PTA 278 - Clinical Experience 1

Credits: 3
Supervised integrated clinical experience to introduce the student in the practice of physical therapy. Students are expected to actively participate in hands-on patient care, apply current knowledge and skills from coursework and build confidence within the clinical setting. This is a pass/no credit course.

Enrollment Requirement: Concurrent enrollment in PTA 252.

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Demonstrate effective and professional communication skills.
Adhere to legal and ethical standards.
Demonstrate the ability to perform selected therapeutic interventions under the supervision of the clinical instructor.
Participate and complete documentation and billing practices.
Demonstrate the ability to follow policies and procedures delineated by the GRC PTA and clinical sites.
Participate safely and effectively within the clinical setting as determined by the clinical instructor.
Complete the Clinical Internship Evaluation Tool (CIET) on Professional Behaviors and Patient Management based on the skills of a competent clinician.

Program Outcomes

Implement plans of care developed by physical therapists.
Provide care in a safe, legal and ethical manner.
Communicate effectively and appropriately with patients, families, physical therapists and other care providers both verbally and non‐verbally including accurate written communication and documentation.
Instruct patients, families and other health care providers using techniques consistent with the level of the audience.
Function as integral team members and participate in the team process.
Transition to successful employment as PTAs.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning - Quantitative Reasoning encompasses abilities necessary for a student to become literate in today’s technological world. Quantitative reasoning begins with basic skills and extends to problem solving.