Practicum Course Syllabus
Teacher: Mr. Hector Ramirez
Conference Period: 4th
Teacher Conference Phone: 956-698-0302
Course Description: Students will learn to provide basic clinical care that will consist of
basic nursing skills, phlebotomy skills, electrocardiogram placement and interpretation.
Course work combines lecture, practical skills, and clinical experience. Students should
have basic knowledge of the following topics including but not limited to: medical
terminology, anatomy and physiology, vital signs and basic nursing skills. Other topics
include: HIPAA; advanced vital signs; patient care; personal hygiene, grooming and aseptic
techniques among other skills.
Textbooks: Nursing Assistant- A nursing process approach
11th edition (Cengage)
Materials Needed: 1. Notebook (2 in. hard cover will be required)
2. Pens: black or blue
3. Paper
4. Miniature spiral note pad (for use in clinical site)
5. Home computer or access to a computer
Course Content:
The Practicum course content shall consist of the following categories to be covered, but
not limited to:
Medical Terminology Patient Care Responsibilities
Ethical and Legal Issues
ECG (electrocardiogram) Basic First Aid
Basic Anatomy and Physiology Sterile fields and procedures
Infection Control
Phlebotomy and related procedures
Grading Procedure and Requirements:
Notebook: Students are responsible for the organization of their notebooks. Dividers for
the notebook should be as follows: Notes, Daily Work/Assignments, Quizzes, and Tests.
Classroom Activities/ Assignments: Students will be required to participate in classroom
activities that will consist of student presentations, trivia games, group discussions, and
classroom competition. All assignments given to students to turn in for a grade should be
complete. There will be no incomplete work accepted.
Homework: All homework assignments will be due the following day unless otherwise
specified differently by the instructor. Homework may consist of internet based activities,
writing assignments, case studies, etc. (Note: No excuse will be accepted for failure to
complete assignments). Example: If you are in extracurricular activities and you know an
assignment is due you need to turn in assignment before assignment is due or on time. You
need to take responsibility to turn in your work on time. There will be no late work
excepted.
Quizzes: There will be classroom quizzes that will be announced and there will also be pop
quizzes. If you are absent for any quiz and you did not call your instructor that you will be
absent the quiz will be recorded as a zero, unless you have a proper excuse which will be
determined by your instructor(doctors’ excuse, etc.).
Tests: All test will be announced by the instructor at least 5 days prior to the scheduled
day. However scheduled day of the test may be subject to change pending coverage of all
materials presented. If student will not be present due to any extracurricular activities,
doctors’ appointments or any planned event the student needs to make plans to take the
test earlier or immediately after the first day the student returns to class.
Retesting: The student has five (5) days to ask for a retest after the test is handed back to
them. You must ask to fill out a retest form before the five (5) days, which will be provided
to the student in a special basket. If student has failed to fill out retest form within five (5)
days after test has been handed out the student first attempt at the test will be recorded.
You will only have one chance to retest. The higher of the test grades will be recorded.
Late Work: There will be no late work accepted. If student is absent, the student must call
the instructor and inform them that they are not able to attend class. Failure to inform
your instructor will result in a zero for your assignment. If student has a prior engagement
the student can turn in the assignment early but no late work will be accepted.
Clinical Rotations: Contingent upon facility approval and/or agreement to host students for
clinical training; beginning on or after the month of January students will be assigned to a
twice a week clinical site. Clinical are an important part of the curriculum and therefore is
counted as a grade. Student must be passing the patient care technician class with a 70 or
better in order to attend clinical rotations. Students must have all of the following
documentation below up to date and on file with the instructor before beginning of the
second semester to be eligible for clinical training:
1. Immunizations: Hepatitis B, FLU and TB(ppd)
2. CPR certified
3. Course syllabus: Signed by parent and student.
4. Transportation waiver form
5. Confidentiality form
6. Contact Agreement : clinical site agreement
Students will not be able to attend a clinical site if any of the above documents are
incomplete. All above are due before student is allowed to go to clinical site.
Clinical training rotation days cannot be made up. (To include absence due to co-curricular
and/or extra-curricular activities). However, if the student has a valid and legitimate
excuse an assignment (to be determined by the teacher) will be provided to the student by
the instructor to make up the grade missed. Failure or refusal to complete the assignment
by the due date will be recorded as a zero.
Clinical Rotations are TEST grades.
