Athletic Training Student Policies

Medical Policies for Student Athletic Trainers

Medical Physical

• All Pre-professional students must have a completed medical physical with his/her program application materials.
• Physicals must include a signed statement from the attending physician that the student meets the technical standards of the program.
• Students must also complete and sign the technical standards form.
• Students must also have a tuberculin test (TB) completed.
  ATS Physical Forms may be obtained in the Athletic Training Room (ME 140) or from the Program

          Director- these are NOT the same as ATHLETE physical forms!

Hepatitis B Vaccinations

• After completion of the Pre-Application process of the major. EACH student should IMMEDIATELY begin the series of Hepatitis B vaccinations. This is YOUR RESPOSIBILITY!! Students may decline vaccinations.
• Shots are given in the Student Health Service on campus. Vaccination information may be obtained from the Director of Telecommunications and Safety (Joanne Rosczyk) Somsen 104. Phone # 457-5053.

• If you obtain your vaccinations from a source outside of WSU, present your bill to Joanne and you will be reimbursed.
• The three shot series should be completed prior to spring semester of your sophomore year.
• KEEP your immunization record for your records. Future employers will require you to be vaccinated.
• You will need to provide the AT Program Director with a copy for your file.
  

Blood Born Pathogens

• It is expected that each athletic training students will follow the universal precautions for handling BBP as detailed on page 23-24 of the handbook. PROTECT YOURSELF AND PROTECT OTHERS!!
• Upon acceptance into the AT program, students will be retrained in BBP prior to fall semester each year.
  

Physical Health

• Upon acceptance to the Athletic Training Program. ATS's will participate in a BIOMECHANICS IN-SERVICE prior to each fall semester. Students will learn proper lifting, carrying, bending, reaching and posture techniques. ATS's who display inadequate strength, flexibility or biomechanics will be given intervention exercises or referred as necessary. ALWAYS use proper biomechanics!!!
• ATS's must remember that "to take care of others, you must first take care of yourself". Please utilize the health principles you have learned and get plenty of rest, eat well, keep yourself hydrated and be safe!
  

Mental Health

• Being an ATS is demanding and stressful.
• Time management is essential.
• Plan time for physical activity and other activities that help you with stress. ( Alcohol use and abuse are not stress management techniques) You are health professionals, model appropriate behaviors!!
• The WSU Counseling Center, Gildemeister 132, can assist you with learning coping techniques. (457-5330)
  

Professional Expectations of Student Athletic Trainers

Dress and Grooming

The American Medical Association recognizes the profession of Athletic Training as an Allied Health Care profession. Therefore, it is expected that all ATS's will be neatly groomed and dressed during ALL clinical experiences. Student expectations at WSU will parallel the accepted standards of the profession of Athletic Training.

• Clothing, outerwear, shirts must be long enough to tuck in, not faded, not revealing, and without holes or fringe. Hats must be clean and not worn. Sandals are not permitted due to safety.
• Daily training room attire should be professional and not trendy. Professional dress consists of clothing that is appropriately sized and will allow you to perform your duties. Pants can be jeans, colored jeans, cotton "docker style" pants, or wind pants. Jeans are not allowed at football practice. Tops can be "logo" sweatshirts, polo shirts, T-shirts, sweaters or blouses. T-shirts with "alcohol" or "sexual" material are not permitted. Athletic, team, or University themes are preferred. Shorts must be mid-thigh or longer, "docker style" are preferred. "Gym" style shorts or cutoffs are not permitted. Jean shorts must be hemmed.
• OUTSIDE attire should be as professional as possible "logo" jacket or sweatshirt ,windpants, rainwear, hats, gloves, boots
• Indoor game clothing includes: Cotton "docker" style pants, dress shirts/sweaters, "logo" wear as appropriate. Dress clothes need to be functional and professional! Not trendy.
  

General Grooming Guidelines:

• Baseball style caps are discouraged as daily indoor training room attire.
• Hair and facial hair must be clean and well groomed.
• Body odor, cigarette odor, or an odor of alcohol is not professional . Your supervising ATC will use his/her discretion and may restrict you from your clinical experiences that day.
• Any cuts, burns, abrasions or skin ulcerations MUST be covered at ALL times.
• ALL WSU ATHLETIC TRAINING LOGO apparel may ONLY be worn during class, clinical and game experiences.
• Blue jeans or sweat pants are NEVER permitted for game attire.
• Socks and laced shoes must be worn at all times.
• Tattoos and body piercing's must be covered or removed while performing clinical hours. (men and women may wear 1 pair of small to medium sized earrings)
• While traveling and working with a team, ATS's must also follow team guidelines.
• A supervising ATC/R may use his/her discretion and ask you to amend your attire, change your attire or if necessary restrict you from your clinical experience that day because of your attire.
  

