Professional Master's Athletic Training Programs use Clinical Education to Facilitate Transition to Practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G. Bowman ◽  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Jessica L. Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Transition To Practice ◽  
Athletic Training Students ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Socialization Process ◽  
Master's Students ◽  
Major Facilitator

Context: Athletic training students' ability to transition into professional practice is a critical component for the future of the profession. However, research on professional master's students' transition to practice and readiness to provide autonomous care is lacking. Objective: To determine professional master's athletic training students' perceptions regarding how they were prepared to transition to practice as clinicians. Design: Qualitative study. Setting: Professional master's athletic training programs. Patients or Other Participants: Sixteen students, 8 program directors, and 5 faculty members from professional master's athletic training programs. Main Outcome Measure(s): An online questionnaire was distributed via Qualtrics and analyzed using an inductive technique. Participants responded to a series of open-ended questions related to the structure and curricular offerings of their respective programs. We secured trustworthiness through multiple analyst triangulation and peer review. Results: We found that both students and faculty identified clinical education as the major facilitator in the socialization process used to prepare students for the transition into clinical practice. Three further subthemes emerged: (1) Both stakeholder groups felt that students gained experience through diverse and immersive clinical education experiences; (2) Preceptors provided mentorship; and (3) Students developed confidence to enter clinical practice as a result of these supported experiences. Conclusions: Professional master's programs provide clinical education experiences designed to help athletic training students gain the skills and confidence necessary to become autonomous practitioners. The diversity and mentorship contained within these experiences facilitates confidence and preparedness.

scholarly journals Athletic Training Students' Perceptions of Mentorship in Clinical Education

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Christianne M. Eason ◽  
Sara Nottingham ◽  
Jessica L. Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Student Development ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Developmental Process ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Athletic Training Students ◽  
Socialization Process ◽  
Athletic Training Student ◽  
The Impact

Context: Mentorship is a developmental process whereby a novice individual, as he/she becomes inducted into his/her area of expertise, is guided by a more experienced person. Speculation exists that years of experience can impact this relationship. Objective: To determine the impact mentoring can have on athletic training student development and evaluate if experience as a preceptor is viewed as influential on the mentor experience. Design: Mixed-methods study. Setting: Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education accredited programs. Patients or Other Participants: We recruited 17 (14 females, 3 males) athletic training students to participate in our study. On average, our participants were 21 ± 1 years old and represented varying levels of academic standing (1 sophomore, 9 juniors, 7 seniors). All participants indicated they currently had a mentor when asked directly. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants responded to the Athletic Training Perceptions of Effective Mentoring survey and 14 open-ended interview questions regarding their perceptions of mentoring. An inductive approach was used to identify themes and supporting categories. Trustworthiness was established by using multiple-analyst triangulation, peer review and piloting of the instruments, and triangulation of data using a mixed-methods approach. Results: Athletic training students perceive their mentoring experiences as those that provide support and understanding, advance their clinical practice, and allow for the development of career goals. Age and experience did not appear to impact the overall experience of the student but rather facilitates the type of mentoring relationship developed. Conclusions: Mentoring was perceived to be an advantageous aspect of the socialization process for the athletic training student. It provided support and understanding during times of increased stress, allowed for the development of clinical skills, and provided the chance to cultivate a professional identity.

scholarly journals Program Directors' Perceptions of Reasons Professional Master's Athletic Training Students Persist and Depart

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G. Bowman ◽  
William A. Pitney ◽  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Thomas M. Dodge
Keyword(s):  
Student Retention ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Program Directors ◽  
Athletic Training Students ◽  
Telephone Interviews

Context Student retention is a key issue in higher education. With the increasing number of professional master's (PM) athletic training programs (ATPs), understanding student retention is necessary to maintain viable programs. Objective Explore program directors' perceptions of the reasons athletic training students persist and depart from PM ATPs. Design Qualitative study. Setting Professional master's athletic training programs. Patients or Other Participants We asked directors from all PM ATPs nationwide to complete an online survey. We obtained responses from 60.0% (15 out of 25) of the population. We also completed follow-up telephone interviews with directors from 8 PM ATPs. Main Outcome Measure(s) Directors of PM ATPs completed an online survey asking for reasons for student persistence and departure. We also conducted follow-up telephone interviews with randomly selected participants. During the telephone interviews, we asked participants for additional detail regarding the enrollment decisions of students. Results PM ATP directors stated that students persist due to their commitment to the profession and the interpersonal relationships they build with the program stakeholders. Conversely, students depart PM ATPs due to the rigor associated with completion, a change in career aspirations, and financial concerns. Conclusions Athletic training educators should strive to keep commitment and motivation levels high while fostering positive interpersonal relationships by providing a welcoming atmosphere and engaging clinical education experiences. Finally, mentors should be available to assist students with program completion, and students should have options available for defraying the cost associated with completing the PM ATP.