Lab and Clinical Rotation Requirements:
Gross Motor Skills:
1. Move within confined spaces
2. Sit and maintain balance
3. Stand and maintain balance
4. Reach above shoulders (e.g., IV poles)
5. Reach below waist (e.g., plug electrical appliance into wall outlets)
Fine Motor Skills
1. Pick up objects with hands
2. Grasp small objects with hands (e.g., IV tubing, pencil)
3. Write with pen or pencil
4. Key/type (e.g., use a computer)
5. Pinch/pick or otherwise work with fingers (e.g., manipulate a syringe)
6. Twist (e.g., turn objects/knobs using hands)
7. Squeeze with finger (e.g., eye dropper)
8. Physical Endurance
9. Stand (e.g., at client side during surgical or therapeutic procedure)
10. Sustain repetitive movements (e.g., CPR)
11. Maintain physical tolerance (e.g., work entire shift)
Physical Strength
1. Push and pull 50 pounds (e.g., position clients)
2. Support 50 pounds of weight (e.g., ambulate client)
3. Lift 50 pounds (e.g., pick up a child, transfer client)
4. Move light objects weighing up to 10 pounds (e.g., IV poles)
5. Move heavy objects weighing from 11 to 50 pounds
6. Defend self against combative client
7. Carry equipment/supplies
8. Use upper body strength (e.g., perform CPR, physically restrain a client)
9. Squeeze with hands (e.g., operate fire extinguisher)
Mobility
1. Twist
2. Bend
3. Stoop/squat
4. Move quickly (e.g., response to an emergency)
5. Climb (e.g., ladders/stools/stairs)
6. Walk
Hearing
1. Hear normal speaking level sounds (e.g., person-to-person report)
2. Hear faint voices
3. Hear faint body sounds (e.g., blood pressure sounds, assess placement of tubes)
4. Hear in situations when not able to see lips (e.g., when masks are used)
5. Hear auditory alarms (e.g., monitors, fire alarms, call bells)
Visual
1. See objects up to 20 inches away (e.g., information on a computer screen, skin
conditions)
2. See objects up to 20 feet away (e.g., client in a room)
3. See objects more than 20 feet away (e.g., client at end of hall)
4. Use depth perception
5. Use peripheral vision
6. Distinguish color (e.g., color codes on supplies, charts, bed)
7. Distinguish color intensity (e.g., flushed skin, skin paleness)
Interpersonal Skills
1. Negotiate interpersonal conflict
2. Respect differences in clients
3. Establish rapport with clients
4. Establish rapport with co-workers
Communication Skills
1. Teach (e.g., client/family about health care)
2. Explain procedures
3. Give oral reports (e.g., report on client's condition to others)
4. Interact with others (e.g., health care workers)
5. Speak on the telephone
6. Influence people
7. Direct activities of others
8. Convey information through writing (e.g., progress notes)
Grading Policy: Assignments/Quizzes: 33%, Test/Major Assignments (presentations),
Clinical: 67%.
Expectation of Appearance: Students are required to come to class in their scrubs every
day. Student are required to make an effort to maintain themselves neat, clean and
professional at all times. Students are expected to act in a professional manner at all times.
Uniforms: should always be neat, well-fitting and clean and free from wrinkles. Students
cannot be dressed in partial uniform. (Ex. Scrub top with jean bottom or scrub bottom with
t-shirt. Uniform will not be altered to suit the students’ social style.
Shoes: must be clean and presentable athletic shoes. No sandals or open toes shoes are
allowed.
Nails: should be kept short and clean. Absolutely no fake nails allowed (ex. Acrylic, gel,
etc.). Those types of nails harbor bacteria. The use of colored polish is discouraged during
clinical rotation because it can conceal dirt among other things.
Hair: should be kept clean and neat for class. Extreme hairstyles are not allowed
(Mohawks, fluorescent colored hair, or unnatural colored hair). When doing your clinical
rotations hair should be up and out of your face and picked up off your neck.
Jewelry: not recommended at the clinical site because it can cause injury to a patient or
transmit pathogens. Exceptions are a watch and small stud earrings. Hoop earring will not
be allowed at the clinical site. Any other type of piercing will not be allowed in the clinical
site (ex. Eyebrows, nose, and tongue or any other visible piercing) is not allowed in uniform.
Phone Use in Class: Their will be no phone usage in class as per district policy which
is in the BISD student handbook. There will be a special bin in class for students to put
their phones when they walk in to class. Students will be given my office number and cell
number in case a parent or guardian needs to get ahold of the student while in class.
Students that fail to follow directions will have their phones confiscated and will have to
bring a parent or guardian to pick up their phone after class.
Student Identification: Name badges should be worn by all students to their clinical
site. It is the students’ responsibility to obtain a school ID. During clinical rotation students
must have their ID clipped to their uniform. No ID, NO Clinical.
Note: Students will not be allowed to attend clinical rotations if he/she fails to comply
with any of these standards, rules, and/or expectations, and shall be the right of the
instructor to ensure that these standards are upheld.
Classroom Rules and Expectations: Standard for students conduct as well as consequences
will be as follows:
The student shall constitute violation(s) if/for:
1. Failure to respect teacher
2. Failure to respect other classmates
3. Chronic failure to raise his/her hand to ask a question( This is to keep order in the
classroom)
4. Persistent talking in class (interruption of class lecture or lesson will not be
tolerated).
5. Refusing to participate in classroom activities, assignments, etc.
6. Handling classroom equipment without direct permission(this violation will be
strictly enforced for the sake of classroom safety)
7. Distribution of application of cosmetics during class
8. Distribution of pictures, letter, notes, etc.
9. Verbal abuse (cursing) toward classmates
10. Inappropriate language
11. Verbal abuse toward staff (cursing)
Conduct Protocol:
1. Upon encountering a student conduct violation, the instructor will address a verbal
warning. Verbal warning will be recorded in student file
2. Parent will be notified of misconduct via phone call
3. A parent conference with teacher and administrator will be scheduled if needed
4. After second violation the instructor will complete and sign a Danger of
failing/misconduct performance notice sealed in an envelope and given to the
student.
5. The student will submit the Misconduct performance notice to his/her parents,
student must bring notice signed by parent and instructor will put notice in student
file.
6. Parents will be informed of violation via phone call
7. On the third (3) notice the student will be referred with BISD standard referral
document to principal’s office.
After student and their parent(s) have read the course syllabus, please return signed
acknowledgment that you have read and understood the course requirements and rules.
Signed acknowledgment that both student and parent have read and understood course
requirements and rules.
I,___________________________________, Student in the Patient Care Technician class have
read and understand the course syllabus.
Date: _____________ Student Signature:________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I, __________________________________, Parent of __________________________________
have read and understand the course syllabus.
Date: ______________ Parent Signature: ____________________________
