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Hi all,
Just needing some advice with supervising student Podiatrists.
I am under the impression that students are not allowed to do anything podaitrically without a qualified Podaitrist being there to supervise.
Is this correct?
Ive had an incidence where a student undertook patient treatment without a supervising Podiatrist in the building - but was told to go ahead by the practice manager.
I forsee this as a huge no no and im not happy that the student proceeded with treatment anyway - they should have known not to be able to do anything without a supervising pod being there.
Where should I take this to now?
Do I inform the students university? Do I discuss this with my boss and practice manager??
Any help would be great!
In our practice the students look and answer or not questions on what they see and what they might do for pt.
They do not treat any patients.
we also judge them on the core competencies as defined in their assessment paperwork.
usually interpersonal skills , attitude, time keeping, basic knowledge of anatomy, bio mech, medicine, drugs and t/t modalities for presenting symptoms and pathologies.
we have two 2nd year students with us this week...
The responsibility falls to the university to make clear to all parties what behaviours will take place whilst on placement. This would need to be agreed by the staff at the placement site as well as meet all public health and insurance requirements . This is normally done by a placement education co-ordinator prior to commencement of the academic year. Both students and staff should be made aware of their roles and tasks and where patients are treated they too should be informed of the situation. Depending on the seniority of the student will determine whether they observe only, participate under supervision, or proceed with minimal intervention.
I have had the opportunity to observe clinical education in several countries across the higher education sector and seen some excellent examples. However it is a complex system and not always as good as it could be. I would go as far as to say clinical placement education is the weakest link a the structured curriculum. This is not intended as a criticism of individuals clinicians or universites per se but it is an aspect which is not always given serious consideration.
Hi! Though I am a fott care nurse and not a podiatrist, my comment is limited to nursing practice. In nursing, students are definitely NOT allowed to perform any procedures without the presence of a field instructor in the vacinity. I highly suspect the same is true for podiatry. In nursing, the student is working under the field instructor's license, and that too, is probably the same in podiatry.
this is taken from the Victorian Reg Boards policy on Podiatry Assistants, but is equally applicable to students
Quote:
A Registered Podiatrist may assign to an individual employed or engaged within the member's
practice, acts within the practice of podiatry which are not controlled acts, provided the member
assigning the act is satisfied that the person has the knowledge, skill and judgment to safely and
effectively perform those acts. The podiatrist who assigns these acts retains full responsibility
and accountability to the patient for the performance of those acts.
Quote:
Supervision of podiatry assistants is required at all times. Supervision incorporates elements of direction, guidance, overseeing and coordination of activities. Supervision may be direct or indirect according to the nature of the work delegated.
Direct supervision is when the registered podiatrist is actually present, observes, works with and directs the individual who is being supervised. Indirect supervision is when the registered podiatrist is easily contactable and available for reasonable access but does not directly observe the activity. What is ‘reasonable access’ will depend on the context, the needs of the health consumer and the needs of the individual who is being supervised.
The level of supervision should be appropriate to the degree of risk of the podiatry activity. For example, the supervision requirements for individuals carrying out newly delegated activities is expected to be greater than that required for an individual who has demonstrated competence in the activity over a period of time.
__________________ Stephen Tucker Eastern Health
Podiatry Manager
I would go as far as to say clinical placement education is the weakest link a the structured curriculum. This is not intended as a criticism of individuals clinicians or universites per se but it is an aspect which is not always given serious consideration.
toeslayer
Cameron,
you may find that such things are trying to change, at least in Victoria, as the Department of Human Services has set up a clinical placement website and is attempting to better coordinate things.
Podiatry however is far behind Medicine, Nursing and Physiotherapy, who all have developed clinical schools. Hopefully LaTrobe's proposal for 5 Allied Health clinical schools across Victoria will further improve things for podiatry.
__________________ Stephen Tucker Eastern Health
Podiatry Manager
Supervising Students
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