Athletic Training Clinical Educational Experiences

While athletic training students are formally enrolled in the athletic training program students will complete 5 semesters of clinical educational experience.  The program utilizes a variety of clinical settings to prepare future healthcare providers.  These settings include high schools, universities, professional soccer and hockey, medical clinics and fire and rescue.  Our program has affiliates in several states including Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.  Students have completed clinical educational experiences with the following clinical affiliates:

The utilization of clinical educational experiences at Pacific University provides the primary setting for the continued teaching, practice, and evaluation of athletic training competencies and standards as outlined by CAATE for entry to the athletic training profession.  Clinical educational experiences will typically begin during the fall term of the student’s first year in the program.  Students will benefit from direct supervision by a Preceptor and the opportunity for on-going feedback and guidance.  Preceptors afford adequate supervision to assure that the athletic training student performs their tasks in a manner consistent with the BOC Standards of Practice and NATA code of ethics. 

Two elements compose the clinical educational experience in athletic training: Academic Coursework and Clinical Education.  Pacific University administers clinical education over five semesters at approved clinical affiliates.  Each semester athletic training students enroll in a Practicum course for two to ten credits, depending on their semester in the program. These courses integrate cognitive, psychomotor and clinical proficiencies in a didactic setting and then the student will apply patient centered care at affiliated sites under the direct supervision of a Preceptor.  The clinical education program includes the presentation and evaluation of the Standards for Accreditation of Professional Athletic Training Programs.  These Standards will be instructed, assessed, and applied in a progression through the students’ time in the program.  Clinical educational experiences enable athletic training students to integrate psychomotor skills within patient care and apply athletic training skills under the supervision of a Preceptor. 

Athletic training students are expected to complete all of their assigned clinical proficiencies and standards through each Practicum course.  Students must complete all assigned clinical proficiencies and practicum objectives each semester regardless of how many hours they have completed.  Students will have, at minimum, one day off each week from all clinical educational assignments. 

Transportation

All students must have determined modes of transportation to access clinical sites by the second semester of the first year they are in the program.  Transportation expenses are the responsibility of each athletic training student.  Examples of such expenses include mileage to and from off-campus affiliated clinical sites. Preceptors will be informed during the Preceptor training that if they choose to transport students in their personal automobile, they should verify with insurance provider coverage includes passengers. 

Clinical Preceptors

• Preceptor Policy Manual (AY 21-22)

Library privileges for Preceptors

Clinical instructors are granted full privileges to Pacific University Libraries for one year from the date they take a student. Please contact Dr. Rebecca Rodriguez to set up a library account. In the email please provide the following information:

Name
Email address
Phone number
Name of clinical site
Are you an alumnus?

Continuing Education Opportunities in Clinical Education

Preceptor training address issues of planning and preparing for athletic training students during their clinical internships, developing learning experiences, and supporting ongoing learning through questioning and effective feedback.

Skills and evaluations are discussed, as well as the identification and management of students with exceptional situations.

The training is provided for both new and experienced athletic training educators involved in clinical education.  Information presented covers the basic skills for clinical preceptors.