SECTION 4: THE FIELDWORK STUDENT

Student Requirements

Personal Documentation Information

Students are responsible for uploading and maintaining personal and medical information in the fieldwork management system to be shared with selected clinical sites when placed for fieldwork experiences.

Students have access to the OTA Student Fieldwork Manual which contains descriptions, policies and procedures, general program information and instructions for all Level I and Level II fieldwork assignments.

The fieldwork management system will house documentation of the requirements of the OTA Program as follows:

1. Physical Exam
2. TB (Tuberculosis) Test
3. MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) Vaccinations or Titer
4. Varicella (Chicken Pox) Vaccinations or Titer
5. Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis) Vaccination
6. Hepatitis B Series
7. Flu Vaccination
8. American Heart Association BLS CPR Certificate
9. HIPAA/OSHA Training Certificate
10. Background Check Results
11. Drug Screen Results (as required by site)
12. Kent State University Liability Insurance Certificate

The student is required to make a phone contact with the FWE approximately four weeks prior to the start of each affiliation. Students must complete all additional necessary activities required by individual fieldwork sites. Students may be required to complete drug testing and provide urine samples upon request. Failure to comply with fieldwork site requirements may result in termination of the fieldwork experience and therefore failure to progress in the OTA program.

The student is also required to wear a KENT STATE UNIVERSITY OTA STUDENT nametag during each affiliation, unless otherwise directed by the facility.

PLEASE NOTE: All students attend several mandatory fieldwork seminars to prepare them for each specific affiliation.

Fieldwork Student Responsibilities

Prior to Fieldwork Experiences

Each affiliated fieldwork site determines the requirements needed by students to be accepted at that facility. A fieldwork site may reject a student if the student does not meet their requirements. Students who are denied placement at a fieldwork site for noncompliance with requirements will not be eligible to pass the course and will receive a failure to progress in the OTA program.

The student must complete the following items by the assigned due date. Required documentation is to be submitted to the fieldwork management system for clearance and updated as needed during course of the program.

1. Physical Form 
   Submit the physician signed Physical Examination Record form by the assigned due date.
2. Immunizations
   Provides written medical results for the following immunizations: Measles, Mumps, & Rubella immunity titer or vaccine; Varicella (Chicken Pox) immunity titer or vaccines; current Tdap (Tetanus) vaccine within past 10 years, flu vaccine.
3. TB Test
   Provide documentation of injection and result dates of an initial baseline two-step Mantoux TB test plus all subsequent annual testing; the most recent must be within the last twelve months. A positive reading of a Mantoux test requires submitting the results of a clear chest x-ray.
4. Hepatitis B
   It is recommended that students participate in a Hepatitis B immunization program prior to beginning fieldwork experiences. You may check with your health department, local hospital, or physician to inquire about a program, which includes three vaccines. If you choose to participate in this program, you will be responsible for payment. If you do not choose to participate in this program, please complete the Hepatitis B Declination Form.
5. Maintain current American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
6. Complete the background check process as detailed by the fieldwork coordinator to include FBI and BCII.
   This process will be completed at the beginning of the program and one year later.
7. Complete the assigned sections in the student profile on the fieldwork management system.
8. Notify the Fieldwork Coordinator and update the fieldwork management system with any address and phone number changes.
9. It is recommended that each student carry sufficient health insurance (PLEASE NOTE: some clinics require proof of health insurance) to cover injury or illness that may occur during the fieldwork experience. The contracts between Kent State University and our affiliating clinic sites indemnify the clinic from any responsibility or liability for injury to students in their facility. Students are responsible for their health and welfare throughout the OTA academic program.
10. Students must complete the required onboarding by the assigned due date. Each student is to contact the fieldwork educator at their assigned fieldwork site by phone or email, 4-5 weeks prior to the start date as assigned by the academic fieldwork coordinator.

