scholarly journals When Direct Pressure Is Not Enough: An Educational Technique for Teaching Wound Packing in Athletic Training Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 278-286
Author(s):  
Ashley B. Thrasher ◽  
Edward J. Strapp

Context Uncontrolled hemorrhage is a major cause of preventable death. Wound care and managing external hemorrhage are important skills for athletic trainers. Objective Describe a laboratory activity used to allow students to practice managing uncontrolled external hemorrhage and wound packing. Background The prevalence of active shooter and other mass casualty events has grown, and a trend to move military-based emergency skills into civilian casualty care has emerged. Athletic trainers are uniquely positioned to respond to catastrophic events at the time of injury. Controlling hemorrhage and rapidly applying a tourniquet or administering wound packing have a great effect in preventing death due to severe hemorrhage. Description An educational technique using a pork shoulder was implemented to provide students with experience in wound packing. Clinical Advantage(s) Students describe this activity as a beneficial way to gain experience on an important skill not often seen in the clinical education setting. Conclusion(s) Faculty may consider implementing wound packing using a pork shoulder as a laboratory activity when teaching wound care and external hemorrhage management.

Author(s):  
Heather Hudson ◽  
Valerie Herzog

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that contribute to student persistence and gauge prospective athletic training students' perceptions of experiences that contributed to their persistence. Method: The Athletic Training Student Persistence-Revised Survey was developed to gather data about program attributes, social, academic, clinical integration, and program commitment. Institutional demographics, program demographics, and program attributes were collected during interviews. Surveys were administered online through SurveyMonkey. Survey data were returned anonymously by designated contact persons (Athletic Training Program Directors or Clinical Education Coordinators) for all freshmen prospective athletic training students enrolled in the athletic training introductory course/s. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric differences and correlations were calculated. The inductive process was used in coding open-ended data. Results: The Mann Whitney U test and Spearman Rho analysis demonstrated significant results. Program attributes along with clinical integration had the weakest correlations (r = -0.36 and r = -0.32, respectively), while academic integration and program commitment had the strongest (r = -0.58 and r = -0.76, respectively). No predictive variables were found. Qualitatively, persisters and non-persisters managed the pre-application period differently. Additionally, the rapport between athletes and athletic trainers serving as preceptors, the relationships between prospective athletic training students and extant athletic training students, and the mentorship displayed by athletic training students were all contributors to persistence. Conclusions: Communication between the athletic training program director and prospective athletic training students is vital, but the core of the study revealed that what transpires during clinical observation hours, within the introductory course/s, between athletic trainers and athletes, and between athletic training students/preceptors and prospective athletic training students are of even greater importance. The findings demonstrated that decisions to persist are the result of all parties and components associated with the athletic training program, not just one.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 300-306
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Manspeaker ◽  
Alison N. Wix

Context Athletic trainers must develop the knowledge and skills to recognize signs and symptoms of dermatologic conditions in the physically active population. Objective To present an overview of an educational technique aimed at promoting the development of skills related to dermatological care that meets clinical practice needs and accreditation requirements for athletic training programs at all levels. Background Curricular content standards in athletic training education require learners to obtain the skills necessary to perform an evaluation, formulate a diagnosis, and establish a plan of care relevant to the integumentary system, including dermatological conditions. Cognitive Learning Theory uses specific sequencing of content and learning sessions to promote student engagement in the learning process. Description Within an evaluation course for nonorthopaedic conditions, a 3–class session learning module was developed to target instruction, application, and assessment of dermatological conditions. This article describes the development, overview of content, delivery methods, outcomes to date, and connection to the instructional standards in athletic training. Clinical Advantage(s) Integrating evaluation of dermatological conditions into athletic training curricula enhances clinical decision-making skills and direct application of these skills to clinical practice. Conclusion(s) Athletic trainers should be able to effectively identify, manage, and potentially refer patients with dermatological conditions. Educating future athletic trainers to be able to prevent the spread of infection, decrease disease transmission, and enhance their ability to recognize and manage dermatological conditions is vital to their development toward independent clinical practice.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-17
Author(s):  
Renae Ellen Bomar ◽  
Thalia Mulvihill

Context: Clinical experiences give the student athletic trainer the opportunity to relate and apply didactic information to a real-world setting. During these experiences student athletic trainers are supervised by certified, licensed health care providers working in a variety of settings (eg, hospital, physical therapy clinic, doctor's office). It is important to note the responsibilities these health care professionals (preceptors) take on when choosing to become a preceptor. Not only are they completing their normal, job-related tasks of patient care and administrative duties, but they are also responsible for the education and evaluation of student athletic trainers. Objective: This case study takes an in-depth look at a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II athletic training program's (ATP) preceptor training model and provides an example of how 1 program is developing its preceptors under the new Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) policies. It is meant to lay the foundation for further research in preceptor development by providing a description of training and development practices. This case study can be used as a guide to other ATPs and compared to other institutions to identify the best practices for preceptor development. Because the policies are new and little research has been done on preceptor development, this is the first step in creating effective evidence-based practices. Design: Ethnographic case study. Setting: One-on-one, in-person, semistructured interviews were conducted, audio recorded, and transcribed verbatim. A review of relevant (eg, training manuals) preceptor training documents was completed. Member checks were done as necessary for accuracy. Participants: One male, veteran off-campus preceptor, 1 female, novice on-campus preceptor, and the ATP clinical education coordinator participated. Participants were part of an NCAA Division II ATP located in Indiana. Results and Conclusions: The findings suggested that this program's preceptor training used various pedagogical designs and provided strong support to those involved.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley B. Thrasher ◽  
Stacy E. Walker ◽  
Dorice A. Hankemeier

