8.2 HLTH 3055 PSW Clinical Professional Practice Expectations & Requirements
Please be aware that all shifts are pre-scheduled in the HLTH-3055 (Consolidation) and the HLTH-3056 (Community) courses. They are pre-arranged and approved by both the agency and the clinical liaison in advance of the start of your placement experience. Changes can not be made to any student’s schedule without prior approval from the clinical liaison, placement scheduler, and the PSW Program Coordinator. It is therefore very important to plan on attending all scheduled shifts.
Upon successful completion of the HLTH 3055 Clinical Professional Practice Consolidation course, you will be able to:
- Apply knowledge and skills while providing personal care for residents.
- Promote and maintain the health and safety of the resident.
- Communicate effectively and appropriately using oral, written and non-verbal methods.
- Act within the PSW role when making observations regarding client’s health, function and emotional state.
- Adhere to the policies of the PSW program and the clinical agency.
- State benefits of restorative care on the frail elderly in long-term care (if applicable).
Clinical Learning in Practice
During this clinical placement, you are expected to actively participate in resident care and foster self-directed learning. This clinical experience will provide you with opportunities to work with other caregivers with an increase in independence and less supervision by the clinical liaison. The clinical liaison will check in with you and your preceptor/PSW staff frequently and will be on call to you, the preceptor, and agency staff should any concerns arise. It is very important to know who your clinical liaison is and to have their contact information. This information is provided during the last week of your HLTH 3054 Clinical Professional Practice Placement by the Fanshawe College Placement Coordinator.
You will be assigned a preceptor by the long-term care agency. Make sure to connect with your preceptor prior to day one to adequately prepare for your first shift. If you are not assigned a preceptor, you will need to ensure you identify your preceptor/mentor for each shift (as per agency policy). You can collaborate with your clinical liaison in advance of your shift to help you organize and prepare.
Students are obliged to follow all Fanshawe College and agency policies throughout this Professional Practice course with regards to behaviour, attendance, punctuality and reporting absences/illnesses.
Timesheets
During your consolidation experience, you will have timesheets initialled by your preceptor at the start and completion of each shift. You will need to indicate the hours worked after each shift is completed.
Timesheets are to be treated as a legal document are are not to be altered in any way. Any necessary corrections are to be made using a single line only (review documentation requirements from your first semester courses).
<Timesheet Example>
Students must keep track of the times of each shift, as they may vary from agency to agency and student to student. Once schedules are posted, students are NOT allowed to change their schedule without prior permission and approval from the agency, the PSW program coordinator and the clinical liaison. Each shift (8-hours) counts as 7.5 hours. A total of 75 hours is required (ten 8-hour shifts).
PSW Clinical Professional Practice Guidelines and Expectations
The following section summarizes guidelines and expectations for your clinical professional practice placements. The below applies to all of your clinical experiences.
Role Definitions
General
All clinical placements are subject to availability, and it may be necessary to assign you to clinical agencies in an outlying community. You may be expected to travel to your placement, which may not always be accessible by public transportation. You are expected to make your own travel arrangements to all assigned clinical agencies.
You will be assigned a variety of shifts over the course of your placement and course completion. These will include day, evening, and night shifts.
Cell phones are NOT allowed to be carried at placement, except during your pre-assigned breaks. Cell phones should be stored with your belongings.
Because the opportunity exists to take unauthorized photos while attending any assigned practicum using cellphones, if you are found to have a cell phone with you during client care, you will be asked to leave the agency and will be marked absent that day
Safety
If the clinical instructor has concerns about your ability to safely perform your duties, you may be required to provide medical documentation as proof of fitness to return to the clinical practice setting.
The provision of client care in the clinical setting is time sensitive and may cause safety concerns for the client(s) involved if client care cannot be performed in a reasonable length of time. As such, it may be an unsafe practice to accommodate for extra time when you:
a) Perform physical care to clients or,
b) Document client care, which needs to be completed promptly in the clinical setting.
*Due to the risk of re-injury or injuring clients, you are not permitted to arrive at the clinical agency with pre-existing injuries. There will be no “light duty” provision or accommodation for injuries at any time. A doctor’s note may be required in order to be permitted to return to the clinical practicum.
