12
hours shifts for a total of 216 hours of clinical time. Every student is required to make up
any missed time.
MISSED CLINIC DAYS
If a student is unable to present at the clinical site, it is his/her responsibility to report the intended absence to the clinical site and Director of Clinical Education prior to the time for the Practicum. When reporting an absence to the Director of Clinical Education, please call 940-397-4652 (department secretary) and leave the message.
When reporting the absence to the clinical site, have the hospital operator page the charge therapist on night shift. Leave the message with the charge therapist.
The calls to report an absence must be made at least one hour prior to the scheduled time for the Practicum. An absence not reported by this procedure will be recorded on the Clinical Incident Form. The Director of Clinical Education will take extenuating circumstances into account. An adverse decision may be appealed to the Program Director. A make up day may be arranged. All missed clinic days will be made up in double time.
LATE POLICY
It is equally important that a student be punctual to the clinical site. In order for the student to obtain maximum benefit from the clinical Practicum, they must be present for the report given at the change of shift. Late is defined as arriving at the clinical site fifteen minutes past the scheduled time for the Practicum. However, if a student arrives later than thirty minutes past the scheduled time for the Practicum, he/she may not be allowed to stay for that clinical day. If a student must be late for clinical it is their responsibility to contact the site prior to the scheduled time for Practicum.
After contacting appropriate person within the specified time, the student must be present within one hour of scheduled time for the Practicum. Depending on the area of rotation and the circumstances, an alternative assignment may be made. If a student is habitually late the instructor and/or the Clinical Director will counsel them.
If the student does not report tardiness to the appropriate person, an absence will be recorded. The Director of Clinical Education will take extenuating circumstances into account. Every two days a student is late, an unexcused absence will be recorded.
It is equally important that all students remain at their clinical site for the entire designated time. If the student must leave early for any reason, the student must call the Clinical Director. Students will be required to make up any missed hours.
Leaving the clinical site for any reason and not communicating with the preceptor and the Clinical Director is grounds for dismissal from the program.
It is also required that all students communicate with their assigned preceptor any time they
leave their area for any reason (lunch, break, work on case studies, etc.).
INCLEMENT WEATHER:
In cases of bad weather or severe weather conditions, the student must use their own judgment when deciding whether or not to attend clinical. The student will inform the clinical instructor as soon as possible. If schools in your clinical area are canceled, your absence will be excused.
