The clinical placement experience

Students will:

• have reviewed, signed and submitted to the Postgraduate Registry a copy of the Physician Associate Student Code of Conduct and the Ethical Behaviour of Students Towards Patients upon accepting a place in the course. Students will comply with this code whilst enrolled on the course.
• actively seek clinical experience during their placements. This may include: seeking opportunities to interact with patients, such as through interviewing and physical examination; engaging with appropriately trained clinicians around clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills; pursuing opportunities to observe and/or participate in evaluation of clinical conditions for which the student lacks experience and seeking opportunities for development of competence in specific procedures.
• participate in all the duties and learning activities of the clinical team during the time they are on the clinical placement
• attend all sessions of the clinical placement, arriving on time and prepared just as with any other professional post
• be expected to meet the assessment requirements of the PAACKS module
• take responsibility for arranging meetings with their supervisor or their deputies prior to the completion of the clinical attachment each term to review and complete the clinical placement documentation
• notify the Clinical Placement Officer if their supervisor is experiencing any problems completing the Clinical Placement Assessment on PebblePad. Further advice and/or action will be taken by the Clinical Placement team.
• notify the supervisor, clinical team and the Clinical Placement Officer of any absence on the day/s they are unable to attend placement.

Students are not permitted to:

• prescribe, dispense, administer or to sign for administration of medications given to patients. For completion of their DOPS students are permitted to give IM and SC injections only under direct supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
• undertake any procedures that they have not been taught on the MPAS programme. It is the students responsibility to inform the Placements team if they are being asked to do so. 
• refer patients without supervisor review or conduct examinations with patients unchaperoned.

The clinical supervisor will:

• advocate for physician associates and educate the team on who they are and what they do
• supervise the student’s practice and facilitate learning by acting as a role model and resource
• provide a timetable or structure for the student to work to whilst on placement
• provide timely constructive feedback for the student
• explore the student’s professional judgment where an opportunity arises through case discussion or observation of professional behaviour
• challenge the student to develop skills of reflection and encourage self-assessment and self-appraisal
• support students in arranging for Multi-Source Feedback assessment (year 2 only)
• provide a qualified deputy to complete (at times when supervisor not available) a DOPS form for evaluation of procedural experience as learning opportunities become available
• provide a deputy to cover supervision and complete end of placement paperwork if absent
• complete sign-off of the student via the Clinical Placement Assessment form on MyProgress
• liaise with the course team when appropriate; reporting directly to the Clinical Placement Officer for students in difficulty during a placement, or where there are concerns.  It will be the responsibility of the Clinical Placement Lead to review any concerns in light of all information available and determine whether escalation to the Course Director is appropriate.