Clinical Education Overview
Athletic training students who are pursuing BOC certification are required to perform a clinical component within the degree plan. Students gain clinical education experiences that address the continuum of care that would prepare a student to function in a variety of settings with
patients engaged in a range of activities with conditions described in athletic training knowledge, skills and clinical abilities, role delineation study and standards of practice delineated for a certified athletic trainer in the profession.
Examples of clinical experiences may include, but not be limited to the following:
- Individual and team sports
- Sports requiring protective equipment (e.g., helmet and shoulder pads); Patients of different sexes
- Non-sport patient populations (e.g., outpatient clinic, emergency room, primary care office, industrial, performing arts, military)
- A variety of conditions other than orthopedics (e.g., primary care, internal medicine, dermatology)
General Clinical Education Responsibilities
Each of these responsibilities will vary with each athletic training student according to his/her clinical education level. You will be held responsible for knowing your duties and for performing them to the best of your ability. In general, you will be expected to:
- Learn the correct and effective application of all taping, bandaging, padding, etc. All athletic training students should learn the correct taping procedures and apply it within a certain degree of proficiency. The required time proficiency for an ankle tape job is two minutes. Do not hesitate to inquire if you are unsure of correct methods or techniques.
- Learn the application of therapeutic modalities and the precautions involved. There will be few restrictions on your use of certain equipment. Do not use a piece of equipment until given permission to do so by a certified instructor.
- Familiarize yourself with proper first aid procedures and emergency care. At some time or another, you will be asked to cover an athletic event or practice by yourself; know the location of all emergency phones.
- Familiarize yourself with general athletic training room policies, physical examination requirements, medical referrals, emergency procedures, etc.
- Assist and cooperate fully at all times with the head, assistant, and graduate assistant athletic trainers as well as the team physician.
- Familiarize yourself with daily cleaning duties as well as opening and closing duties. The training room is a medical facility and should be cleaned throughout the work day and at closing.
