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Two veterinary professionals examine a horse’s leg outdoors during a clinical training session.

Code of Conduct for Clinical Mentors

This Code of Conduct establishes professional, ethical, and instructional expectations for mentors supervising students in Purdue’s Veterinary Technology Distance Learning (VTDL) program. Mentors serve as an extension of the educational program and play a critical role in student development, clinical competency, and professional behavior.

1. Professional Role and Responsibility

  • Mentors must directly oversee all required hands-on clinical skills and may not assign this responsibility to anyone who is not officially listed as a supervising mentor for that student during the relevant course term.
  • Both the student and mentor must sign documentation confirming that the skill was performed by the student and observed by the mentor.
  • Mentors will uphold academic integrity by reviewing and verifying the accuracy of applicable mentorship-related documentation prior to signing along with actively supervising all tasks.

2. Evaluation of Clinical Tasks

  • Students are evaluated using standardized step-by-step criteria outlined on Task Verification Forms (TVF) by Purdue VTDL instructors
  • Evaluation will reflect how well students perform each task and demonstrate competency; it is not simply a pass/fail determination.
  • Mentors should aid the student to ensure:
    • All task criteria are met
    • TVF and any additional task documentation is signed, dated, and complete
  • Tasks must be performed according to program criteria, even if they differ from current clinic protocols.

3. Student Progress and Time Management

  • Mentors and students should review and prepare course materials early (prior to course enrollment) to avoid delays in student progression
  • Mentors are encouraged to monitor student progress to ensure timely completion of assignments

4. Instructional Support

  • Mentors should:
    • Review task completion & skill criteria with students using their respective logbooks
    • Clarify concepts and provide guidance on clinical applications
  • Mentors are encouraged to reach out to the instructor as needed to discuss student progress

5. Professional Conduct and Conflict Resolution

  • Mentors must maintain a professional, respectful, and constructive environment
  • If conflicts arise:
    • Attempt resolution directly, early on and constructively
    • Contact the course instructor and/or Clinical Mentorship Coordinator if the issue cannot be resolved

6. Video and Skills Assessment Oversight

For courses requiring video submission of clinical tasks:

  • Meet with students to plan completion of required tasks
  • Ensure:
    • Adequate patient availability
    • Required equipment and supplies are available
  • Review task criteria with students prior to filming
  • Help remind students to confirm:
    • All steps are visible and complete
    • Audio is clear and understandable
    • No OSHA violations occur
  • Ensure video content:
    • Is professional
    • Follows safety standards
    • Meets skill criteria, and only requires minimal coaching

7. Safety and OSHA Compliance

Mentors must ensure all clinical activities are conducted safely and in compliance with OSHA standards, including but not limited to:

  • Proper handling of:
    • Hazardous chemicals
    • Drugs and anesthetic agents
    • Sharps and medical waste
    • Radiation safety protocols
  • Enforcement of PPE use and safe work practices

8. Animal Welfare and Ethical Care

  • All animals must be treated in a humane and ethical manner consistent with institutional and federal guidelines.
  • Clinical procedures:
    • Must utilize Fear Free® handling techniques
    • Must not exceed recommended frequency of Animal Use Guidelines (as outlined in logbooks)
    • Should only be performed and/or repeated when medically necessary.

9. Student and Workplace Safety

  • Students should avoid handling aggressive or dangerous animals
  • Mentors must ensure students:
    • Use proper restraint techniques
    • Follow PPE protocols
    • Understand risks of injury and exposure
  • In the event of injury:
    • Ensure proper wound care and medical attention
    • Confirm required incident reporting is completed within the facility

10. Rabies and Exposure Policies

  • Students must comply with Purdue’s VTDL Rabies policy (outlined in the course syllabus)
  • Mentors must enforce compliance with all rabies exposure prevention requirements

11. Time Commitment

  • Mentors should expect to provide time needed for
    • Review and practice of skills
    • Supervision of each skill for video submission
  • Time requirements vary based on course difficulty, student ability, and practice conditions.

12. Compliance and Accountability

  • FERPA: In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and institutional policies, mentors are expected to protect the confidentiality of student information, and use such information only as necessary to support student learning and evaluation, safeguard it from unauthorized access or disclosure, and uphold student privacy rights across all clinical, workplace, and mentorship settings.
  • Failure to adhere to this Code of Conduct or program requirements may result in:
    • Removal from mentor responsibilities
    • If warranted, concerns may be referred to the appropriate regulatory or oversight agencies for review, including those responsible for workplace safety, professional licensing, ethical compliance, or animal welfare standards

Acknowledgment

By serving as a clinical mentor, individuals agree to uphold these standards and support student learning in accordance with program, professional, and ethical expectations.