Tell me about the Clinical Education (CE) at NUPT?
There are 2 different types of CE experiences, part-time and full-time. 

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What’s the difference between part-time and full-time CE?
Part-time CE experiences occur throughout the academic trimesters, beginning in the first fall of the program.  These experiences are conducted in health care facilities in the Chicago metropolitan area and are typically several hours in length over the course of an afternoon.  These experiences generally contribute to a course grade but are Pass/Fail. Part-time clinical education experiences are co-coordinated by two faculty members.  Assignments are intended to include a variety of settings, age levels, and patient problems. Below are examples of part-time CE experiences:

1. Patient Management experiences occur each trimester.  Students manage a patient’s examination and/or treatment under the supervision of a physical therapist in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Typically first and second year students are partnered and participate in the patient interaction in accordance with their level of skill/education.  Faculty may act as facilitators on site.  Students practice documenting the treatment session. Following the clinic experience, students discuss the patients they saw during Patient Management Rounds to gain experience with the clinical presentation of patients, to present evidence supporting an examination or intervention completed during Patient Management and to provide feedback and comments to peers. 
2. Healthcare Providers Field Trips occur during the fall and winter trimesters in year one, Students observe a variety of healthcare providers in order to gain insight to other members of the healthcare team.  Opportunities are provided in both inpatient and outpatient settings.  Once the field trips are completed, students participate in small group discussions regarding their observations. 
3. Musculoskeletal Field Trips occur during year two.  Students participate or observe an examination and/or treatment of a patient with a primary musculoskeletal problem.  Students are expected to contribute to the patient interaction and in the decision-making throughout the interaction.  Students complete a group project based on the patient encountered during the Field Trip experience.
4. Intensive Care Unit Field Trips occur during spring trimester of year one. Students accompany a physical therapist to an intensive care unit setting to observe different types of equipment and PT interventions that may be used with a critically ill patient in the ICU.
5. Professional Role Development Observations occur during year one. Students observe a physical therapist perform 1-2 examinations and/or treatments and document the patient sessions. 

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When does full-time CE occur?
There are 4 full-time CE experiences: CEI – during the summer between years 1 & 2. CEII –  during the spring of year 2. CEIII & CEIV – from September through April of the third year.

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How many clinical facilities does NUPT have available to students? Where are they located?

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What types of facilities are available for CE?
We have agreements with almost every type of clinical setting in which PTs practice, including acute care & rehabilitation hospitals, inpatient and outpatient pediatric facilities, school settings, sports medicine clinics, skilled nursing facilities, health & wellness/occupational health settings, and out-patient clinics.

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I think I want to work in acute care. Can I do all my full-time CE experiences in that setting?

The philosophy at NUPT is to train students to be competent in any type of setting so they can be successful on the licensing exam and be prepared to enter the practice of physical therapy.  For that reason, all students are required to practice in EACH of the following situations:

• Inpatient settings
• Outpatient settings
• Settings where there is contact with patients with neurological diagnoses
• Settings where there is contact with patients with musculoskeletal diagnoses
• Settings where there is contact with patients whose medical conditions may change quickly (e.g. acute care, ICU, etc)

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How and when are full-time CE placements chosen?

The CE selection process was designed by students in an attempt to allow each student to consider those factors that are most important to him/her in the decision.  Selection is made via lottery as follows:

1. In fall of year 1, students draw random numbers corresponding to the number of students in the class.  For example if there are 75 students in the class, the numbers 1-75 will be possible.
2. From the list of potential CE placements for CEI, students make their selections in chronological (1-75) order based on their chosen number.
3. Selections for CE II-IV are made in the fall of year 2. 
   · The selection order for CEII is reversed. In the example above, the student selecting 75 would choose first.
   · There is a formula that will assign selection numbers for CEIII & CEIV. The selection lottery system essentially results in students each receiving one low, one high and 2 middle-range selection numbers.
4. The process is designed to ensure a fair and equitable selection for each student.  Student communication and negotiation are hallmarks of this successful student-designed process.

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How do students get information about the CE sites?
There are 3 ways that students can find about a site they are considering for selection:

1. From the commitment form sent from the facility – lists when the CE experience is being offered, types of patients seen, housing availability, transportation needs, etc.
2. From the Clinical Site Information Form (CSIF).  This is a comprehensive document that contains details about the facility, staff, schedule, health requirements, patients, locations of the particular site (in the case of a multi-site facility), etc.
3. From facility files – these files contain information from students who have previously been at the site.  Included may be maps, brochures, and facility information sheets; as well as feedback and advice from previous students.

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Does every facility offer slots for students for each CE experience?
No, facility specific issues such as staffing, patient population, and commitments with other PT schools factor into the site’s decision when and how many students they can accommodate.  Facilities specify how many and which educational level students (1^st year, 2^nd year, etc.) they will accept.

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How is a student’s performance in full-time CE evaluated?
The vast majority of PT schools across the country use a common instrument, the Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI) to evaluate a student’s clinical performance.  The CPI is completed at the mid and final point in the CE experience by the Clinical Instructor (CI) and student.  The CI provides written information about the student’s performance.  In consultation with the CI, the University assigns a grade of Pass or Fail for the CE experience. 

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I worked as an aide in a great facility.  Can I do a CE there?
No, you may not do a CE in a facility in which you have worked.  NUPT feels that this situation places the facility at risk of being biased (positively or negatively) in their interaction with you. This bias could limit the staff’s ability to be honest and candid in their assessment of the student’s clinical performance.

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What if I need to be in Chicago during a particular CE because I’m getting married?!!
The lottery system fosters student collaboration and negotiation, and allows students to effectively schedule CE around personal needs.  We have never had a student miss their wedding for a CE experience!

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Is housing provided on CE experiences?
Some facilities will offer suggestions on where/how to secure housing.  We have found that students are extremely resourceful when it comes to finding housing.  We suggest that they network, contact friends, family, old roommates, local churches, temples, synagogues, the APTA listserve, craigslist, etc.  We have never had a student live in their car during CE!

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Will there be other students at my CE site?
Facilities specify how many students they can accommodate for each experience.  In some settings, there may be more than one student, either from NUPT or from another university.

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Will I be expected to do things beside treat patients during my CE experience?
This is somewhat facility specific. During CE I and II, students are expected to ask their CIs how they can contribute to the facility as a thank you for helping to participate in their education.  NUPT requires all student complete a project during CEIII and IV.  Potential contributions/projects might include presentation of an in-service, updating or translating the clinic’s patient exercise hand-outs, web site development, or re-tooling the student manual. 
During a CE experience, as the student progresses and demonstrates that they are meeting expectations, additional opportunities may be available.  Depending on the facility resources, these might include activities such as surgical observation, participation in specialty clinics or aquatic therapy programs.

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What faculty members are involved in full-time CE?
Two faculty members coordinate the full-time CE.  The Directors of Clinical Education (DCE’s) are primarily responsible for this aspect of the curriculum. The DCEs’ role is to recruit clinical sites, develop new sites, conduct seminars to develop clinical educators’ skills, and monitor quality of all sites and the educational experiences of students during CE.

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If I know of a facility that is not on the list, can I do a CE there?
Students do not arrange new sites.  The DCEs will accept suggestions for new sites after matriculation.  Once a suggestion is made, the DCEs will contact/visit the site to determine if it would be an appropriate placement for students.  If an agreement is signed and if the staff offers clinical placements, that facility will available to all students during the selection process.

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