Expectations of All Students
Active Learning
We expect that as a student, and an active learner, you identify your strengths and areas for improvement, set personal goals that address the areas for improvement, and actively seek learning opportunities to meet your goals. As you get into clinical areas, you might want to discuss your ideas with your clinical faculty and ask for feedback. We also expect that you actively prepare for every clinical day and set aside time at the end of each clinical day to identify the things you need to review, and then take time during the week to get that learning done.
Time Management
Socializing into a new expanded Advanced Practice role will require time. It will be essential to keep a work-life balance as you juggle your personal and professional responsibilities. If you haven’t already, look at your obligations outside of school and identify ways that you can be successful in managing the program requirements. You may want to seek resources and formulate a plan now so that you can get the most out of this experience.
Communication with Faculty
You will have a designated clinical faculty member who is responsible for the evaluation of each student’s performance. It is essential that you keep your designated clinical faculty member informed of any change in your clinical site or schedule, as well as any unanticipated events that occur during the clinical experience, e.g., illness or injury related to experience.
Professionalism
Excellent communication skills, a positive attitude, and respectful and productive interactions are part of being a professional. Being a great health care provider does not mean you possess manual skills, but that you possess the heart of a nurse who is compassionate, caring, and willing to lead with humility. Your professors can help you network and develop connections within the profession, so the impact of your professional image is important to consider. We hold faculty to the same expectations.
Clinical time is best spent seeking new learning opportunities and discovering your area of interest. Clinical rotations involve a variety of activities that include direct care and indirect care experiences. Direct care refers to care activities provided at the point of patient care. Indirect care refers to interventions that are provided on behalf of patients. What counts as clinical experiences in your coursework is tied directly to the clinical learning objectives for that particular setting and is part of meeting the overall program competencies based on the program standards. Strong moral values and character are the backbones of the profession. It is imperative that health care professionals maintain collaborative relationships with patients, doctors, fellow health care providers, and other health care staff. If a conflict arises, students must make an effort to resolve the situation positively. Many of you are natural leaders, and we encourage you to discover the power of positive leadership as you move toward your future. Faith, religion, and spirituality are distinct components of what defines many human communities and allows individuals to make sense of their experiences. Sensitivity to those beliefs is key to your role as a caring, compassionate health care provider.