The Art of Clinical Rotations: Etiquette for PA and NP Students – Part III

Welcome to part III of our series addressing student etiquette during clinical rotations.

DO:

Bring a small notebook to take notes when you are in a patient room.  

DO NOT:

Take notes on your mobile device in the middle of a patient visit. 

Cell phones should be put away while you are seeing patients.

DO:

Wait until we get out of the patient’s room before asking questions about their case.

DO NOT: 

Interject and stop the conversation between the patient and provider.  

Follow social queues.

Ask lots of questions, but do so at the appropriate time.

If the schedule is slammed, jot down your question in your notebook so we can address it later.

DO: 

Stand off to the side and listen to the interaction between your preceptor and the patient carefully. If there is something to see, your preceptor will summon you closer.

DO NOT:

Stand between your preceptor and their medical assistant or the provider and their tools.

We appreciate you being helpful, but at the same time, try not to get in the way.