Clinical Phase Frequently Asked Questions
Students are required to be up to date on all immunizations as outlined by the NC Required Immunizations requirement and those required of all Health Sciences students and the CDC. Vaccinations for Influenza (current season) and Tuberculin Screening (IGRA Blood Test (preferred) OR a 2-step TB skin test (TST) are required annually. It is the responsibility of each student to provide appropriate documentation to the program through Castle Branch to show compliance by December 1 prior to entering the clinical phase of the program in the following January. Students may monitor the status of their immunization compliance in CastleBranch. Immunizations expiring during a student’s enrollment in the program may result in a referral to the Academic Excellence Committee, a delayed SCPE start date and/or a forfeited SCPE, which can result in additional costs to the student and delayed graduation.
Students are required to be up to date on all annual training modules (via LMS) e.g., HIPAA, Blood-borne pathogen exposure, Needle stick training, etc. as well as EPIC training. As with immunization information above, compliance must be demonstrated by December 1, may be monitored in Castle Branch, and if not up to date may cause a delay in starting or completing a SCPE resulting in delayed graduation.
Yes – criminal background check and urine drug screening are required by the program and all clinical sites and are as detailed above required by December 1 prior to entering the clinical phase, monitored in Castle Branch, and the responsibility of the student to ensure they performed according to policy. Students may refer to the UNC PA program student handbook. Please note that some sites may have additional requirements and that once notified the student is responsible for submitting same no later than 2 weeks prior to the SCPE start date.
A minimum of 152 hours per four-week SCPE is required. Students should generally work 40+ hours weeks 1,2 and 3 and 32+ the final week. Students are expected to follow the schedule set by their preceptors, which may include night or weekend shifts or on-call. Note that some SCPEs may require schedules that exceed the minimum required (up to 80 hours/week). See Student Duty Hour Guidelines. If it appears that the student will not be able to meet the required minimum hours the Director of Clinical should be contacted.
Review information available on eMedley.
Students should be prepared to live away from their local residence for a minimum of two SCPEs. Travel to clinical rotation sites away from main campus should be anticipated.
Students are responsible for housing and transportation to SCPEs; however there is limited housing available through North Carolina AHEC (Area Health Education Centers) for clinical sites > 60 miles from main campus (Chapel Hill). Additional information can be found here.
Course syllabi, objectives and learning outcomes are available to students enrolled in the clinical year on the student learning platforms. The program also shares these with preceptors at each clinical site annually.
No. You will receive an incomplete (“I”) for a grade until your assessment is received.
No, Requests for additional experiences outside of the required SCPE will not be accepted. This includes experiences that may constitute shadowing, observation or volunteer experiences at a clinical site. Read more about this policy.
No, all clinical sites must be located in the United States- international sites are not available at this time.
While all attempts are made to objectively assign students to their requested electives, the program is not able to guarantee same due to site and preceptor availability.
The clinical phase is pass/fail. All components of the rotation must be passed for students to receive a passing grade. Benchmarks for “passing” are outlined in the syllabi. Components which comprise the final rotation grade include the End of Rotation examination, preceptor evaluation of the student, student logging of patient encounters, other course requirements as assigned and professionalism standards.
Please refer to the Clinical Phase Attendance Policy in the student handbook and/or the student policy and procedures on the program website. All requests for changes in scheduled shifts or absences (including religious accommodations) must be approved by the Director of Clinical Education. Preceptors and/or clinical site staff may not approve any requests.
See Adverse Event Policy or refer to the student handbook policy and procedures on the program website.
Please refer to the Clinical Phase Attendance Policy in the student handbook and/or the student policy and procedures on the program website. In the event of illness or emergency directly affecting clinical attendance, the Director of Clinical Education should be contacted.
Students are required to work all scheduled shifts during their SCPEs. This may include some holidays and university breaks. All requests for changes in scheduled shifts or absences (including religious accommodations) must be approved by the Director of Clinical Education. Preceptors and/or clinical site staff may not approve such requests.
Please refer to the Leave of Absence Policy in the student handbook and on the student policy and procedures on the program website. Formal requests for a leave of absence must be completed on the Student Leave of Absence Request Form and submitted to the Director of Clinical Education and the Program Director for approval.
While on a SCPE, students may contact any of the following resources for assistance with addressing academic and/or personal concerns:
UNC Main Campus
- See Bloodborne Pathogen/Needlestick Campus Health Procedures
- See Student Exposures Policy
- Review required annual LMS training modules for UNC Hospitals
- Complete Student Incident Report
In addition to the above, all concerns should be reported in a timely manner to the Director of Clinical Education.
*For any event occurring at a site other than UNC main campus the above procedures should be followed in addition to those outlined by the Clinical Site Administrator/Preceptor*
UNC Main Campus
Students should review the following policies:
- Personal Security Policy
- Review required annual LMS training modules for UNC Hospitals
- Hostile Intruder Policy and Procedures for UNC Chapel Hill Campus and Clinical Sites
In addition to the above, all concerns should be reported directly to the Director of Clinical Education.
*For any event occurring at a site other than UNC main campus the above procedures should be followed in addition to those outlined by the Clinical Site Administrator/Preceptor*
How should concerns regarding possible student mistreatment and/or learning environment concerns be reported? Regardless of location students should refer to the Student Mistreatment and Learning Environment Concern Policy and Process. If at UNC Main Campus: If at a Non-UNC Main Campus Locations In addition to the above, all concerns should be reported directly to the Director of Clinical Education.