Clinical Education Conduct

Your clinical education is a very important aspect of your overall educational experience in the Athletic Training Major. Consequently, your actions and your relationships with athletes, instructors, coaches, and your fellow ATS's can affect the quality of your clinical experience.

• ALL of the opportunities available during your clinical educational experience are valuable ones. It is expected that you will remain focused during this time and NOT concentrate on personal relationships or socializing.
• Dedication and hard work will assist you with accomplishing your goals.
• An athletic trainer that is focused on their job and that is organized will not disrupt a coach or a team.
• Communicate professionally and be respectful of your supervising ACI , coaches, ATS's and athletes.
• CONFIDENTIALITY: ALL information accessed in the athletic training room is CONFIDENTIAL. AT times, this information facilitates your education, but this information MUST at all times remain confidential. DO NOT discuss this information with anyone unless this is approved by the supervising ACI.
• Notify your supervising ACI ASAP of any emergency situations that restrict you from attending your clinical assignment or that cause you to be late. You are expected meet all clinical assignments.
• You are expected to contact your clinical supervisor as soon as you possibly can of any conflicts with your clinical assignment. Your clinical supervisor will make the appropriate arrangements to cover your assignment.
• You may not ‘switch" assignments. The supervising ACI will resolve any conflicts you might have.
• If you have scheduling conflicts that you cannot resolve with your clinical supervisor, please contact the Program Director.
• The supervising ACI will report any conflicts or problems with your clinical education to the Athletic Training Program Director after appropriate discussion with the ATS. Any discipline will follow those outlined in the Retention Guidelines.
• It is expected that you will make contact with and introduce yourself to the ACI, Coaches and athletes you work with though out your clinical education.
• It is expected that you work within the scope of your knowledge and abilities. Do NOT be afraid to ask questions or seek advice from more experienced ATS's or ACI.
  

Clinical Assignments and Rotations

• Second Semester Sophomores and First Semester Juniors will rotate on the first of each month to a new ACI and clinical assignment. These assignments will be at WSU, Saint Mary’s University, Winona Senior High School or at several general medical sites.
• Seniors will be assigned to a ACI as "Head Student Athletic Trainers" for at least one men’s and one women’s sport with experiences covering contact and non-contact sports. These assignments will be at WSU or SMU.
• ATS's are responsible for reporting all injuries to the supervising ACI and completing all documentation required by the site supervisor.
• ATS's are responsible for following all rules and regulations of the site and site supervisor.
• ATS's are responsible for recording their clinical education experiences, completing clinical education proficiencies, and meeting with the ACI for monthly evaluations.
• ATS's are responsible for completing HHP 362 Practicum Clinical Proficiencies each semester.
  

Preschool, Breaks, Weekend and Evening Clinical Assignments

• ATS's will be assigned to an ACI and a team or site and clinical educational experiences will be in the afternoon, evenings, on the weekends and during University breaks.
• Any conflicts must be discussed PRIOR to your assignment with your ACI and the Program Director.
• Break schedules will be divided and you will have part of each break OFF!! (unless you are traveling)

Performing the duties of a Certified Athletic Trainer and the MN State Registration Act

• ATS's MUST be directly supervised by a certified athletic trainer during clinical experiences.
• AS an accredited athletic training education program, all clinical education or fieldwork experiences must be approved by the Program Director and in facilities that have signed clinical affiliation agreements with WSU and have agreed to meet the expectations of WSU's ATEP.
• Camps, clinics, intramural's: ATS's may work or volunteer ONLY as First Aiders and MAY NOT perform the duties of an athletic trainer. If you perform the duties of an ATC you are breaking the law! And you will not be allowed to continue in the major.

• You are an ATS at WSU and you must follow WSU’s guidelines and have the Program Director’s approval to volunteer or obtain clinical education hours.. Please inform the Program Director before you perform clinical education or volunteer. Inappropriate hours may be against federal and/or state law and may result in your removal from WSU’s program.
  