During Fieldwork Experiences

1. Follow the guidelines outlined in the OTA Student Handbook and Fieldwork Manual on professional behaviors.
2. Follow all policies and procedures of the fieldwork experience facility. This includes working hours, clinic interventions, confidentiality policies, medical requirements, drug testing, civilian background checks, and holiday observances.
3. Attendance is expected for all scheduled fieldwork seminars and fieldwork education days. If an absence is necessary for illness or emergency, complete the following steps:

• Contact the AFWC by email.
• Contact the fieldwork educator by his/her preferred method before the start time for that day in order for an absence to be excused.

Students may have up to two excused absences per rotation, if the following are met:

• The student is in good professional standing and passing the fieldwork rotation.
• The fieldwork educator and academic fieldwork coordinator agree to excuse the absence.
• The absence is not in the final week of the rotation.

Any additional missed time must be made up. Failure to notify both the fieldwork educator and AFWC prior to start time of a missed fieldwork day is considered an unexcused absence. One unexcused absence will result in a warning notice; a 2nd unexcused absence will result in the failure of that fieldwork experience. Students who have not completed all required fieldwork days by the end of the semester will receive a grade of “In Progress” or “F” depending on the circumstances.

Any alteration of the fieldwork schedule must be mutually agreed upon between the fieldwork educator, course instructor and the student. The clinic hours listed below are the minimum necessary to meet the required objectives for each fieldwork experience and the progression requirements for the OTA Program.

1. The student is responsible for his/her own transportation to the clinical facility and other expenses related to uniform, meals, parking, etc.
2. Complete and submit all assignments from the fieldwork educator and fieldwork coordinator in a timely manner.
3. Provide written documentation to the program director of any accident, injury or incident that occurs while at the fieldwork site. Documentation should include:
   1. What happened?
   2. Who was involved?
   3. What action was taken as a result of the incident?

Failure to comply with any of the above student responsibilities may result in failure of fieldwork experience.

Fieldwork Education Professional Behaviors

Becoming an effective occupational therapy assistant involves attaining competency in professional knowledge, skills, and behavior. Professional behavior is vital to the success of each student in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program and the occupational therapy profession. The program has established guidelines for the student to follow. All students shall:

1. Demonstrate appropriate interactions with patients, visitors, and others. Maintain an effective working relationship with clinical facility, employees, health team members, and fellow students. Refrain from such behavior as fighting, arguing, coercing, threatening or manipulative behavior.
2. Conduct self so as not to endanger the life, health, and/or safety of anyone associated with the clinical facility or university.
3. Accept responsibility for assigned duties by punctual regular attendance (using program protocol when absent due to illness). Be consistently prepared and care for assigned patients according to clinical requirements.
4. Present self in an alert, well-rested mental state and be able to make safe decisions. Refrain from the use of any agents/drugs (such as alcohol or sensory altering medications) which interfere with the above or which may cause erratic, explosive, or acting-out behaviors; deteriorating appearance; or avoidance of social interaction with faculty, peers, and patients/clients.
5. Respect the rights and property of others (not be party to theft, destruction of property or
   malicious conduct).
6. Maintain confidentiality of patient/clinical situations and records. Avoid discussion of clinical activities in any public or inappropriate areas which violate the patient’s right of privacy.
7. Accept responsibility for learning experience during clinical affiliation.
8. Follow the dress code established by the program or facility.
9. Adhere to the American Occupational Therapy Association Code of Ethics.

If a student should violate any of the above areas, he/she may be placed in a remediation plan or be immediately removed from the fieldwork setting.

Process for Professional Behavior Violations

1. Students deemed demonstrating unacceptable behavior in any above area will first be notified of their unacceptable action by verbal warning and given personal counseling through use of an intervention plan by the fieldwork educator and/or fieldwork coordinator.
2. If the objectives of the intervention plan have not been met within the given timeline, the fieldwork educator and fieldwork coordinator will determine the need to remove the student from the clinical site and the student will fail the fieldwork experience.
3. The academic fieldwork educator and program director will determine the requirements and timeline for student’s progression within the OTA Program.