/Institutions/Northwestern-Health-Sciences-University/json/2022-2023-University-Catalog/Radiation-Therapy-Program-Clinical-Education-Handbook-local.json

/Institutions/Northwestern-Health-Sciences-University/json/2022-2023-University-Catalog/Radiation-Therapy-Program-Clinical-Education-Handbook.json

Attendance Policy and University Holidays

 

Attendance Policies:

1. The student is required to be at the clinical site by his/her/their assigned time and be ready to proceed with the shift’s work.
2. Unexcused tardiness is unprofessional and will not be tolerated. When unexpected situations do occur, the Clinical Supervisor (CS) makes the determination of tardiness. You must call your Clinical Supervisor (or text if that is their stated preferred method of communication) if you are going to be late.
   1. The first tardy offense will result in a written warning from your CS – this form is titled: “Report of Missed Clinical Training Time. Both the student and the CS will sign the document. A copy of this form must be sent to the Clinical Coordinator (CC) to be placed in your file.
   2. If a second offense occurs, the CC will meet with the student. The student will be expected to explain why tardiness has become an issue. The Clinical Coordinator and the student will outline the situation, discuss and recommendations will be put into place. The student will then agree with the recommendations by signing the counseling form. The student will receive a copy of this document and the original will be filed in the student’s permanent file.
   3. IF a third offense occurs, the student can be terminated from the program. A departmental committee meeting will be held. A decision will then be made regarding the future of the student in the radiation therapy program. The student will be notified of the decision.

 

1. Being absent from clinical education compromises your preparation in becoming a Radiation Therapist. On any given day, unique patients and clinical situations may occur and your absence during these times denies you the opportunity to learn from these experiences.
   1. You are required to call the Clinical Supervisor (or text if that is their stated preferred method of communication) at your site as soon as you know that you are going to be absent.
   2. A call or email must also be made to the Clinical Coordinator or Program Chair at NWHSU that day informing her of the reason for the absence.
   3. The Report of Missed Clinical Training Time form must be filled out and sent to CC with your monthly paperwork.
   4. Any missed clinical training must be reported. Failure to report missed clinical time will result in disciplinary action to be determined by program director/ clinical coordinator.
   5. It has been determined that, during your clinical training, you are allowed nine days (72 hours) off for personal use. This can include sickness, interviewing, or a personal day. It is highly recommended that this time is used sparingly.
   6. As a student you are only allowed to work 40 hours per week. You are not allowed to work extra to “bank” hours
2. Students are required to fill out a timecard daily (excel spreadsheet). The timecard is signed monthly by the Clinical Supervisor at the site (or more often if requested by the clinical supervisor). Students may not exceed 40 hours of clinical training in one week or 10 hours per day. In the event that a student stays beyond the scheduled daily hours, the student must be compensated by either leaving early or coming late another day within that week. The total number of hours necessary for the completion of clinical education is a minimum of 1440 hours.

Meal and Break Times:

Meal and break times are an important aspect of clinical education. A student cannot give their full attention when the body does not have any energy. Breaks also give a person time to relax and get away from the stress encountered in a radiation oncology department. A student will follow the regulations of the clinical site as to when breaks and meals are taken.

 

If a site says there is a 15-minute break, then as a student you take the break. You do not have the right to take a 17-minute break. A student who does not return on time from a break or lunch be marked late, this is unacceptable behavior for a student. It is also a violation of the Professional Standards Agreement.

 

The following action will be taken if you do not return to the department on time:

1. 1st offense - A Tardy Form is completed by the Clinical Education Supervisor (CS) and sent to the NWHSU RTH Clinical Coordinator
2. 2nd Offense - A Student Counseling Form will be completed by the CS and reviewed by the CS and student. This will be signed by both the CS and student. A copy will be given to the student, a copy kept at the Clinical Site, and the original will be sent to the Clinical Coordinator to be filed in the students’ permanent file.
3. 3rd offense- The CS will notify the RTH Clinical Coordinator or the Program Chair. A meeting will be scheduled with the Program Chair, Clinical Coordinator and the student.

Unused lunch and break times may not be applied to allow students to leave early. Students are expected to take regular breaks during the day and leave at the scheduled time. Students may occasionally arrange to delay their lunch or break time, in order to participate in, or observe some procedure of interest, but this does not change their assigned hours, and must be approved by the Clinical Supervisor.

 

Holidays and Vacations:

Students shall be entitled to holidays as specified by the clinical site.

 

Students may not be in clinic when the NWHSU Campus is closed in observation of a holiday. These holidays typically include the following:

• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans Day (*exact date subject to change)
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day
• New Year’s Day
• President’s Day (*exact date subject to change)
• Martin Luther King Day (*exact date subject to change)
• Good Friday

 

Under no circumstances may students be in clinic on these days. This is a JRCERT requirement.

NWHSU may observe Veterans Day, President’s Day, or MLK day on days other than the actual holiday. The CC will send clinical education students reminder emails notifying them of these days. It is up to the student to inform the CS of this at least 1 week prior to the holiday being observed.

 

Each student's individual learning plan identifies the beginning and ending dates for clinical education. These dates are guidelines for clinical training. The JRCERT standards require students be competent at the entry level. Students should plan vacations, trips, and other events (weddings, etc.) to coincide with the completion of clinical education.

 

Inclement Weather:

Students are not to be in clinic during planned school closings, such as holidays. In the rare event NWHSU is closed due to inclement weather, those students at clinical education sites where the weather bares no impact are to report to clinic. In this event, all students are able to get in touch with program faculty via email or phone.