Context: The professional preparation of newly credentialed athletic trainers (ATs) has been passionately debated. Understanding how newly credentialed ATs feel they are prepared will help enhance professional preparation. Objective: Explore newly credentialed ATs' perceptions of their professional preparation for their role. Design: Phenomenological qualitative. Setting: Phone interviews with graduate assistant ATs in the collegiate setting. Patients or Other Participants: Nineteen collegiate graduate assistants (15 female, 4 male; average age = 23 ± 0.15 years; National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I: 13, II: 3, III: 2, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics: 2; postprofessional athletic training program: 6). Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants were recruited via an e-mail from the National Athletic Trainers' Association database sent to all certified students. Data were collected via phone interviews, which were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interviews were conducted until data saturation occurred. Data were analyzed through phenomenological reduction, with data coded for common themes and subthemes. Credibility was established via member checks and peer debriefing. Results: Two themes emerged: facilitators and barriers. Overall, participants felt academically prepared for their role, but preparedness was often dependent on the facilitators of academic rigor, hands-on opportunities in clinical education, and their preceptor. Barriers included a lack of rigor in the academic setting, lack of active opportunities in clinical education, the culture of clinical experiences, and incongruence. Incongruence existed when students were exposed to all the competencies during didactic education, but never gained experience with some skills (eg, rehabilitation, documentation, communication) if situations never arose or they were not actively involved clinically. Conclusions: Athletic training students are being exposed to a variety of learning experiences academically, but often do not gain clinical experience if situations do not arise or preceptors do not allow active participation. To ensure new ATs are prepared, academic programs need to ensure rigor and place students with preceptors who provide active learning opportunities.


2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Sexton ◽  
Linda S. Levy ◽  
K. Sean Willeford ◽  
Mary G. Barnum ◽  
Greg Gardner ◽  
...  

Objective: The primary objective of this paper is to present the evolution, purpose, and definition of direct supervision in the athletic training clinical education. The secondary objective is to briefly present the factors that may negatively affect the quality of direct supervision to allow remediation and provide higher quality clinical experiences for athletic training students. Background: Athletic training educators and clinical instructors often engage in discussions regarding the direct supervision of ATSs. These discussions tend to center around concerns about ATS preparation, and how the current level of preparedness differs from that of the past. Some believe that direct supervision, rather than unsupervised practice, retards the ATSs' development; however, there is no current literature to support this concept. Description: Supervision means to watch or direct, while mentoring means to tutor, instruct, or guide; therefore, mentoring may be more descriptive of the desired/intended interaction between an ATS and their clinical instructor (CI). The intent of supervision is for an ATS to refine and improve their clinical proficiencies under CI guidance. For this to occur, the CI must alter their interactions with the ATS as the student evolves. Clinical Advantages: Developing the CIs' understanding of the intent and continuum of expectations associated with direct supervision will allow them to maximize their students' education and position them to become highly skilled and confident Athletic Trainers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Thomas G. Bowman ◽  
Jessica L. Barrett

The commissioners of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and the Board of Directors of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) have acted to move the professional degree in athletic training from a bachelor’s degree to a graduate degree. The decision was largely based upon growth of the profession and aligning with the face of healthcare education. Therefore, we wanted to understand the perceived benefits of the graduate model. Using a qualitative paradigm, we electronically interviewed 29 students and faculty members (13 athletic training faculty and program directors, 16 students) currently in Professional Masters Athletic Training Programs (PM ATP). These represented 13 of the 29 (45%) CAATE-accredited PM ATPs. Five themes emerged from the data: (1) engagement and time spent in clinical education allows students to prepare for their roles as athletic trainers, (2) faculty stress the importance of interprofessional education, (3) expecting prior foundational knowledge allows focused education training at the graduate level, (4) increased professional commitment to stay in athletic training rather than use the training/education as a stepping-stone to other career paths, and (5) higher student maturity facilitates deeper learning. Based on these results, the perceived benefits of the PM ATP model are multifactorial.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Noller ◽  
David C. Berry

