As a student in the clinical sleep setting, you have the opportunity to learn from professionals. Your clinical site will provide a preceptor which will observe you perform your skills, as well as help you adapt to your clinical setting. You role will vary between:
Emerging Technologist ~ As an emerging technologist you should arrive at clinical ready to perform the skills you learned in the previous quarter. You will work under the direct supervision of a preceptor, and will assume the responsibility of a sleep technologist in training.
Learner ~ As a learner you should accept every situation as an opportunity to learn. As a preceptor takes time to teach you about something, then that "something" must be important. You will make note of it and demonstrate you remember what they taught you, when the opportunity arises. It is a privilege to learn in the clinical setting and we will be respectful of the opportunity.
Educator ~ As a patient educator, you will identify opportunities to educate on what you know. This includes healthy sleep hygiene practices, risk factors of untreated sleep apnea, signs of drowsy driving, benefits of PAP therapy, and others as directed by your preceptor.
Student Qualifications for Clinical Education
Demonstration of satisfactory completion of the following competencies:
Clinical and Patient Safety
Preparation for Patient Arrival & Orientation
Diagnostic Equipment
Patient hook-up
Diagnostic Polysomnography
Artifact Recognition & Troubleshooting
Initiating data acquisition
Event & artifact recognition and troubleshooting
Stage Scoring
Event Recognition
EKG
PAP Fitting and Modes
Student Role
Perform the skills learned in the previous semester under preceptor supervision.
Aid the preceptor in situations in which you are not qualified to perform at that time.
As your clinical skills improve, assume more responsibility under preceptor supervision (or recommendation).
Complete all clinical requirements including clinical time, documentation and competencies.
Ask for feedback regarding the skills you have demonstrated, and adapt as indicated.
Student Responsibilities
Demonstrating professionalism at all times.
Completing required clinical experiences, assignments and competencies.
Providing clinical documentation and evaluation forms for the preceptor to verify the experience and provide feedback regarding the student’s performance.
Performing PSGT skills with attention to quality and safety.
Demonstrating correct and safe use of equipment and supplies.
Demonstrating the application of effective interpersonal relations and communication and use of critical thinking and problem solving.
Participating in rotations in specialized sleep care and related procedures and therapies.
Providing patient care in the practice of sleep medicine, demonstrating compassion, respect, empathy, and concern for patient dignity.
Following program and clinical site’s policies throughout their clinical experience.
