Clinical Experience
NWHSU chiropractic students move through a progressive experience, beginning with clerkships and then transitioning to internships. The clerkships start with observing the application of foundational sciences and clinical skills learned concurrently through student course work and progressing to applying these skills to patients on campus and in the community. The internship phase of College of Chiropractic students' education begins in Trimester 6 and extends through graduation. NWHSU provides a diverse array of clinical opportunities during these internships to create a unique experience for each individual student and their educational goals. These educational opportunities demonstrate the University’s commitment to clinical excellence and preparedness for professional success.
CLINICAL CLERKSHIP 1
Welcome to the exciting world of chiropractic clinical rotations! This foundational course is designed to provide first-term students with a comprehensive introduction to the practical application of chiropractic principles in real-world clinical settings. Throughout this course, learners will have the invaluable opportunity to observe patient care under the guidance of experienced chiropractic professionals and see the real-world application of the knowledge and skills they are gaining through course and laboratory education environments at NWHSU in a clinical setting.
CLINICAL CLERKSHIP 2
This second clerkship experience further interweaves academic learning into authentic application. Throughout this course, learners will have the invaluable opportunity to observe patient care under the guidance of experienced chiropractic professionals and see the real-world application of the knowledge and skills they are gaining through their coursework at various types of chiropractic practice models.
CLINICAL CLERKSHIP 3
Welcome to the Chiropractic Scribe Clerkship, where students have the unique opportunity to gain firsthand experience by working closely with experienced chiropractic practitioners in a clinical setting. As scribes, students will play a vital role in facilitating efficient patient care, documenting clinical encounters, and assisting with administrative tasks. This internship provides invaluable exposure to the day-to-day operations of a chiropractic practice, enhancing students' understanding of chiropractic care and preparing them for future roles in healthcare.
CLINICAL CLERKSHIP 4
Clinical Clerkship 4 provides students with comprehensive training in the principles, practices, and responsibilities of chiropractic assistants within a clinical setting. This course emphasizes the essential skills and knowledge required to support chiropractors in delivering high-quality patient care, managing administrative tasks, performing active and passive care treatments, and maintaining a professional and efficient practice environment. Through hands-on experience, students will develop the competencies necessary to excel as integral members of the chiropractic healthcare team.
INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL CHIROPRACTIC
This course builds upon the foundation established in previous clerkships and introduces best practices in patient care and record keeping. Through continuous practice, formative feedback, and hands-on experience, students will refine their skills in preparation for Clinical Internship 1. This course aims to enhance competencies necessary to excel as integral members of the chiropractic healthcare team, ensuring they are well-prepared to contribute effectively in a clinical setting.
CLINICAL INTERNSHIP 1
In Trimester 6, students receive continual 1:1 mentorship and supervision as they work through their first patient encounters, receiving consistent formative feedback and guidance from their NWHSU clinical supervising faculty. Clinical Internship 1 is a structured laboratory experience in which students refine their skills by interviewing, examining, diagnosing, preparing treatment plans, providing Report of Findings and chiropractic care to early trimester students. During this initial phase, students review, practice, and discuss all elements of the clinical process in the J. Lamoine De Rusha Clinic located within NWHSU.
CLINICAL INTERNSHIP 2
As student skills and confidence are strengthened, interns transition into Clinical Internship 2, taking place under the supervision of the J. Lamoine De Rusha clinical faculty members serving the campus community including employees, employee families, students, and student families at no charge to patients. During this trimester 7 internship, students have the opportunity to work side-by-side with other disciplines, including massage therapy and acupuncture and Chinese medicine, to provide patient-centered integrative care. Clinical Internship 2 increases the pace of patient care and independence but with continued supervision and feedback with interns participating in all elements of care. During the Clinical Internship 2 experience, learners also rotate through the Human Performance Center (HPC) weekly, receiving guidance from the HPC faculty on best practices in active and passive care treatments in an immersive rehab focused integrative clinic. This experience influences many interns' decision to spend additional time in the HPC during their later trimester levels.
CLINICAL INTERNSHIP 3 & 4: COMMUNITY BASED INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Students progress and transition into Clinical Based Internships (CBI) during Clinical Internship 3 and 4 (trimesters 8 and 9). The CBI program, a NWHSU innovation, places students in the practice of a doctor of chiropractic who partners with the University to immerse students in the pace of everyday clinical practice, daily operations, and the business of chiropractic while still supporting the educational needs of the intern. NWHSU works with over 150 CBI sites with clinics located on campus, throughout the metro, and surrounding communities within a 100-mile radius allowing interns to tailor their clinical experience to align with their chiropractic goals. These CBI sites meet the rigorous approval process and standards expected by NWHSU to ensure interns are placed in sites that follow best practice in chiropractic care.
NWHSU’s CBI internships provide students with rich clinical experiences, contact with diverse patient populations, and opportunities to build business skills, thus providing a unique experience for every student. In each setting, a small student-to-supervisor ratio results in a close relationship between the clinical mentor and the intern.
CLINICAL INTERNSHIP 5: PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAM
The last and final phase of the intern experience is Clinical Internship 5. In Trimester 10, interns are provided the choice of continuing within a CBI site or participating in the Preceptorship Program. The Preceptor Program is available to interns who have demonstrated competency in all academic and clinical standards and have completed all graduation requirements. At these preceptor sites, interns further hone and refine their skills by working side-by-side with a practicing chiropractor, with options in most states and many different countries. Preceptorships continue to provide oversight and feedback as needed but provide interns with an authentic day-to-day chiropractic practice experience transitioning them into readiness for clinical practice.
CLINICAL ROTATIONS
The promotion of integrated and collaborative natural and conventional medical care is a unique objective of NWHSU. To complement their primary clinical experience, students observe the clinical practices of chiropractors and other health care professionals such as neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, dentists, radiologists, massage therapists, and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. Through participation in this program, students come to better understand the rationale for different approaches to care, are exposed to a wider range of patient conditions, understand the means for patient management through consultations and referrals, and have the opportunity to network with specialists. Additionally, NWHSU has established clinics and rotations throughout various under-served population communities. Students undergo observations at these sites and under faculty supervision provide charitable care to a diverse patient population of patients, encouraging high impact learning through service health and wellness care throughout the community.