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School of Health Professions - Student Handbook 2023-2024


MLS - Traditional Preceptorship Information

Preceptorship Information
Philosophy of Clinical Education
All academic preparation is directed towards the acquisition of the knowledge, technical skills, and attitudes necessary for the practice of the laboratory sciences. Clinical Education is an intrinsic part of the preparation process. This integration develops in two environments: (1) clinical classroom preparation to the maximum extent possible and (2) education which occurs in the clinical settings must be responsive to the student's individual level of academic preparation and readiness. Students are offered clinical rotations in their professional education, allowing them the opportunity to integrate their clinical skills with didactic work.
In selection of clinical sites, the quality of patient care, the enthusiasm of the staff for working with students, and the size of the department or laboratory are all factors carefully considered.
Clinical Affiliates
To view a list of all affiliated facilities, please visit the website below.
https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/bachelor-of-science-medical-laboratory-science/affiliates.aspx
Affiliate availability is subject to change. A current, updated list of available cities/towns will be provided to the class following completion of the junior year.
MLS Clinical Preceptorship Assignment Policy and Procedure
Policy:
It is the intent of the MLS program to provide each student with a meaningful clinical laboratory preceptorship experience. The activities of the clinical preceptorship will include, but are not limited to:
  • Benchwork under supervision
  • Participation in the quality control program
  • Attendance at lectures or seminars at the institution
  • Observation of other departments in the institution
Students must complete the full requirement hours of the preceptorship rotation. Hours missed due to absences, for any reason, are required to be made up at the discretion and convenience of the affiliate which could affect the student's ability to complete the program or graduate on time.
To provide each student with a clinical experience, students must be assigned to a preceptorship site months in advance to accommodate the affiliate requirements, needs of the student, and needs of the MLS program. The availability of preceptorship sites for the MLS program is based not only on a contractual agreement between the facility providing the preceptorship and the program but on the ability of the affiliate to accommodate a student in a given semester. Students are expected to be prepared to relocate to complete their assigned preceptorship.
TTUHSC guarantees preceptorship placements at a current affiliate associated with TTUHSC. Students are assigned their preceptorship placement through a procedure as described below. Due to contract policies, students are not allowed to contact current affiliates associated with the MLS program to solicit placement. Students who are employed in a full-service clinical laboratory have the responsibility of informing the employer of their student status no later than the 2nd semester of the program. TTUHSC MLS will not reach out on the students' behalf to arrange preceptorship placement with the employer. The students' employer must make contact with the program to discuss potential placement for preceptorship. This type of preceptorship placement is NOT guaranteed.
Procedure:
1. Each applicant interviewed will be informed of the preceptorship assignment procedure.
2. Each applicant accepted into the MLS program will be provided an example of the Clinical Preceptorship Assignment Form (CPAF, Appendix B) in their copy of the student handbook. The policy and explanation of the CPAF will be discussed during orientation in August of the junior year.
3. A current up-to-date CPAF is provided to the student in the summer following the completion of the junior year.
4. The completed CPAF is returned by the deadline determined by the Clinical Education Coordinator.
5. The clinical education coordinator will enter the CPAF ranking into a program utilizing the following to make assignments:
a. Available contracted clinical slots
b. Class ranking of students.
c. Needs of the affiliated.
d. Needs of the student.
6. Each student will receive two copies of a contract during the summer semester informing them of their clinical preceptorship assignment. The student will have five working days to sign and return one of the provided copies of the contract to the Affiliate Coordinator. A student failing to return the contracts within five working days will forfeit their clinical preceptorship spot.
7. Proof of health insurance must be presented to the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs (806-743-3220) by deadline assigned.
8. Students who are recycling through the program or whose performance at a previous clinical experience was below expectation for the level of training will receive their preceptorship assignment based on availability first, class ranking second, and preference last.
