SCPE Guidelines

1. Students may be required to complete additional documentation before clinical rotations. The Director of Clinical Education will facilitate this and should be completed promptly to allow for timely facility credentialing. 

2. Students may also be required to complete facility-specific orientations in person or via an online platform such as Tennessee Clinical Placement Systems (TCPS). 

3. Students should contact the preceptor via email or phone approximately two (2) weeks before the start of each SCPE. Preceptor contact information can be located within the CORE Preceptor Profile.

4. On the first day of the rotation, students should dress in business attire and discuss the rotation schedule and duties with the assigned preceptor. Students are encouraged to be proactive in their clinical education by reviewing the SCPE learning outcomes and instructional objectives with their preceptor, which can be found in the applicable syllabus. 

5. As a general rule, students should adhere to the schedule set forth by the preceptor of record, including days, nights, weekends, holidays, and call responsibilities.

1. Students must work under the direct supervision of a licensed Physician, Physician Assistant, or other licensed healthcare providers in all clinical settings.

2. Students must not evaluate patients, establish a diagnosis, order laboratory or diagnostic studies, or carry out treatment plans without their preceptor's direct supervision or oversight.

3. No patient should be discharged without consultation with the preceptor.

4. Students should not substitute as program faculty, clinical preceptor, or medical staff during the clinical year.

5. Students must always represent themselves as a Physician Assistant student and never as a Certified Physician Assistant. 

6. Socializing with preceptors, office staff, and patients outside of the clinical facility is discouraged. Romantic or sexual relationships with patients, preceptors, or office staff members are considered unethical and are prohibited.

7. Students must immediately report needlesticks, accidental exposures, and other incidents. Please refer to the  Infectious and Environmental Hazards Policy for procedures and reporting instructions.

8. Students should not solicit health care from preceptors or program faculty except in an emergency situation.

9. Students are required to complete health screenings and immunizations prior to the clinical year as outlined in the Immunization and Health Screening Policy of this handbook.

To distinguish themselves from other health professionals and students, Lipscomb PA students should be clearly identified in the clinical setting by wearing the school-provided white coat (with the corresponding student patch and embroidery) as well as the university-issued ID badge. Please refer to the Student Identification Policy for further details or clarifications.

Proper dress attire is essential for PA students during SCPEs. The following is the expected dress code unless otherwise specified by the preceptor (i.e., scrubs for the OR and athletic shoes for the emergency room are appropriate). Please note jeans and/or t-shirts are NOT permitted, even if approved by the preceptor. 

Women: 

• Dresses and skirts must be knee length at a minimum

• Blouses and pants are appropriate as long as the blouse isn’t low-cut and the midriff is not exposed

• Leggings, jeans, t-shirts, shorts, sweatsuits, and hats are not permitted

• Shoes must be professional, closed-toed, and moderate in heel height 

Men:

• Button-down collared shirts are expected with dress slacks

• Belts must accompany dress slacks

• Jeans, t-shirts, shorts, sweatsuits, and hats are not permitted

• Shoes must be professional and closed-toed

In addition, proper hygiene is required for PA students during SPCEs. Hair (including facial hair) must be kept neat and of natural color. Jewelry must be kept to a minimum. Additional piercings, including facial piercings, are not permitted. All visible tattoos must be covered at all times during SCPEs. Fragrances (including but not limited to colognes, perfumes, lotions, and heavily scented detergents/soaps) should not be worn due to patient and staff sensitivity. Fingernails should be trimmed, natural, without artificial nails, and free of color. Please note clinical site dress code policies may supersede program standards. 

Please be aware that if a student is dressed improperly, he or she may be asked to leave the site in order to change.

1. Students should prepare adequately for their clinical rotations by using the required text and recommended resources on each corresponding course syllabi provided via Canvas. Students are also encouraged to ask preceptors for guidance related to topics applicable to their practice. 

2. Students should use the instructional objectives in conjunction with the  Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) End of Rotation Exam Topic List, which is linked to the SCPE syllabus, for each corresponding SCPE to guide their reading and study strategies for the EOR.

3. Students are responsible for timely and accurate logging of encounters and hours during all SCPEs:

   • Students are responsible for logging patient encounters within CORE ELMS. Complete patient encounter logging is due at the conclusion of each rotation but should be logged on an ongoing basis to ensure accuracy. 

   • Students are responsible for logging accurate work hours within CORE ELMS.  Hours should be logged daily at the conclusion of your shift.  Hours should never be logged in advance based on an anticipated schedule.  Students should schedule an end-of-rotation discussion or debriefing with the preceptor to discuss feedback and determine if there are any major issues in performance prior to the completion of the SCPE. 

4. Students are responsible for the timely completion of all evaluations for each of the SCPEs:

   • Students are responsible for completing a mid-rotation self-evaluation during the third week of the rotation. After completing this evaluation, the student should schedule a conference with the preceptor to review the evaluation and discuss their progress and potential opportunities for improvement. 

   • Students are responsible for completing an evaluation of the preceptor and site during the final week of the rotation. This evaluation is due on the final day of SCPE.

   • Students should request a few minutes of the preceptors' time during the final week of the rotation to discuss the student’s strengths and opportunities for growth.  This is also an appropriate time to provide a gentle reminder for the preceptor to complete the Preceptor Evaluation of Student form.

PA students must be properly supervised at all times while present on SCPEs. It is vital that students:

• Refrain from completing any pre-signed prescriptions, phoning in  or electronically submitting prescriptions

• Never administer medication without the approval and supervision of the preceptor

• Never treat, discharge, or perform procedures on patients who the preceptor has not seen

• Avoid discussing any clinical findings with the patient before discussing them with the preceptor

• Do not document encounters in the medical record without authorization AND the co-signature of the preceptor.

The situations above are indicative of inadequate supervision. Please notify the program immediately should you be asked to perform any of the above actions, leading to improper supervision. 

The Lipscomb University School of Physician Assistant Studies will not generally send any mass emails to all students canceling SCPEs due to inclement weather. Because weather and road conditions can vary greatly within our region, students are urged to use their best judgment regarding travel conditions. Students not able to travel to their SCPE should notify the Director of Clinical Education and their preceptor before that shift begins.

Lipscomb University is not responsible for personal property damages or loss while on SCPEs.