Occupational Therapy

The Therapeutic Services Department of Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware accepts students for clinical rotations in:

• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Speech-language pathology

Before proceeding, please verify with your academic institution that that they are an affiliated program and then follow the instructions below carefully. You’ll need to gather a series of required screening and immunization documents and have your academic advisor certify that you have completed all steps outlined below.

Your fieldwork coordinator will receive a form to complete, sign and return to us to verify that you have obtained all required immunizations and clearances.

Gather Your Required Screening & Immunization Documents

We recommend starting to gather the required documents as early as possible — 4 to 6 months before your preferred affiliation start date.

You’ll need:

Delaware Child Abuse Screening Report

Instructions:

• Please download the following document: Delaware Child Protection Registry Request Form.
• Fill out Part I of this form, sign and date.
• Email your completed form to therapystaffing@nemours.org

Things to Note:

• Allow at least 15 working days for results to be processed.
• The form must be submitted within 90 days of signature date in order to be processed.

Transportation and Parking

A vehicle is recommended, since limited bus service is available in this area. Wilmington Bus DART Route 28 goes from the city train to the hospital on a schedule. Students parking on the hospital grounds must register their vehicle with Security and park in the employee parking garage, not in areas reserved for visitors or patients. Parking is free.

Housing

Housing is not available on campus. Some students have been able to sublet apartments from students at the University of Delaware.

Meals

Meals are available in the hospital cafeteria and coffee kiosks during specified hours of operation, and vending machine options are available.

Hours of Operation

Therapeutic services is open: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

There are limited treatments on Saturdays and Sundays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for acute postsurgical and rehab patients. An individual schedule of approximately 40 hours per week will be established with your clinical instructor. Flexible scheduling is necessary due to the demands of the patient population. Staff rotate working Saturday/Sundays and students will work 1-2 Saturdays/Sundays during their affiliation at the discretion of your clinical instructor.

Supervision

Each student will be assigned a clinical instructor who will be available to you throughout your affiliation. Supervision will be close at first and will lessen according to your needs, but will always be at least line-of-sight. Any questions or concerns with patient treatment, scheduling, in-services, etc., should be directed to your clinical instructor. Performance reports are delivered at mid-term and at the end of your affiliation. Verbal and/or written feedback is provided daily or as needed. The student will meet with the education coordinator prior to mid-term to provide the student the opportunity to discuss progression of fieldwork and express any concerns.

Absences

One (1) excused absence per month is allowed for illness or interviews — based on discipline and school requirements. Excessive time off must be made up before the completion of the affiliation. In the event of illness, contact your clinical instructor by 7:30 a.m. by calling the department at (302) 651-4354 or as your clinical instructor directs.

Dress

Students are to wear neat, clean, casual street clothes that are still professional. Sneakers (clean) are permitted and shoes must be close-toed (no sandals) for safety and must be worn with hosiery. No blue denim jeans, mini-skirts, shorts, capri pants, sleeveless shirts, midriff tops or t-shirts are allowed. A swimsuit will permit participation in our aquatics program, and may be required based on the discipline and clinical instructor.

No dangle earrings, bracelets, or necklaces should be worn. Nails should be short and should not have colored polish. Tattoos need to be covered. Piercings other than in the ear lobe are not to have jewelry. No skin should be exposed when bending, stooping and reaching.