Professional Organizations, Clubs and Conferences

• All athletic training students are encouraged to become members of the National Athletic Trainers Association. (This will reduce the cost of the certification examination.)
• ATS's will have the opportunity to participate in the WSU Athletic Training Club.
• ATS's will have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate in local, state, regional and national athletic training workshops, conferences and educational seminars. (Keep a record for your resume!)
  

NATABOC. Certification Examination

• All students accepted into the program are expected to take the NATABOC. Certification Examination as close to his/her graduation date as possible.
• Information about the examination may be obtained from the Program Director.
• Information about the exam may be obtained from the NATABOC web site at http://www.bocatc.org
• Information may also be obtained by calling 1-800-Try-NATA
• Practice exams may be obtained in the athletic training room and accessed on the athletic training room’s computer (Exam Master, Sims-Master…).
• Study guides are available. Information is in the NATA News or see the Program Director.
  

Chain of Command

• All ATS's will follow the appropriate chain of command with suggestions, concerns or problems.
• Your ACI should be contacted FIRST. The Program Director should be contacted next.
• In an ACADEMIC matter: If the Program Director cannot help/satisfy you, then the Health and Human Performance Department Chair should be consulted. If the HHP Chair cannot help/satisfy you, then the Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences should be contacted.
• In an ATHLETIC matter: If the Program Director cannot help/satisfy you, then the Athletic Director should be contacted .
  

Evaluations

• Athletic Training Students will be evaluated every month by their ACI. These evaluations should be discussed with the ATS by the ACI. A copy may be given to the ATS and the original should be given to the Program Director by the ACI for filing in the ATS’s file.
• Annual ATS evaluations with the ATS, Program Director and WSU’s Athletic Trainers will be scheduled. Seniors will be evaluated at the end of first semester and Juniors at the beginning of second semester. ATS's will be asked to self-evaluate and then all parties will discuss successes and areas for improvement as well as discuss strategies for improvement. Forms will be distributed.
• Students will be asked to evaluate their supervising ACIs and the clinical education sites each month. This information will be summarized and shared biannually with the ACI's.
• Students will also be asked to evaluate the Athletic Training Education Program including the clinical education component on an annual basis.
  

Mentoring

• Students are expected to serve as mentors for the other less experienced students in the program.
• All ATS's are expected to assist student observers and treat them with respect.
  

Time Management

• ATS's academic and clinical workloads are rigorous and students are expected to manage their time appropriately.
• PLANNING is essential. Academic responsibilities take precedent over your clinical assignment. If you are stressed because of your class responsibilities, notify your ACI at least two days in advance for a day off.
• PLANNING is essential. If you are scheduled to work an event or practice or travel and this conflicts with an academic responsibility, notify your clinical supervisor immediately.
  

Time Constraints of the Athletic Training Major

Each student should be aware of the time constraints involved with the clinical/practical portion of the Athletic Training Major at WSU. Clinical Education and Fieldwork experiences parallels the academic coursework. It is expected that student progress appropriately and meet Retention Guidelines.

Each student should be advised that upon admission into the program, the student will need to commit a large percentage of each day to the academic and clinical requirements of the major.

A student who chooses to participate in activities that conflict with the time demands of the clinical requirements of the Athletic Training Major (athletics, intramurals, social activities, chorus, band, drama, work, etc…) MUST discuss the implication of the time conflict with their activity supervisor. The activity supervisor and Program Director will collaborate and resolve any time schedule conflicts, so the student’s clinical requirements are structured to allow the student to succeed in the Athletic Training Major.

Harassment/Discrimination Procedure

"This includes allegations of race discrimination/harassment, sexual discrimination/harassment, sexual violence, discrimination/harassment based on age, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, status with regard to public assistance or membership in local commission." (System 1B.1.1)

An ATS that has questions about any incident or action by a fellow student, staff or faculty member should report the incident to their supervising ATC/R immediately or to the Program Director. "All complaints of discrimination/harassment or sexual violence will be promptly investigated and appropriate action will be taken as expeditiously as possible."(System 1B.1.1) ATS's and faculty should report all incidents to Tess Arrik-Krueger, Affirmative Action Officer, Somsen 202B, 457-5013.