scholarly journals Exploring the Transition to Practice for the Newly Credentialed Athletic Trainer: A Programmatic View

2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 1042-1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Stacy E. Walker ◽  
Ashley Brooke Thrasher
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Graduate Degree ◽  
Transition To Practice ◽  
Graduate Degree Programs ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Orientation Session ◽  
Ongoing Support

Context  Some newly credentialed athletic trainers (ATs) pursue a postprofessional degree with a curriculum that specifically advances their athletic training practice. It is unknown how those postprofessional programs assist in their transition to practice. Objective  To gain an understanding of initiatives used by postprofessional athletic training programs to facilitate role transition from student to professional during their graduate degree programs. Design  Qualitative study. Setting  Semistructured telephone interviews. Patients or Other Participants  A total of 19 program directors (10 men, 9 women) from 13 Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education-accredited and 6 unaccredited postprofessional athletic training programs. Data Collection and Analysis  Telephone interviews were recorded digitally and transcribed verbatim. For data analysis, we used the principles of general inductive approach. Credibility was maintained using peer review, member checks, and researcher triangulation. Results  Three facilitators of transition to practice emerged: orientation sessions, mentoring, and assistantship. Participants used orientation sessions ranging from a few hours to more than 1 week to provide and discuss program polices and expectations and to outline roles and responsibilities. Faculty, preceptors, and mentors were integrated into the orientation for the academic and clinical portions of the program. All participants described a mentoring process in which students were assigned by the program or informally developed. Mentors included the assigned preceptor, a staff AT, or peer students in the program. The clinical assistantship provided exposure to the daily aspects of being an AT. Barriers to transition to practice included previous educational experiences and time management. Participants reported that students with more diverse didactic and clinical education experiences had easier transitions. The ability to manage time also emerged as a challenge. Conclusions  Postprofessional athletic training programs used a formal orientation session as an initial means to help the newly credentialed AT transition into the role. Mentoring provided both more informal and ongoing support during the transition.

scholarly journals Athletic Training Educators' Pedagogical Strategies for Preparing Students to Address Sudden Death in Sport

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 85-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Kelly D. Pagnotta ◽  
Anthony C. Salvatore ◽  
Douglas J. Casa
Keyword(s):  
Sudden Death ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Heat Stroke ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Athletic Training Students ◽  
Educational Training ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Hands On Learning

ContextEducational training programs both impart knowledge and allow students to practice skills to gain clinical competence.ObjectiveUnderstand the educational training provided to athletic training students regarding sudden death in sport beyond exertional heat stroke.DesignAn exploratory, qualitative study using telephone interviews and a quantitative survey instrument.SettingAthletic training programs (ATPs) accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.Patients or Other ParticipantsTwelve ATP faculty members (7 men, 5 women) currently teaching content related to sudden death in sport participated.Data Collection and AnalysisOne-on-one semistructured telephone interviews were analyzed inductively using a grounded theory approach and open coding. Multiple analyst triangulation and peer review established data credibility.ResultsFour major themes emerged from the data to describe the educational experiences provided to athletic training students regarding sudden death: (1) current trends, (2) regional bias, (3) clinician experience, and (4) instructional methods. The first 3 themes were an illustration of which sudden death conditions were covered in the curriculum, as well as the depth to which each of the concepts was covered. The final theme was a reflection of methods used to deliver the information determined by the first 3 themes.ConclusionsSimilar to previous literature, our participants were guided by the NATA position statements to deliver educational material, used time spent in clinical education to gain hands-on learning, and discourse to facilitate preparedness.

scholarly journals Perceived Levels of Frustration During Clinical Situations in Athletic Training Students

2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Heinerichs ◽  
Neil Curtis ◽  
Alison Gardiner-Shires
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Experience ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Athletic Training Education ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Athletic Training Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Athletic Training Student ◽  
Education Experience

