Clinical Year Policy on Scope of Practice

ARC-PA 5th ed Standard A3.05

The student is not considered an employee of any clinical affiliate and should not be a substitute for or take on any responsibilities of regular staff. If the student is concerned about the duties assigned by the clinical site, the DCE (or ADCE) should be contacted immediately by phone or email.

Typical patient-related care and tasks a clinical year PA student may be permitted to perform listed below and serve as guidelines only. The student must demonstrate a baseline of medical knowledge and clinical skills. However, students come to the program with various life experiences, affecting their comfort level when performing specific tasks. How much clinical responsibility the student is ready to assume, the nature of the particular task assigned, and how much supervision is required is at the discretion of the preceptor.

Patient-related care includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Evaluating and treating patients
  • Charting and appropriate paperwork (paper or electronic)
  • Case presentations
  • Discussions with preceptor
  • Other duties as applicable (lab, radiology, case management, grand rounds, tumor board, etc.)

Typical tasks assigned to the PA student include:

  • Taking histories and performing physical examinations
  • Assessing common medical problems and recommending appropriate management
  • Performing and assisting in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
  • Assisting the preceptor in hospital/nursing home rounds, recording progress notes, transcribing specific orders of the preceptor – as allowed by the facility
  • Following protocols or standing orders of the preceptor
  • Presenting patient cases orally and/or in written problem-oriented format
  • Discussing the basic pathophysiologic mechanisms that have produced the signs, symptoms, and disease processes under investigation
  • Completing assigned teaching rounds and conferences
  • Following the assigned on-call schedule

It is mandatory that EVERY patient MUST be seen by the preceptor, without exception!

The student’s SCPE schedule will be determined by the preceptor (or designee).  The PA student is expected to mirror the preceptor’s schedule.  Specific hours/shifts may vary, and preceptor expectations may include on-call responsibilities, evenings, nights, weekends, or holidays (e.g., surgery, emergency medicine, etc.).  Students are strongly encouraged to remain flexible – the best clinical experiences may come at the least convenient times.

The student will deliver needed care to patients without regard to race, age, gender, creed, socioeconomic status, political persuasion, sexual preference, or national origin.