7.3 Clinical Instructor Professional Practice Expectations

Clinical Instructor Expectations

• Attend PSW team meetings led by the PSW program Coordinator.
• Become familiar with the Professional Practice setting by initiating introductions and requesting a tour of the Professional Practice Placement setting (prior to the course start).
• Attend agency orientation with students.
• Attend the student Clinical Orientation on campus at the beginning of Level 2.
• Connect with PSW students several times throughout the shift and communicate expectations for the Clinical Professional Practice Placement.
• Seek out professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge of the PSW role and strengthen understanding of teaching and learning.
• Facilitate and engage students in the OER: Fanshawe College Personal Support Worker Clinical Professional Practice Resource Hub, additional learning, and resources.
• Guide students in becoming confident in completing the Domains of Practice Competencies evaluations in the PSW Professional Practice Placement Curriculum.
• Communicate expectations for the PSW Professional Practice Placement.
• Be available to answer questions and teach/guide the PSW students in practice and skills.
• Review, evaluate, and grade all Clinical Professional Practice requirements in partnership with the PSW agency mentors/preceptors.
• Review the PSW Clinical Professional Practice curriculum (found under content in the FanshaweOnline Learning Management System).
• Review and apply Fanshawe College and Agency policies, procedures, and PSW skills in the clinical setting.
• Demonstrate clinical and instructional knowledge in providing client care, expectations of clinical practice and the role of the PSW.
• Exhibit an approachable and receptive demeanour to students’ learning needs, and provide continuous support.
• Be a positive role model displaying enthusiasm, positivity, caring attributes, and portraying a passion for the profession of Personal Support Workers.
• Collaborate with students, agency mentors, agency staff, agency administrators and coordinators, Fanshawe College Placement Coordinator, and the PSW Program Coordinator.
• Follow proper procedures when ill, there is an agency outbreak, or inclement weather, and be responsible for creating a student contact plan.
• Collaborate successfully with placement administrators and staff, and the Fanshawe College Placement Coordinator and PSW Program Coordinator.
• Support student success by initiating a Collaborative Success Plan (Appendix D) and notifying the PSW Program Coordinator of students who do not meet the Clinical Professional Practice Domains and Competencies.
• Enter final grades in the Fanshawe College Learning Management System and WebAdvisor.
• Maintain up-to-date registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
• Maintain up-to-date mask fit testing, immunizations, and CPR/First-Aid certifications.
• Complete learning modules required by Fanshawe College (e-learning) and the Professional Practice agency.

Provision of Student Feedback

Guidance and feedback will be provided to the PSW student by the Clinical Instructor throughout the Clinical Professional Practice to ensure guidance and assistance. The ongoing feedback from the Clinical Instructor will be provided in consultation with the PSW mentor/preceptor who is working with the individual student.

Clinical Instructors will complete the Clinical Professional Practice evaluation at the middle and end of the Clinical course with the student. A Collaborative Success Plan (CSP) (Appendix D: PSW Student Collaborative Success Plan) may be initiated between the student and the Clinical Instructor, in consultation with the Program Coordinator, if at-risk behaviours are displayed and/or Professional Domains of Practice Competencies are not being met by the student.

The Clinical Instructor will meet with the student and discuss and develop a CSP to provide feedback and to develop strategies for the student’s 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 Instructors are recommended to liaise with the Program Coordinator to provide updates or if assistance is required.

Unit Assignment Sheet

To support both students and Long-Term Care Agency staff, Clinical Instructors are encouraged to develop an assignment sheet. This sheet will state the student’s name, the PSW staff member they are assigned to that day, and which resident they are providing their focused care for. In addition, it is recommended to provide the focus of the PSW group for that week with the course learning outcomes. This serves as a roadmap for both students and PSW staff and provides clarity, consistency, and alignment with course outcomes.

Student Evaluation

Students are expected to attend all placement hours in order to be successful in the course. Absences may result in an unsatisfactory grade.

Student progress is assessed on the basis of resident care and participation in reflective practice. It is expected that students will reflect on their care and learning. Clinical Instructors will provide guidance and ongoing feedback, and complete the practice evaluation at the middle and end of the course.

The Fanshawe College Clinical Instructor will liaise with the students’ preceptors and PSW staff throughout the course to provide guidance and assistance whenever necessary.

As a Clinical Instructor, it is important to guide students in the week-to-week expectations of clinical practice and the role of the PSW. A sample weekly schedule is provided in the Clinical Professional Practice Course Curriculum found in the HLTH 3054 Course on Fanshawe’s Learning Management System. The curriculum assignments and student evaluation forms are also found in the course content section.

At the beginning of the Professional Practice Placement, it is important for the Clinical Instructor to:

• In consultation with the clinical Placement Coordinator, arrange and review orientation expectations with the agency and students. Ensure to email students the date and time to attend the clinical agency orientation.
• Email students an introduction to introduce yourself, provide course expectations, agency orientation details, and what students should bring on their first day, directions to the agency, and where students should park.
• On the first day or at the student orientation (on campus or at the agency), review course requirements, including assignments, reflective practice activities, and professional practice domains.
• Complete and collect learning & conduct agreements (found in the curriculum package).
• Review handwashing/PPE day 1 or 2 at the agency.
• Create a seek and find list for students for their first/second day (See Appendix C: Sample Seek & Find List).

HLTH 3055 PSW Clinical Consolidation Professional Practice Schedule

Prior to the end of the HLTH 3054 Clinical Professional Practice course, Clinical Instructors will schedule students for their PSW Clinical Consolidation Experience with an assigned PSW preceptor in consultation with the agency scheduling department. This may include one day with the Activation/Activity Department (agency dependent).

Please note: Some agencies will create the schedule for the PSW students and notify the instructor of this schedule.

The clinical agency, Clinical Instructor, Placement Coordinator, and each student will be made aware of the assigned schedule prior to the end of the HLTH 3054 course.

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT. [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

Prompt: In a realistic style, create an image of a PSW student and their PSW preceptor in consultation.

Content: Adapted with permission from the HLTH 3054 Clinical Professional Practice Curriculum. 2025.  © Fanshawe College.