Practicum (or Field Experience) -Dental Assistant I Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Course

DNTA-1266-001 Practicum (or Field Experience) -Dental Assistant I

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: DNTA 1205, DNTA 1241, DNTA 1315, DNTA 1311 and DNTA 1301 Corequisite: DNTA 2130

Course Description

Practical, general workplace training supported by an individualized learning plan developed by the employer, college and student.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

\N

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(2 sem hr; 19 practicum)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

See course instructor for current text being used

Supplies

 Transportation to and from clinical sites to be ON TIME for the clinical site hours of operation.  Adequate child/adult daycare if required. Clinical Notebook, proper clinical scrubs, proper clinical shoes…. proper clinical bare nails

Student Performance

\ Given the course textbook, perwsonal notes, handouts, guest lectures and community projects, the student should:

\ 1.     Learn the technical terminology, facts, theories, and principles associated with each type of dental speciality.

\ 2.     Apply the knowledge learned in class to a dental office setting

\ 3.     Evaluate the learning experience from the perspective of the specific course objectives

\ 1.     Become acquainted with each dental speciality

\ 2.     Enhance basic assisting skills previously acquired with special skills related to each dental speciality

\ 3.     Gain professional skills above those of basic dental assisting to become a well balanced, knowledgeable assistant

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

\ The student is expected to be professional at all times. The guidelines taught in this class are to help the student become familiar with the attributes and attitudes of a professional dental healthcare provider.

\ The student is expected to show respect for each team member of the dental office they are serving clinical rotations in. They are also expected to be prompt, courteous to patients and have meticulus grooming.

\ Our hosting dental offices have required the student to not use their cell phone except at the lunch break.

Grading Criteria

Grades will be determined by the hosting dental office and the instructor based on the performance of the assigned duties.  The student will have an assignment notebook that will be completed by the hosting office and signed by the dentist or assistant supervising the student. The hosting office(s) will evaluate the student at specific intervals throughout the experience.  Observations in specialty offices will be graded on the completed form found in the clinical notebook

The student will also write a 1 1/2 to 2 page paper over each of the different specialties: Endodontics, Oral Surgery, Periodontics, Orthodontics, Pediodontics. The papers will be due no more than two weeks after the students has visited the specialty. Late papers will NOT be accepted and will be a zero in the grade book.

In order to be fair to students who are present and perform the required tasks and because of time restraints, most missed work, especially lab and clinical work can not be made up. Clinical assignments involve patient care and that care must be provided by the hosting office if you do not show for your rotations. Hosting offices reserve the right to ask the student not to return to their office because of negative attitude, unwillingness to obey office policies, excess tardiness and/or absences or anything else the office may determine in not in the better interest of patient care.

93 - 100 = A

83 - 92 = B

75 - 82 = C

Below 75 = F

With the time restraints of class and clinical assignments, any required make-up time for a clinical rotation will need to be performed during spring break OR after the courses has ended. Students that require excessive make-up hours will be given a grade of “I”, incomplete and allowed to make up the hours during the last two weeks of May. If the student is in need of more than 32 hours (equivalent to 4 full days) the student MUST complete a specific form asking permission from the program director and may involve the permission of the Dean of Health Sciences.

Clinical Notebooks = 50%

Specialty Papers =25%

Office evaluations = 25%   Students must show improvement in at least 50% of their clinical assignments.

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class". Due to the amount of information contained in this course, the student who plans to succeed should attend all course sessions regulary and promptly. The student will need to come to class on time, fully prepared for that session, with the necessary materials."  There may be times when it is impossible to attend class due to illness or an emergency, but this course covers so much information in class that an absence can get the student behind and thus, miss some vital questions on an exam. In order to be fair, there is no distinction between an excused or unexcused absence. You may ONE absence in clinicals without affecting your grade. All other absences will need to be made up, hour for hour, in the office the rotation was missed, or a comparable office setting. Each Student is required to be on a clinical setting for a MINIMUM of 300 hours.
 
 

Calendar

Additional Information

This course schedule may change with little advance notice. It is the responsibility of the student to periodically check for notifications of necessary changes.