If you are deemed UNSAFE in your practice, you will be asked to leave the clinical agency immediately and may be either given a failing grade for that course or dismissed from the PSW program
Examples of UNSAFE behaviours may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Failure to follow expected safety guidelines while performing any lifts, transfers, or personal care.
- Failure to take reasonable care in order to prevent harm to the client.
- Any action — or lack of action — that results in jeopardizing the safety, dignity, and/or sense of well-being of any client or worker or other students.
Communication & Professionalism
It is important to communicate with clients, staff, inter-professional health care providers, instructors, and peers in a professional manner in order to provide care that is safe, effective, and appropriate. If you are unable to communicate, listen, understand, and respond effectively may be deemed unsatisfactory in your clinical professional practice placement.
Confidentiality
To protect client privacy and maintain professional standards:
- Cell phones are not permitted during clinical placement. If you are found with a phone, you will be asked to leave the site and marked absent for the day.
- Sharing any identifiable client or family information, including photos, is strictly prohibited. Names must never appear in assignments or journals.
- All client-related materials (e.g., data collection tools) must be securely destroyed or permanently deleted/shredded at the end of the placement.
- Posting any content related to the agency, clients, assignments, or colleagues on social media is not allowed any may result in failure of the clinical course.
Attendance
Consistent attendance and satisfactory performance are essential throughout all clinical placements. You are expected to meet the guidelines, standards and policies provided by both the clinical agency and Fanshawe College.
Regular attendance is critical for integrating theory into practice and demonstrating clinical competence. To be successful in a clinical course, all assigned hours have to be completed. Personal commitments such as vacations, childcare, or employment are not considered valid reasons for missing clinical time and may jeopardize course completion and result in being unsuccessful in the course.
After a second absence—regardless of the reason—a Collaborative Success Plan (CSP) will be developed with the clinical instructor. A CSP Failure to meet the expectations outlined in the CSP may result in an unsatisfactory grade for the course (see Appendix D, Collaborative Success Plan).
In the event that an absence is unavoidable, you will need to notify the agency and the clinical instructor at least one hour before the start of your clinical placement shift. Prior notification of absences is a requirement for all clinical, consolidation and community practice experiences.
Inclement weather
If travelling in bad weather conditions means you can not safely attend clinical placement, notify the instructor and the agency at least an hour prior to the start of the shift; failure to do so would result in being marked absent and being required to make that day up during Consolidation (HLTH 3054)..
You will not be permitted to leave the clinical agency property during your assigned clinical hours. If you leave the agency property during your clinical placement shift, you will be deemed “Unsafe”, which may impact your success in the course. A Collaborative Success Plan will be initiated.
Uniforms
Fanshawe College’s PSW Dress code has been created to project professionalism and to follow health and safety policies for both Fanshawe College and the clinical professional practice agencies.
Anyone who refuses to comply with this uniform policy will be asked to leave the clinical site, and a follow-up discussion will take place with the program coordinator. This may lead to being unsuccessful in the course.
Uniforms or scrubs in the appropriate colour for Fanshawe College need to be worn for all laboratory practice classes, as well as at the clinical agency. Pants must be hemmed appropriately and not rolled up or taped into place. Sweaters are not permitted at any time over the uniform. Long-sleeved shirts may be allowed to be worn under the uniform in special circumstances only.
Crests
All uniforms must have the Fanshawe College PSW crest securely attached to the outermost portion of a uniform’s left sleeve. Crests cannot be attached to uniforms by the use of staples or pins.
Nametags
Fanshawe College identification name tags are to be visible at all times, worn on the left side of the uniform, high enough to prevent client injury when administering care. They must be worn for all laboratory practice classes as well as at the clinical agency.
Clinical Placement Shoes
White or black, clean, supportive shoes (no canvas running shoes, sling backs, sandals, open toes or open heels). Shoes are not to be worn to or from the lab or clinical agency.
Jewelry
Body jewelry poses a Workplace Health and Safety risk and can not be worn.
- No visible body piercings
- Only one plain (or flesh-toned) stud earring worn in each ear lobe
- No hoops or rings allowed in any visible body area.
- No ear stretchers
- No necklaces, they can be pulled or used to strangle
- You can wear one plain wedding band
- Do not wear a watch on your wrist, instead have a watch pinned to your uniform
Scents
Due to the increasing risk of allergic reactions, no perfumes, colognes or body sprays are allowed in either laboratory or clinical practicum settings.
