Supervisory Practices in Speech - Language Pathology: Pre-practicum Assessment of Student Clinicians in Graduate Training Programs

Abstract

Abstract How do supervisors determine the level of clinical independence of graduate student clinicians before clinic practicum begins and how do supervisors determine the style of supervision used with each student clinician? A qualitative research methodology was used to investigate supervisory practices of clinical educators supervising graduate student clinicians in speech-language pathology graduate training programs. Data was gathered through standardized open-ended interviews with 11 supervisors from five graduate training programs accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). All 11 supervisors conducted a pre-practicum assessment, but none used a published program or model to assess the student clinicians. All participants met with the student clinicians prior to the start of therapy to discuss the client. Analysis of data revealed three distinct types of meetings: presentation of the client by the clinician, presentation of the clinician to the supervisor, and pre-practicum assessment using a form. Eight of the 11 supervisors interviewed for this study determined the level of clinical independence of the student clinician solely by asking the clinician to present the client to the supervisor. The supervisors then evaluated the manner, organization, accuracy, and completeness of the presentation to estimate the student's level of clinical independence.