In considering International
Clinical Placements, Midwives College of Utah expects that student midwives
will show cultural humility and sensitivity in all their interactions with
clients, regardless of locality. We further expect that clinical field faculty
(preceptors) and sites approved by Midwives College of Utah will be
accountable, honest and demonstrate the utmost respect for all clients, student
midwives and practicing midwives, in accordance with the Midwives Model of
Care, which is and has always been the standard we set for midwifery education.
Transparency, cultural appropriateness and primacy of client care are expected
of all clinical sites, regardless of location.
Students planning to pursue
Clinical Placement outside of their country of residence*:
1. Must fulfill the normal
requirements for students in clinical placement (enrolled in CLNC 100, accepted
to the Clinical Program, etc.)
2. Must have completed SOSC 150
(Cultural Competency) with the International Clinical Study module (requiring 10-20
hours of class work) before leaving for their clinical placement. For students
planning international placements before May 1, 2013, speak to the Clinical
Dean about accommodations for this requirement.
3. Must meet with the Clinical
Dean or a clinical department staff member before and after their international
placement to discuss appropriate behavior in placement and debrief their
experience.
*Traveling between the US and Canada will not be considered
“outside their country of residence” due to the strong cultural similarities
between the two nations in this case. If you are traveling to a country you
feel is culturally very similar to your home country, you can ask for an
exclusion of this requirement.
Clinical Field Faculty
(Preceptors) or Clinical Sites outside of the United
States and Canada:
1. Must fulfill the typical
requirements for clinical field faculty and sites. All documentation must be in
English or translated into English by a reliable source.
2. Preceptors or site directors
must complete an interview explaining how they work with local birth
attendants, respect cultural norms, practice informed consent for care
(especially care provided by visiting student midwives), how possible conflict
between student/preceptor or student/student will be resolved, how they
recognize autonomy of their clients (including offering choice and
alternatives), how they measure their accountability to the community they
serve and how students will be trained on cultural differences during their
placement.
We reserve the right to revoke approval of a clinical site or preceptor
at any time if they are found to be practicing outside the Midwives Model of
Care, or showing disrespect for a client, student or midwife's culture, color,
religion, education, socioeconomic status, or other difference. We encourage
students who witness such behavior, whether in a single instance or in systemic
ways, to prioritize the rights of clients and midwifery as a whole over their
individual needs for development and learning, and to speak up about injustice,
addressing concerns directly to their field instructors and to the clinical
department with an eye toward improvement and strengthening midwifery culture
as a whole.
