The focus of each clinical education placement is to provide the Athletic Training Student (ATS) with an authentic and realistic athletic training experience in a learning environment that allows for the integration of athletic training knowledge, skills, and abilities which will lead to professional and clinical decision making that promotes autonomous practice. Clinical education placements are specifically designed to build consecutively on knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom.
Clinical education placements are integrated as part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletic Training Program (UNL ATP) academic course sequence (Four Year Plan). The clinical education course sequence includes:
Depending on the time of the year and the clinical education placement, some clinical education sites may continue outside the regular academic schedule. Junior and Senior level ATS may apply for a scholarship provided by the UNL Athletic Medicine Department (see UNL ATP Scholarship for details). Clinical education sites that continue outside the regular academic schedule include, but are not limited to: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Tennis, Softball, and Track and Field). It is expected that ATS who receive the scholarship provided by the UNL Athletic Medicine Department will be available for clinical education activities that meet outside the regular academic schedule.
Athletic Training clinical education assignments (placements) are only completed with preceptors that have completed UNL ATP Clinical Preceptor Training. UNL ATP Clinical Preceptor Training is completed on an annual basis. Clinical Preceptors new to UNL ATP must complete New Clinical Preceptor Training prior to ATS placement.
The UNL ATP reserves the right to change or remove an ATS from a clinical preceptor or UNL ATP Clinical Education Site(s) at any time. Any ATS removed from a clinical site for disciplinary reasons will have an infraction report filed with the UNL ATP. Refer to the UNL ATP Infraction and Dismissal Policy for details.
Clinical Education assignments are made by the UNL ATP Administration that includes the Coordinator of Clinical Education (CCE), Program Director (PD), and the Head Athletic Trainer. The UNL ATP Administration will meet in the spring semester of each year to develop a clinical education schedule to ensure that ATS receives each of the clinical education assignment categories while enrolled in the UNL ATP. After the ATS has been assigned to all clinical education categories, the UNL ATP will consider the current career goals, previous experience, strengths, and weaknesses of the ATS when making clinical education assignments. The UNL ATP will not base clinical education placement on specific ATS requests. All UNL ATP clinical education sites are qualified and equipped to instruct and evaluate all UNL ATP clinical education competencies during the academic year.
Clinical education assignments for Sophomore level Athletic Training Students (ATS) enrolled in ATHT 247 and ATHT 248 will be assigned to four (4) clinical education placements (two (2) in ATHT 247 and two (2) in ATHT 248). The intent of the four clinical education placements is to provide each Sophomore level ATS with as much exposure to diverse patient populations in multiple athletic training environments.
Sophomore level ATS enrolled in ATHT 247 during the Fall Semester will focus on the ability to successfully integrate under the direct supervision of the assigned clinical preceptor the educational competencies that were introduced, taught, and evaluated in ATHT 145 and ATHT 146 (previous Fall and Spring Semesters). Sophomore level ATS enrolled in ATHT 248 during the Spring Semester will focus on the ability to successfully integrate under the direct supervision of the assigned clinical preceptor, the educational competencies that were introduced, taught, and evaluated in ATHT 246 (previous Fall Semester).
Each clinical education placement will begin on the first day of the semester and last approximately eight weeks. Each ATS will have at least one clinical exposure experience in each of the following clinical education assignment categories:
- Protective Equipment
- Non-Sport Patient Population
- Male Patient Population
- Female Patient Population
- Individual Sport Patient Population
- Team Sport Patient Population
- Conditions other than Ortho
The clinical education category assignment Conditions other than Ortho will be assigned and completed as part of each clinical education assignment for all levels in the UNL ATP. The clinical skills associated with Conditions other than Ortho will be based on specific clinical skills that will be initially taught and evaluated in the classroom prior to practicing them in the clinical education setting (see UNL ATP Clinical Care Policy).
The number of Sophomore ATS assigned to clinical education rotations for ATHT 247 and ATHT 248 will be determined by the number clinical spaces available at each clinical site to maintain the 2:1 ATS to preceptor ratio. The intent is to provide higher number patient contacts by maintaining a low ATS to preceptor ratio. The number of clinical spaces for ATS can vary from year to year, depending on the availability of preceptors. As part of the Sophomore level clinical education activities the ATS will serve as a mentor to assist Preprofessional students with becoming familiar with the UNL ATP Clinical Education Settings and clinical education activities.
Clinical education assignments for Junior level ATS enrolled in ATHT 347 and ATHT 348 will be assigned to a single clinical education site for both Fall and Spring Semesters of a single academic year. This year-long clinical educational experience will allow the ATS to gain an understanding of how their assigned clinical site(s) and patient population(s) function during various times of the year. Junior level ATS enrolled in ATHT 347 during the Fall semester will focus on the ability to successfully integrate under the direct supervision of the assigned preceptor the educational standards that were introduced, taught, and evaluated in ATHT 249 (the previous Spring Semester). Junior level ATS enrolled in ATHT 348 during the Spring semester will focus on the ability to successfully integrate under the direct supervision of the assigned preceptor the educational standards that were introduced, taught, and evaluated in ATHT 345 (the previous Fall Semester).
Clinical education assignments for the Junior level ATS will be determined first, by being assigned to any missing clinical education assignment categories. If the Junior level ATS has completed all clinical education assignment categories then current career goals, previous experience, strengths, and areas of improvement for the ATS will be considered. However, the UNL ATP will not base clinical education placement on specific ATS requests. As part of the Junior level clinical education, the ATS will serve as a mentor to assist Preprofessional students becoming familiar with the UNL ATP clinical settings and Sophomore level ATS with integrating educational standards from the classroom to the clinical setting.
Clinical education assignments for Senior level ATS enrolled in ATHT 447 and ATHT 448 will be assigned to a single clinical education site for both Fall and Spring Semesters of a single academic year. This year-long clinical educational experience will be completed at a different UNL ATP clinical education site from the previous academic year. The Senior level clinical experience will allow the ATS to gain a deeper understanding of how their assigned clinical site(s) and patient population(s) operate at various times of the year by taking on a more involved and advanced clinical role during their educational experience. As part of the Senior level clinical education the ATS will serve as a mentor to assist Preprofessional students becoming familiar with the UNL ATP clinical settings, and Sophomore, and Junior level ATS with integrating the educational standards athletic from the classroom to the clinical setting.
Senior level ATS enrolled in ATHT 447 during the Fall semester under the direct supervision of their preceptor will focus on the ability to clinically integrate the assigned clinical standards introduced, taught, and evaluated in ATHT 346 and ATHT 245 (the previous Spring Semester), and in ATHT 445 taken during the same semester. Senior level ATS enrolled in ATHT 448 during the Spring semester under the direct supervision of their preceptor will focus on the ability to successfully integrate the educational standards that were introduced, taught, and evaluated in the classroom the previous Fall Semester as well as skills taught in ATHT 446 taken during the same semester.