Clinical assignments are made based on a review of multiple criteria. Criteria include site availability, student preference, first requested/first assigned, driving distance for students, cultural fit with training team, and avoiding conflicts of interest (relationships with clinic staff trainers or if the student is a patient of a small facility). The instructor takes all of these into account and assigns based on the best interest of the student and the program. In the event that a placement cannot be immediately guaranteed, the instructor will notify the student of options and make arrangements for an adapted schedule to get caught up or a withdrawal from the program.
It is a patient safety requirement that a student have 7-8 hours of sleep before working a clinical rotation shift each day. Sleep deprivation puts both the patient and the student at risk for potentially deadly injuries. Students who violate this mandatory sleep policy will be sent home for the day with a first written warning. If any further violations occur, the student will be dismissed from the program.