Clinical Practice & Patient Safety

Last updated: 18 April 2026 · Academic & Clinical Affairs, TSMHS

1. Purpose

TSMHS is committed to producing healthcare graduates who are safe, competent, and ethical practitioners. This policy ensures that student clinical activities prioritise patient safety and dignity at all times, while providing students with meaningful, supervised learning experiences.

2. Supervision Requirements

• All clinical procedures must be performed under the direct or indirect supervision of a qualified, registered healthcare professional
• Students must never perform any procedure without explicit approval from their supervising clinician
• The level of supervision required depends on the student's year of study and competency assessment
• Students must immediately inform their supervisor of any uncertainty about a clinical task before proceeding
• If a supervisor is unavailable, students must wait — they must not proceed unsupervised

3. Scope of Practice

Students are not qualified health practitioners. Their scope of practice is strictly limited to what is prescribed in their programme curriculum and what is explicitly authorised by their supervisor at each placement.

4. Patient Rights & Dignity

All patients have rights that must be respected at all times. Students must:

• Obtain informed consent from the patient (or their guardian) before any examination or procedure, explaining that they are a student
• Respect the patient's right to refuse examination or treatment by a student
• Treat every patient with dignity, compassion, and cultural sensitivity
• Never discriminate on the basis of a patient's age, gender, religion, tribe, disability, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status
• Maintain patient privacy — draw curtains, knock before entering, and minimise exposure
• Address patients respectfully — do not use first names without permission

5. Patient Confidentiality

Patient information is confidential. This is both a legal obligation under Kenyan law and an ethical duty.

• Do not discuss patient information in corridors, lifts, canteens, or public areas
• Do not share patient information with family, friends, or classmates outside formal case discussion settings
• Never photograph, record, or screenshot patient records, images, or identifying information
• Do not post any patient-related content on social media — even anonymised descriptions can be identifying
• Clinical case studies used for learning must be anonymised and approved by your supervisor
• Breach of patient confidentiality is grounds for immediate suspension and regulatory referral

6. Infection Prevention & Control

• Follow standard precautions at all times — assume all body fluids are potentially infectious
• Perform hand hygiene (wash or sanitise) before and after every patient contact
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as directed — gloves, masks, gowns, eye protection
• Follow the facility's protocols for sharps disposal, waste segregation, and decontamination
• Report any needlestick injury, splash exposure, or infectious contact to your supervisor immediately
• Students with active infections (e.g. open wounds, respiratory illness) must not attend placements without medical clearance

7. Incident Reporting

All incidents, near-misses, adverse events, or patient safety concerns must be reported immediately — no matter how minor they appear.

• Report to your supervising clinician verbally first, then in writing
• Complete the facility's incident reporting form as directed
• Notify the TSMHS Clinical Coordinator within 24 hours of any significant incident
• Students will not be penalised for reporting in good faith — early reporting saves lives
• Failure to report a known patient safety incident is itself a serious breach of this policy

8. Professional Appearance

• Wear the designated TSMHS uniform and/or the facility's required dress code at all times
• Wear your TSMHS student ID badge visibly at all placement sites
• Keep hair tied back, nails short and clean, and no jewellery that creates infection risk
• Closed-toe shoes are mandatory in all clinical areas

9. Mental Health & Fitness to Practice

Healthcare training can be demanding. TSMHS recognises that student wellbeing directly affects patient safety.

• Students who feel unwell, distressed, or impaired must remove themselves from patient care and notify their supervisor
• Students struggling with mental health are encouraged to seek support from the campus counsellor
• Attending clinical placements under the influence of alcohol or any substance is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate removal and disciplinary action

10. Student Insurance & Liability

TSMHS maintains institutional insurance coverage for students during authorised clinical placements. However:

• Coverage applies only to activities within the authorised scope of supervised student practice
• Students who act outside their scope, or without supervision, may not be covered
• Students are advised to maintain personal professional indemnity insurance from Year 2 onwards

11. Applicable Law & Professional Standards

This policy is consistent with the standards of Kenya's health regulatory bodies:

• Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB) — Code of Professional Ethics
• Kenya Nursing Board (KNB) — Professional Nursing Standards
• Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) — Code of Ethics
• Kenya Medical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Board (KMLTTB)
• Kenya Health Act, 2017
• Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019 (patient data)