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7.2 HLTH 3054 PSW Clinical Professional Practice Expectations & Requirements

Please be aware that all shifts in the HLTH 3054 Clinical Professional Practice course are pre-scheduled on days/afternoons in a PSW student group setting with a clinical instructor. As all students in this course attend placement together in their group, changes can not be made to any student’s schedule. It is therefore very important to plan on attending all of your scheduled shifts.

Upon successful completion of the HLTH 3054 Clinical Professional Practice course, the you will be able to:

  • Explain the scope and value of the PSW work in long-term care setting.
  • Understand and maintain confidentiality.
  • Apply knowledge and skills while providing personal care for residents.
  • Promote and maintain the health and safety of the PSW and the resident.
  • Communicate effectively & appropriately using oral, written & non-verbal methods.
  • Act within the PSW role when making observations regarding clients’ health, function and emotional state.
  • Adhere to the policies of the PSW program and the clinical agency.
  • Organize and provide care for a multi-resident assignment.
  • Complete assigned caregiving tasks as a member of the health team.
  • Promote support and assistance for clients who are physically or cognitively impaired.
  • Promote support and assistance to clients who are dying and to their families.

Clinical Leaning in Practice

During the clinical professional practice placement, you are expected to take an active, self-directed role in your learning. While you are supported and guided by your clinical instructor, your engagement in hands-on experiences is essential to your growth.

Clinical activities are designed to help you apply course concepts in real-world settings, particularly in long-term care. You’ll have opportunities to reflect, share insights, and develop your skills through observation, discussion, and practice. These experiences will help you strengthen your problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and capacity to provide safe, client-centered care.

Your learning will be assessed through direct observation in the clinical setting, participation in a “Skills Integration Day,” and completion of reflective writing, data collection sheets, and course assignments.

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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
Safety
Communication & Professionalism
Attendance
Uniforms
Evaluation

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.