The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletic Training Program's (UNL ATP) clinical education program is designed to work directly with information taught in the classroom to provide Athletic Training Students (ATS) with well-rounded, hands-on clinical educational experiences. These experiences include opportunities to learn and collaborate in a variety of environments with a diverse group of healthcare professionals. Emphasis is placed on preparing ATS to function in a variety of settings with patients who participate in a wide range of activities. Both the classroom and clinical education components of the UNL ATP are based on the areas as described in the explained in the Board of Certification Practice Analysis 7th Edition. The purpose of the clinical education component of the UNL ATP is to serve as an extension of the classroom where ATS learn how to integrate information and skills learned in the classroom into their clinical education experiences.
Clinical education is considered a critical academic component of the UNL ATP. Athletic training students must register for a clinical class each semester they are enrolled as a professional student in the UNL ATP. Actions performed by an ATS while participating in their clinical education is not considered “work” or “volunteer”.
Clinical education courses do not meet on a regular schedule (i.e., traditional didactic courses). Clinical education meeting times are dependent on the specific circumstances and situations that surround the various clinical education assignments. Clinical education times occur during regular academic hours as well as nights and weekends. At times, these situations may be weather dependent and out of control of the preceptor. Professional communication between the preceptor and the ATS is critical for good clinical education to occur. At the beginning of each clinical education assignment the ATS and the preceptor, together will develop a tentative weekly clinical education schedule that will outline suggested meeting days and times (Appendix G).
The UNL ATP participates in regular clinical education opportunities that are located off the UNL campus that may include transportation costs (i.e., public transit, or access to an automobile). Students are responsible for costs associated with commuting to and from all UNL ATP clinical education sites. Clinical education classes take precedence over elective courses, social clubs, and employment. It is expected that ATS will attend all required clinical education assignments. If an ATS cannot attend a scheduled clinical assignment, it is expected the ATS will contact their preceptor directly with prior advance notice. If the ATS cannot give prior notice, the ATS should contact their preceptor as soon as it is feasible with the reason they missed their assigned clinical education assignment.
As ATS progress through the different levels of the clinical education phase, they will learn how to become a professional that is knowledgeable, skilled, competent, and disciplined. The clinical education component in the UNL ATP allows each ATS to experience unique educational opportunities that provide individualized educational experiences for each ATS. The individualized educational experience allows the ATS to challenge themselves to become more knowledgeable and independent as they progress through the UNL ATP.
Clinical education classes must be taken consecutively and are associated with educational competencies taught the previous semester in a didactic course as part of the UNL ATP required curriculum. The UNL ATP Clinical Education Classes include:
Year 2 - Professional - Sophomore Level
Year 3 - Professional - Junior Level
Year 4 -Professional - Senior Level