Chapter 7 Quiz Notes
Practicum: real-life on-site learning and terminology
Term descriptions
Practicum, internship, and clinicals describe on-site experiences during training.
Purpose of a practicum: to gain real-life, on-site experience while still a student.
Benefits of a practicum
Determine the type of patient and employment setting you would prefer after graduation.
Possible employment recommendation or a job offer after graduation.
Opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills while still a student.
Learn new approaches and gain confidence in your ability.
Clearance and health requirements for practicum
May be required to receive an annual flu shot.
May need to provide proof of health insurance coverage.
FIT testing for an N95 respirator may be required.
Vaccinations for practicum eligibility
Vaccinations may include: Tetanus, measles, varicella, mumps, and rubella (MMR).
Preparation for a practicum
Good ways to prepare include reviewing the site’s printed materials and online information.
Inquire about the site’s dress code.
Call your supervisor to confirm start date and assigned hours.
Determine travel time to the site and locate parking lots.
Site visit timing and employer rationale
To prepare for your practicum, visit the site a few days before your first day.
Employers often hire graduates who did their practicum at their facility because:
They know how to process the appropriate paperwork.
They are familiar with the site procedures.
They can hit the ground running.
They can operate the facility’s equipment and complete the site orientation.
Being ready to work can raise concerns if inappropriate social media use occurs during a practicum.
Social media and confidentiality cautions
Inappropriate social media examples:
Texting family and friends during practicum hours.
Posting photographs of coworkers’ parties that involve alcohol, drugs, or inappropriate behavior.
Identifying a patient by name at your practicum site and asking Facebook friends to pray for them.
Naming the facility where you are doing practicum on your Facebook page.
Patient confidentiality during practicum
Key statements often used in exams:
Always protect private information contained in patient charts.
What you see, hear, or read must stay on-site.
Patient records must be maintained as required by policy and law.
Family inquiries about your practicum
When family asks what you did at your internship site today, you can describe what you saw and did without divulging patient names.
Health facility safety, hazard, and PPE programs
A facility’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and Hazard Communication Program identify:
How to respond to chemical or biohazard spills.
How to access or use personal protective equipment (PPE).
How to report and respond to a fire.
Which chemicals are present and where they are stored and used.
How to use the hazard communication system and which hazards are present and how to prevent injuries.
General safety tips in healthcare facilities
Base safety tips:
Place litter in containers.
Watch out for swinging doors.
Use handrails when using stairs.
Never use damaged electrical cords.
Demonstrations of professional appearance
Demonstrate a professional appearance by dressing appropriately and being well groomed.
Keep long hair neat, clean, and tied back.
Language and behavior expectations
Profanity or coarse language is not appropriate during practicum.
Examples of proper behavior include avoiding office policies becoming cliques (i.e., avoiding cliques or “clicks”).
Write down answers to your questions to avoid repetitive asking and to help ensure success.
Display good attendance and punctuality.
Display enthusiasm, be interactive, and maintain a positive attitude.
Display good communication and work skills while maintaining patient confidentiality.
Patient and procedural boundaries
If a patient does not want a student in the room during a procedure, honor the patient’s wishes.
When appropriate to share personal medical history with a patient during practicum: it is never appropriate.
Priorities and professionalism
Reasons for placing your practicum site first:
Participating in a practicum is a privilege; you are a guest in the facility.
The site supervisor can terminate your practicum for good reason; your performance could impact the site’s reputation.
Absences and obligations
If you must be absent for a day, you should contact your instructor and your site manager.
It is never acceptable to take free samples at your practicum site.
Dress code and office policies
Clothing should be consistent with the site’s dress code.
Handling office policies during practicum should be done appropriately and within policy; avoid disrupting policies.
Eligibility and testing policies
Students with any type of criminal history are not automatically disqualified; the transcript asserts this is not absolute in some contexts, but note its context in actual programs.
Some states’ marijuana laws and drug-screen requirements are variable; the transcript presents statements about drug screening as true/false for quiz purposes.
Travel time, punctuality, and early arrival
On your first assigned day, allow sufficient travel time to arrive at the site at least 15 minutes early so you feel more comfortable and less rushed.
Graduates who are hired at the facility where they did their practicum may receive a higher wage than other applicants when they first start.
Journaling and reflection
The primary value of keeping a journal is often misunderstood in quiz items:
A statement that keeping a journal to document everything observed being done incorrectly to influence instructor decisions is false.
Some educational programs require keeping a journal and documenting certain types of information (true).
Keeping a journal to memorize patients’ names is false.
It may be acceptable to use a cell phone as a watch to record time when taking vital signs is false; some policies allow limited use, but many programs restrict personal device use during patient care.
If a child is ill and you’re expecting a call, the site supervisor may allow you to keep your cell phone on you (true).
Set your phone to silent to avoid disturbances (true).
On-site conduct and safety practices
While on-site, walk on the right-hand side of hallways to prevent accidents (true).
Report any injury to yourself or others immediately; some statements indicate reporting by end of day is false in quiz items (note policy differences by facility).
Employers generally prefer good attendance over lack of experience with poor attendance (true).
Do not assume you’ll be graded only on performance under stress or adaptation to change (the transcript marks this as false).
Practicum experiences generally do not involve hourly monetary compensation as a default (the transcript marks the statement about compensation as false).
As a student, you may still be bound by site policies and protocols; the transcript marks the statement that you do not have to follow them as false.
If you become ill during practicum, it is better to call in sick than to report to work (true).
Relationships among groups of coworkers that involve plotting are called protocol or cliques; the transcript marks the claim about protocol as false and notes the term clique is more accurate in common usage.
There is not necessarily only one right way to do things; the transcript marks this as false.
Avoid asking the same question repeatedly during a practicum (true).
Quick recap for quiz-ready tips
Keep patient confidentiality at the forefront; never disclose patient identifiers.
Plan ahead: know dress code, hours, parking, and site layout.
Be mindful of social media and online presence; act professionally at all times.
Follow safety protocols and report hazards or injuries promptly.
Maintain attendance, punctuality, and a positive attitude.
Use journaling as a reflective tool (where required) to document relevant non-identifiable observations and learning experiences.
If in doubt, ask questions through proper channels and document answers for future reference.