Context: Athletic training students (ATSs) are involved in various situations during the clinical experience that may cause them to express levels of frustration. Understanding levels of frustration in ATSs is important because frustration can affect student learning, and the clinical experience is critical to their development as professionals. Objective:  To explore perceived levels of frustration in ATSs during clinical situations and to determine if those perceptions differ based on sex. Design:  Cross-sectional study with a survey instrument. Setting:  A total of 14 of 19 professional, undergraduate athletic training programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education in Pennsylvania. Patients or Other Participants:  Of a possible 438 athletic training students, 318 (72.6%) completed the survey. Main Outcomes Measure(s):  The Athletic Training Student Frustration Inventory was developed and administered. The survey gathered demographic information and included 24 Likert-scale items centering on situations associated with the clinical experience. Descriptive statistics were computed on all items. The Mann-Whitney U was used to evaluate differences between male and female students. Results:  A higher level of frustration was perceived during the following clinical situations: lack of respect by student-athletes and coaching staffs, the demands of the clinical experience, inability of ATSs to perform or remember skills, and ATSs not having the opportunity to apply their skills daily. Higher levels of frustration were perceived in female than male ATSs in several areas. Conclusions:  Understanding student frustration during clinical situations is important to better appreciate the clinical education experience. Low levels of this emotion are expected; however, when higher levels exist, learning can be affected. Whereas we cannot eliminate student frustrations, athletic training programs and preceptors need to be aware of this emotion in order to create an environment that is more conducive to learning.

scholarly journals Athletic Training Students' and Preceptors' Perceptions of Active Learning Time and Bug-In-Ear Technology During Clinical Education Experiences

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 216-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara L. Nottingham ◽  
Tricia M. Kasamatsu ◽  
Melissa M. Montgomery
Keyword(s):  
Active Learning ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Learning Assessment ◽  
Task Completion ◽  
Athletic Training Students ◽  
Student Activities ◽  
Learning Time

Context: Engaging clinical experiences that allow extensive active learning and patient care interactions are important for the professional development of athletic training students. Understanding students' use of clinical time is important when attempting to improve these experiences. Objective: To gain participants' perspectives on active learning during clinical education both with and without the use of bug-in-ear technology. Design: Qualitative. Setting: Three high schools, 2 rehabilitation clinics, 1 university, and 1 community college clinical sites within 3 Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education–accredited undergraduate athletic training programs. Patients or Other Participants: Thirteen athletic training students (11 female, 2 male; 22 ± 2 years old, 2 ± 1 years enrolled in the current accredited athletic training program) and 8 preceptors (5 female, 3 male; 35 ± 10 years old, 3 ± 3 years of experience as a preceptor) volunteered for this study. Main Outcome Measure(s): After observation of the participants' clinical education experiences, individual in-person interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. We used an inductive process of open, axial, and selective coding to identify themes. Trustworthiness was established with member checking, multiple-analyst triangulation, and data source triangulation. Results: Three themes emerged from the data. Participants recognize that students spend much of their clinical time interacting with patients, completing administrative tasks, and doing custodial work. Participants noted their awareness of student activities increased after using the active learning assessment instrument. Lastly, participants perceived that bug-in-ear technology improved the efficiency of task completion but not the actual tasks completed. Conclusions: Since several factors influence the amount of active learning time spent during students' clinical education, athletic training programs may benefit from looking at their own students' time spent during clinical education. Asking students and preceptors to assess active learning time may help them and clinical education coordinators identify ways to increase active learning and decrease unengaged and managerial time.

scholarly journals Athletic Training Student Active Learning Time With and Without the Use of Bug-in-Ear Technology

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara L. Nottingham ◽  
Melissa M. Montgomery ◽  
Tricia M. Kasamatsu
Keyword(s):  
Active Learning ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Principal Investigator ◽  
Athletic Training Students ◽  
Student Interactions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Learning Time

Context: Clinical education experiences that actively engage students in patient care are important to the development of competent clinicians. It is important to assess athletic training students' time spent clinically and explore new technology that may facilitate more active learning during clinical education. Objective: To assess athletic training students' active learning time with and without the use of bug-in-ear technology. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: High school, rehabilitation clinic, and college/university clinical sites affiliated with 3 Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education–accredited undergraduate athletic training programs. Patients or Other Participants: Thirteen athletic training students (11 females, 2 males; 22.0 ± 1.8 years old, 1.8 ± 0.9 years enrolled in the current athletic training program) and 8 preceptors (5 females, 3 males; 35.4 ± 10.4 years old, 3.5 ± 2.9 years of experience as a preceptor) volunteered for this study. Intervention(s): The principal investigator observed preceptor-student interactions on 2 control days and 2 days using bug-in-ear technology. Participants and the principal investigator assessed students' active learning time at each observation period using the Athletic Training Clinical Education Time Framework. Main Outcome Measure(s): Minutes spent on instructional, clinical, managerial, engaged waiting, and down time as recorded on the Athletic Training Clinical Education Time Framework. Parametric (analysis of variance) and nonparametric (Wilcoxon signed-rank and Kruskal-Wallis) tests compared the perceived amount of time spent in each category between technologies and roles. Results: Bug-in-ear technology resulted in less time on managerial tasks (8.2% ± 5.1% versus 14.6% ± 9.8%; P < .01) and instruction (10.7% versus 12.7%, P < .01). The researcher observed significantly more unengaged waiting time than both the students and preceptors (both P < .01) perceived. Conclusions: Bug-in-ear technology may decrease managerial time and spoken instruction during clinical experiences. Preceptors and students significantly underestimate the amount of unengaged time spent during clinical education, which is of concern. Athletic training programs may also benefit from assessing and improving students' time spent actively learning during clinical education.