Nails
Do not have long fingernails, nail polish or artificial nails as they pose a Workplace Health and Safety risk (both physical safety and risk for pathogenic transfer)
Hair
Hair must be neat, contained, and worn off the face and collar. Braids/ ponytails must be secured and off the collar.
Facial Hair
Male students must be clean-shaven. If beards or moustaches are worn, they must be neatly trimmed and be professional in appearance. Beards worn for religious reasons are permitted. For hygienic reasons, students may be required to wear masks over facial hair during certain activities, such as feeding clients. If unsure, consult with the instructor and follow your placement agency’s policies.
No gum chewing while in the laboratory or clinical area.
Please be aware that exposed tattoos may be offensive to some clients; You may be required to cover tattoos if requested by the agency.
Evaluation
In order to graduate from the PSW program, you will need to be satisfactory in completing all three clinical courses of the PSW program. The final mark or grade will be determined as either a:
or an
You are expected to attend all of the days required during your professional practice placement experiences in order to be successful in the courses. Frequent absences during your placement course may result in an unsatisfactory grade. Your progress will be monitored through ongoing evaluation.
Progress is assessed on the basis of resident care. The PSW preceptor and your assigned Fanshawe College clinical liaison will provide ongoing feedback and complete the practice evaluation at the middle and end of the term with you. A Collaborative Success Plan (see Appendix D) may be initiated between you and the clinical liaison, in consultation with the program coordinator, if unprofessional behaviours are displayed and professional practice domains are not being met.
Meeting, discussing and creating a CSP with your clinical liaison will provide you with feedback and to develop strategies to strive towards success in the course (A CSP is not meant to be punitive). Examples of CSP initiation may include: repeated absenteeism, late arrivals, unprofessional or safety concerns, concerns in any of the domains of practice competencies.
Clinical Professional Practice evaluation for the HLTH 3055 Consolidation Professional Practice course is based on your performance of the clinical and course competencies, and completion of:
- Attendance & Reliability.
- Completion of Restorative Assignment (if applicable).
- Appropriate and Professional Behaviour at all times.
- Professional Communication with PSW preceptor and clinical liaison, and reviewing your practice domains and progression in the course each shift.
- Demonstration of satisfactory progression in all five domains of practice (see Chapter 5.2).
- Submission of timesheet.
At the end of the HLTH 3055 Clinical Professional Practice Consolidation Placement, the PSW preceptor, the clinical liaison (Fanshawe faculty), and you (the PSW student) will meet and discuss your final evaluation. You will need to submit your final self-evaluation to the clinical liaison at this meeting <Link to self-eval>. It may also be acceptable to complete the final evaluation with your assigned preceptor and bring it to review at your meeting with the clinical faculty liaison. Ensure to include your completed timesheet and that all evaluation pages are signed, initialled, and complete, including examples from your placement experiences.
Note from Fanshawe College PSW Program
The College may terminate a student’s enrolment in a course or registration in a program at any time where the student’s performance in any academic setting is deemed to be detrimental to self, others or the College. Detrimental performance is determined by any of the following: unsafe practice for self and/or others, interference with the progress of other students, unethical/unprofessional practice, and prolonged or frequent absence. Termination in the form of either suspension or expulsion may also result from breaching proper conduct and being sanctioned under the Student Code of Conduct Policy 2-G-1 .
Subject to a review by the Program Coordinator and clinical instructor, students may be given a one-time opportunity to repeat a clinical course, provided the student has not failed two other courses (lab or theory). Students who fail another clinical course (either the same course or a subsequent one) will be terminated from the program.
A returning student cannot enter directly into HLTH-3055 PSW Consolidation Professional Practice after an interruption in their program. The student must first satisfactorily complete HLTH-3054 PSW Clinical Professional Practice at the student’s expense. Students must be aware that this is conditional on the availability of supervised practice opportunities.
Full-time students are usually block-enrolled (i.e. pre-enrolled) into all clinical courses. If the student fails a clinical course, they are advised to officially withdraw from any subsequent clinical courses they are registered in. Failure to withdraw from subsequent courses will result in an “F” grade for those courses.
After completion of ALL other theory, lab and clinical courses, the student may proceed to complete: HLTH-3056 PSW Professional Practice Community Setting.