Do's and Don'ts of Clinical

At the clinical site, following protocols are essential for client and student safety. Here’s a guide to the essential practices to do and pitfalls to avoid:

Do follow the chain of command:

• At the clinical Site, here's a quick guide
  1. Start with the Clinical adjunct/faculty at the clinical site
  2. If no resolution, reach out to the Course Coordinator or Clinical Instructor
  3. If no resolution with the above, contact the Program Director

• Review your clinical Policy via the Student Handbook & Syllabus
• Complete all of your RNSG clinical course hours ( Do not miss any clinical [can include activities] or simulation days)
• Do know you are expected to show up to clinical on time and prepared, as directed by your clinical adjunct/instructor
• Do know you are expected to show up to clinical on time and prepared, wearing the proper clinical uniform
• Do know you are expected to call your clinical adjunct if you are running late for clinical (follow your clinical Policy) -Track your clinical hours
• Do know that every semester, you will go to clinical for 8 to 12 hours per week (some clinical courses may require more than 12 hrs)
• The RNSG 2103 practicum (senior year) spots were designed for students who excelled in the class, lab, and clinical setting throughout the two years in the GTC ADN program.
• During the RNSG 2103 semester, not all students will be recommended for a practicum (due to capacity), so cohorts will be available. Also, not all students can access the cohort, so practicums will be available. A student going to practicum/cohorts depends on capacity and facility availability.
• Collaborating with your Adjunct Faculty/clinical instructor/course coordinator is essential to track your completion of hours. 
• Any planned clinical excused absences, juror duty, surgeries, etc, must be communicated before or on the 1st day of class [Please see your course syllabus].
• Any clinical emergencies must be communicated to the clinical adjunct/ course coordinator/clinical instructor immediately upon knowing.
• Do know that the exact clinical day and facility will be finalized and sent to you by your clinical instructor/course coordinator/clinical adjunct
• Your clinical schedule is subject to change at any time
• We will need approval from the clinical facilities first, and all students must be cleared and approved to start the rotation before any clinical schedule is finalized and sent to the students.
• Clinical rotations are subject to change at any time, even during the rotation. This means if a faculty/preceptor is no longer available, the facility closes, the facility deems student clinical requirements unsatisfactory, the student is negligent, student fails to complete continuous compliance, or other emergencies could result in a change of clinical schedule.
• Please manage your life balances. Changes can happen at anytime
• Do review the code of conduct policy every semester
• Do know that students can be removed from the clinical facility if they fail to comply with the clinical site's and ADN program's policies and procedures at GTC.
• You must continue to log in to ACEMAPP/ASSURE and clear your clinical documents every semester throughout the entire 1- 2 years at GTC. 
• Please reach out to ACEMAPP/ASSURE to ensure you have uploaded the correct documents in the proper spot for all course
• Please review the "All Clinical Requirements " page, choose the specific clinical facility you have been assigned in ACEMAPP, and complete the correct requirements. 
• Do contact ACEMAPP/ASSURE when issues occur creating a profile in ACEMAPP?
• Do CONTACT ACEMAPP/ASSURE when issues occur with uploading documents or when a document needs to be cleared in ACEMAPP/ASSURE. (See Primary contact page)
• Do contact clinical instructor for course clinical schedule, Adjunct issues at clinical, clinical evaluation, clinical activities, etc.
• Do report any clinical incident or accident using the chain of command
• Do not be afraid to communicate with the course coordinator/clinical instructor
• Do know that faculty will not contact you via soical media or for any clinical/course related work requirements via social media
• Do know we are looking forward to seeing each of you at Graduation
• Do not miss a clinical day or simulation day
• Failure to complete clinical hours will lead to unsuccessful completion of the program (Do not miss any clinical days).
• RNSG 2103 students, do not reach out to any preceptors until you receive an email from the clinical instructor for you to move forward and connect with the approve preceptor.
• Prior to clinical approval, do not call the clinical instructor or any faculty about a specific clincal location, day, time, or facility since we cannot make special priority or accommodations for all students. 
• Remember, creating a profile, uploading your clinical documents, or being assigned to a rotation does not mean you are approved to go to that specific facility. It means you are assigned to clear yourself for a possible site.
• Do not expect the clinical instructor to schedule rotation around a job, life situations, family situation or child care. This can become confusing and lead to unfairness.
• Do not call any clinical facility, supervisors, employees, individuals, etc., to discuss any clinical rotation-related setups, favors, securing a spot, or issues about the ADN clinical nursing program at GTC.
• Do not plan absences on evaluation, clinical or simulation days.
• Do not violate HIPPA, Clinical facilities' policy, taking pictures of clients/employees at clinical site without consent, recording , removing any type of clinical documentation, or medical records from the facility
• Do not hesitate to reach up for any help, as we are here for each of you. Be sure to follow the chain of command.