Context Health care organizations are integrating employee training and educational programs to designate themselves as high-reliability organizations (HROs). HROs continually strive to evaluate and create an environment in which potential problems are anticipated, detected early, and virtually always responded to early enough to prevent catastrophic consequences. Objective This primer document introduces the concept of high reliability in health care (from a historical and foundational perspective) and establishes a framework for athletic training educators to introduce the concepts at the professional, postprofessional, or residency educational program level. Background While the theory of high reliability is new to athletic training, its quality and origins in health care are established. HROs use systems thinking to evaluate and design for safety and continuous improvement to create an environment where potential problems are anticipated, detected early, and responded to early enough to prevent tragic consequences. Synthesis The HRO focuses attention on emergent problems and deploys strategies to address those problems. HROs behave in ways that seem counterintuitive—they do not hide failures; instead, HROs celebrate them. HROs seek out problems and avoid focusing on just 1 aspect of work to see how all the parts fit together. They expect unexpected events and develop capabilities to manage them, deferring decisions to empowered experts. However, high reliability is only achieved through robust process improvement, which is only achieved with a complementary approach to Lean Six Sigma and change management. Recommendation(s) Given the complexity of patient care in athletic training, the potential for medical error(s), and the need for quality improvement, HROs hold promise for athletic training. Conclusion(s) As future health care leaders, athletic trainers should be educated to foster innovation and improve health care delivery to diverse patient populations. Athletic trainers should want to embrace the principles of HROs. Achieving high reliability can be accomplished with adequate exposure to and training within the classroom and during clinical education opportunities.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Nottingham ◽  
Jessica L. Barrett ◽  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Christianne M. Eason

Context: Mentorship has been identified as a contributor to the socialization of athletic training preceptors. Understanding how mentorship occurs and contributes to preceptor development may help athletic training educators facilitate effective mentorship within their athletic training programs. Objective: Examine preceptors' perceptions of mentoring as part of their socialization into this role. Design: Qualitative study. Setting: Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education programs. Patients or Other Participants: Twelve athletic trainers representing 4 National Athletic Trainers' Association districts, including 5 men and 7 women, average age = 32 ± 10.5 years, and average of 5 ± 5.0 years' experience as a preceptor. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants responded to 14 interview questions regarding their perceptions of mentoring. Two researchers analyzed data using an inductive approach to identify themes and supporting categories. Trustworthiness was established by piloting the interview, using multiple analyst triangulation, and peer review. Results: Four themes emerged from the data: (1) characteristics, (2) processes, (3) mentoring by emulating, and (4) roles of mentoring. Participants identified that communication and commitment are characteristics of effective mentorship. Preceptors learn to mentor by emulating other preceptors, and mentoring relationships develop through both formal and informal processes. Mentoring serves multiple roles for preceptors, including providing a support system and facilitating reciprocal learning for both mentors and protégés. Conclusions: Participants perceive mentoring as beneficial to their initial and ongoing development as preceptors. Preceptors learn to mentor by emulating current and past mentors, emphasizing the importance of modeling for both preceptors and students. Clinical education coordinators can facilitate the mentoring of preceptors by educating them on the benefits of engaging in it as well as connecting experienced preceptors with newer preceptors.


2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 40-47
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Thomas G. Bowman ◽  
Jessica L. Barrett

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.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 275-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley B. Thrasher ◽  
Stacy E. Walker ◽  
Dorice A. Hankemeier ◽  
William A. Pitney

Context Recent debate has ensued regarding the readiness of newly credentialed athletic trainers (ATs) to function as independent clinicians. Some ATs believe the professional preparation of athletic training students is not adequate. Objective To describe supervisors' perceptions regarding the preparation of college graduate assistants (GAs) to practice as independent practitioners. Design Consensual qualitative research. Setting Individual phone interviews. Patients or Other Participants Twenty-one collegiate ATs who had supervised GAs in the collegiate setting for a minimum of 8 years (16 men, 5 women; years of supervision experience, 14.6 ± 6.6 years). Participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited via e-mail from the Board of Certification database and through snowball sampling. Interviews were conducted until data saturation occurred. Main Outcome Measure(s) Data were collected via phone interviews, which were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed by a 4-person consensus team, who independently coded the data and compared ideas until consensus was reached and a codebook was created. Trustworthiness was established through member checks and multi-analyst triangulation. Results Three themes emerged: (1) previous preparation, (2) shortcomings in GAs, and (3) suggestions for athletic training program improvement. Supervisors felt GAs were prepared academically, but there were some gaps in preparation, such as their ability to independently practice and their rehabilitation skills. Shortcomings were professional communication, role execution, and personality. Supervisors felt preparation could be improved by increasing time in clinical education, developing communication skills, and having increased experience with psychosocial intervention, rehabilitation, and nonorthopedic conditions. Conclusions Didactic preparation of GAs is the best it has ever been, yet new ATs still need more experience while being mentored by experienced ATs. Professional programs could implement standardized patient experiences to provide opportunities for new ATs to practice in communication or in other areas of weakness.


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