The full-time Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program at Nova Southeastern University is offered as a full-time, entry-level program that is completed in 36 months. Students are admitted in the summer semester. The program includes 40 weeks of full-time clinical practice. While on campus, student-learning experiences occur in a combination of traditional instruction, case-based interactive learning, and clinical lab skills training. Faculty supervised Tier I clinical education training begins in the winter term of year one. Students experience direct patient care in a variety of health care facilities located in Broward County that primarily serve underserved populations.

Entry-Level DPT Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, graduates will:

• Select valid and reliable tests and measures to examine patients and assess patient outcomes across the lifespan.
• Determine an accurate physical therapy diagnosis and prognosis that reflects the patient’s condition, reflecting personal and environmental factors impacting patient outcomes.
• Design an appropriate plan of care including pertinent and functioning goals, outcomes, and interventions.
• Perform physical therapy interventions accurately and efficiently.
• Evaluate fitness and exercise tolerance using valid/reliable measures in order to develop an appropriate exercise program in both normal and impaired individuals.
• Screen patients for medical disease in order to differentiate signs/symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders from medical disorders.
• On a radiograph, recognize normal anatomical landmarks, and distinguish between normal and abnormal anatomy.
• Examine, prescribe, and train patients for the use of assistive and adaptive devices, orthotics, and supportive devices.
• Demonstrate evidence of self-reflection and growth in the 7 core values identified by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA): accountability, altruism, compassion and caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty, social responsibility.
• Demonstrate consistently safe practice as evidenced by maintenance of a safe working environment; screening for precautions and contraindications; and safe handling of the patient while maintaining correct body mechanics.
• Demonstrate legal and ethical behaviors in all professional settings, including: a) adhere to policies, procedures, standards of practice, APTA code of ethics and law; b) recognition of ethical dilemmas, illegal acts, or violations of ethical/ legal practice.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing with patients, staff, colleagues, and other health professionals using appropriate terminology, body language/postures, and tone of voice.
• Engage in prevention, wellness, or health promotion activities with individuals, groups, or the community, especially those that are medically underserved.
• Develop community prevention programs using appropriate needs assessment strategies, behavior change theory & program evaluation.
• Provide competent instruction to patients, caregivers, colleagues and communities using effective teaching methods, accurate information and evaluation of learning outcomes.
• Delegate appropriate tasks to support personnel based on legal guidelines and assessment of an individual’s abilities.
• Demonstrate the ability to engage in critical inquiry as evidenced by the ability to research, synthesize and write a literature review or case report.
• Integrate, synthesize and weigh research evidence in order to make reasoned decisions in patient/ client management.
• Design and implement a plan to develop or restructure a physical therapy clinic, including: mission and vision statements, equipment and human resources, budget and productivity analysis and external/internal monitoring for quality of services.
• Demonstrate proficient documentation skills using: a) appropriate medical terminology, disablement model terminology and patient/client management model terms and practice patterns defined in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice.
• Engage in local, state and/or national professional association activities as evidenced by: membership in the APTA, attendance to district meetings and participation in state/national conferences.
• Adapt the delivery of physical therapy services and community programming to reflect respect and sensitivity to individual differences as evidenced in goal setting, patient education and programming.