CLINICAL SKILLS IV

Catalog description

Clinical Skills IV is the final course in the clinical skills sequence and prepares students for transition into supervised clinical practice. Building upon competencies developed in Clinical Skills I–III, the course emphasizes comprehensive, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed patient history acquisition, developmentally appropriate physical examination, and bedside clinical impression formation for nephrologic, genitourinary, reproductive, and pediatric presentations. Through faculty demonstration, guided practice, skills laboratories, structured patient encounters, and small-group application activities, students refine sensitive examination techniques, pediatric assessment adaptation, appropriate use of clinical instruments, and concise clinical presentation skills. Instruction focuses on recognition of normal and abnormal findings, identification of concerning presentations, and effective communication of clinical observations to patients, families, and healthcare team members, integrating professionalism and patient safety to support readiness for direct patient care responsibilities during the clinical year.