Abstract
Background:
Intermountain Healthcare is an integrated health system comprised of 23 acute-care hospitals supporting clinical rotations for 4 RT college/university programs. Students in BSRT programs complete an executive rotation at the corporate office. Topics covered include: 1) QI projects, 2) interviewing skills, 3) literature reviews, 4) profession forecasting, and 5) management strategies for problem identification/solutions. After student complaints during this rotation, we sought to identify problems and solutions for clinical rotations.
Methods:
Using a 45-minute activity for conflict resolution, 16 students from 2 universities.
Results:
Detailed results are reported in Table One. Issues included preceptor, student and program faculty areas for improvement. Issues and solutions were categorized under four key headers: 1) Communication, 2) Staff/Student Relations (negativity), 3) Learning Opportunity Concerns, and 4) Patient Interaction/Sensitivity. We thought communication was the largest issue; however, this activity identified 2 other key areas: staff/student relations and learning opportunity concerns.
Conclusions:
We acknowledge a limited number of students participated; however, some key issues supported comments expressed over the last 2 semesters. Negative comments regarding taking students and the profession came from facilities where all RTs were required to take students. We recognize heavy workloads may be a challenge for preceptors to fully engage with students. We are thankful for our professionals who volunteer to be student preceptors; however, we recognize for implementation some key next steps: 1) conducting this activity with preceptors across the system, 2) coordinating for more timely evaluations from students and preceptors shared with managers, 3) improved coordination of rotation objectives for students/preceptors, 4) formalized preceptor training, 5) frequent, formalized coordination among students, college faculty, industry leaders and preceptors, and 5) consideration for awards by students for preceptor(s). At the time of abstract submission, a student co-led this activity with preceptors to illicit issues/solutions. It is our impression this will also allow a student(s) to learn leadership skills and more exposure to preceptors. As we grow future leaders, improved coordination among students, program faculty, industry leaders and preceptors will be required.
Note: Some issues were mentioned multiple times. View all access options for this article.Table One: 2019 Spring Semester Student Reported Issues and Suggested Solutions
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12
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3
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