The student is responsible for ALL costs associated with clinical preceptorship experiences including onboarding fees, transportation, housing, meals, uniforms (scrubs, if required), drug screens, additional criminal background checks required by the facility, and other incidental expenses associated with relocation and/or preceptorship requirements. This could include additional immunizations and titers to check immunity.
TTUHSC Office of Institutional Health (OIH) reviews all immunizations records submitted by students after admittance into our programs. Each student is responsible for complying with requests from OIH regarding facility-specific requirements that could include titers, TB testing, flu shots, boosters, etc.
NOTE: Based on their contracts, each facility has the right to terminate their affiliation with the MLS program up until the student enters their clinical preceptorship. On occasion, a facility will terminate a contract prior to the beginning of the clinical preceptorships. The MLS Program will make every effort to find the student another preceptorship spot in that location; however, be aware the only available preceptorship spot may be located in another city or another preceptorship spot may not be available at that time. Any and all expenses in changing a preceptorship site are the responsibility of the student.
Students who are not placed in a preceptorship will go on a waiting list (in order of class rank) and will be placed if, and when, a preceptorship site becomes available.
Appeal of the Preceptorship Assignment:
Upon receiving the contract, the student has five working days to appeal, in writing, the preceptorship assignment. The written appeal with the CPAF and attached documentation will be submitted to the Program Director who will forward the appeal to the Preceptorship Assignment Appeal Committee. The committee will meet within seven working days to review the appeal. Upon reviewing the appeal(s), the committee will provide a written report within three working days to the Program Director. The Program Director will inform the student of the final decision.
Clinical Preceptorship Grade Policy
Clinical Preceptorship I will be on campus in the fall of the 2nd year. Successful completion of this course will allow the student to matriculate to Clinical Preceptorship II and III.
The student must meet or exceed to Minimum Passing Score on each End-of Rotation test, a 70% or better on any practical exams given by the preceptor, a 60% or above on the professional evaluation, and demonstrate all tasks at a Satisfactory or Above-Average level to successfully complete HPML 4741, Clinical Preceptorship II, and HPML 4842, Clinical Preceptorship III.
The student is allowed two attempts of each EOR, with the higher grade being recorded. The second EOR is not a repeat of the first attempt but a new test with different questions. The student must meet or exceed the MPS on at least one attempt of each EOR to pass the rotation. If the student fails to meet or exceed the MPS on both attempts of an EOR test, the student must notify the Clinical Education Coordinator immediately. If the student fails to meet or exceed the MPS on two attempts of any EOR, a remediation plan may be developed by the Clinical Education Coordinator, Program Director, and university faculty. Remediation may include an extension of the clinical rotation. This could prevent or delay a student's graduation from the program. Failure to pass two attempts on more than one EOR test may result in dismissal from the program. For example, failure to meet or exceed the MPS on the Chemistry EOR and failure to meet or exceed the MPS on the UA/BF EOR may result in dismissal from the program.
**If any student fails to make a 70% or better on a practical exam, the Clinical Instructor should notify the Clinical Education Coordinator immediately. Documentation of Student Counseling and remediation plan will be noted on the Student Counseling report. The remediation plan may be developed by the Clinical Education Coordinator, Education Coordinator/Clinical Instructor, Program Director, and university and clinical faculty. Remediation may include an extension of the clinical rotation. This could prevent or delay a student's graduation from the program.

Attendance Policy
Students are expected to follow the rotation schedule as set forth by their affiliate. Any changes to preceptorship schedules required by the affiliate site must be approved by both the program and the affiliate site. Dally attendance and promptness are absolute requirements of the program. The department and program are required to document any absences. Absence is excused only by permission of the Clinical Education Coordinator and Education Coordinator. All absences must be made up and will be scheduled at the affiliates convenience. Make-up days can occur during student holiday periods such as Spring Break, Memorial Day, and after scheduled preceptorship. In the case of multiple absences (2 or more days) or extended absence due to medical reasons, a physicians statement will be required. Absences and make-up schedules are documented on the Student Absence Report Form.
Emergency Related Closures
Students on preceptorship or clinical placements are to follow the policies of their affiliate or clinical site regarding emergency-related closures. Suspension of classes or office closures on a TTUHSC campus does not supersede the policies of the affiliate or clinical site.