Practicum in times of covid

ABSTRACT

For many health professional programs, practicum capstone experiences are vital to the application of theory to practice, evaluation of knowledge gained, and building confidence in students before entering the workforce. In spring 2020, the ability to provide these experiences as usual suddenly changed due to the halt of practicum placements caused by Covid-19. This paper discusses how the capstone course was altered under these unusual circumstances, the student experience, and lessons learned. Three practicum options were created a traditional in-person practicum, virtual practicum experiences with a health administrator or as a research assistant, and a virtual multi-pronged practicum. The multi-pronged virtual practicum experience combined a case study acquired from AUPHA, an 8-hour Covid-19 webinar module set, and three Zoom meetings with a quality-of-life specialist. Feedback received from students was that in-person practicum experiences are viewed as superior;practicum supports the application of knowledge;students felt prepared for practicum, and Covid-19 was impactful. The need for increased transparency, clearer directions, and weekly meetings for virtual practicum experiences are some of the lessons learned. Finally, the need for support during a crisis, especially from specialty organizations like AUPHA, is crucial to creating valid solutions and bringing some tranquility to the chaos.