Autonomy, Mentorship, and Feedback: The Core of Clinical Education in Athletic Training

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 40-47
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Thomas G. Bowman ◽  
Jessica L. Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Athletic Trainers ◽  
Transition To Practice ◽  
Socialization Process ◽  
Program Administrators ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Education Model ◽  
Independent Thinking

Clinical education provides the backbone for the socialization process for athletic trainers. It is the chance for students to engage in the role, within a real-time learning environment that allows for not only the adoption of knowledge, skills, and critical decision making, but also the profession’s foundational behaviors of professional practice. Recent criticisms of the current education model, in which the degree is conferred, center on the lack of critical thinking and confidence in clinical practice for newly-credentialed athletic trainers, as many suggest there is concern for the abilities of students to transition to practice smoothly. We offer three areas of focus for clinical education experiences for students (autonomy, mentorship, and feedback), believing this could support the development of independent thinking and confidence in skills. Our discussions are focused on the evidence available, as well as personal experiences as educators and program administrators.

scholarly journals Factors that Impede and Promote the Persistence of Black Women in Athletic Training Programs

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-147
Author(s):  
Bonnie J. Siple ◽  
Rodney K. Hopson ◽  
Helen C. Sobehart ◽  
Paula Sammarone Turocy
Keyword(s):  
Black Women ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Ethnically Diverse ◽  
Academic Persistence ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Athletic Training Students ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Board Of Certification

Context: Black women are dramatically underrepresented in the health care profession of athletic training. The research identifies impeding barriers such as racism, sexism, lack of support, and unpreparedness to the successful college completion of ethnically diverse students. However, there are black women who have successfully overcome those impeding barriers to become athletic trainers (ATs). Mentoring is one factor that has been identified as supportive to the retention of ethnically diverse college students. Objective: The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify impeding barriers and promoting factors affecting the retention and credentialing of black women ATs. Design: Qualitative. Setting: Education. Patients or Other Participants: Ten certified ATs who self-identify as black women and matriculated through athletic training programs over the last 4 decades. Main Outcome Measure(s): The perceived factors that impede or promote successful college retention and attainment of the Board of Certification credential of black women athletic training students. Results: There are barriers that impede and factors that promote the successful matriculation of black women athletic training students. Impeding barriers include a lack of support, sexism, and racism. Factors that promote include personal characteristics; experience with white culture; faculty, preceptor, and peer support; and the clinical education experience. Conclusions: Recognizing the factors that impede or promote the academic persistence of black women in athletic training programs allows athletic training educators and preceptors to improve the experiences of black women enrolled in those programs and potentially increase their participation and advancement in the athletic training profession.

scholarly journals Examining Initial Perceptions of Transition to Clinical Practice from the Perspective of Professional Master's Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-173
Author(s):  
Thomas G. Bowman ◽  
Stephanie Mazerolle Singe ◽  
Brianne F. Kilbourne ◽  
Jessica L. Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Independent Practice ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Master's Students ◽  
Master's Programs ◽  
Program Administrators

Context Newly credentialed athletic trainers are expected to be independent practitioners capable of making their own clinical decisions. Transition to practice can be stressful and present challenges for graduates who are not accustomed to practicing independently. Objective Explore the perceptions of professional master's students as they prepare to experience role transition from students to autonomous clinical practitioners. Design Qualitative study. Setting Nine higher education institutions. Patients or Other Participants Fourteen athletic training students (7 male, 7 female, age = 25.6 ± 3.7 years) participated. Main Outcome Measure(s) Participants completed a semistructured interview over the phone which focused on the perception of preparedness to enter clinical practice. All transcribed interviews were analyzed using a general inductive approach. Multiple-analyst triangulation and peer review were used to ensure trustworthiness. Results We found themes for facilitators and challenges to transition to autonomous clinical practice. Students felt prepared for independent practice due to (1) mentoring networks they had developed, (2) exposure to the breadth of clinical practice, and (3) autonomy allotted during clinical education. Potential challenges included (1) apprehension with decision making and (2) a lack of confidence. Conclusions Our findings suggest graduates from professional master's programs, although ready for clinical practice, may require more time and exposure to autonomous practice to build confidence. Professional master's program administrators should work to provide clinical education experiences that expose students to a wide variety of clinical situations (patients, settings, preceptors) with appropriate professional role models while providing decision making autonomy within accreditation standards.

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