Clinical Update: November 17, 2014

Hello, students!
It's a brisk 29 degrees outside here in Utah, and I'm excited to have some events to invite you to during the last month of the semester!

First, clinical rounds. We have 3 sessions of clinical rounds scheduled--I hope you can make it to one or more of them!
This Wednesday, November 19th at 12:00 noon MST, Chylain Krivensky will be presenting a case on breastfeeding and hypoplastic breasts.
Two weeks later, on Wednesday, December 3 at 12:00 noon MST, Liz Stika will be presenting on Breech Birth, and the week after that (the last week of the semester), Nicki Pugh will present on Exercise in Pregnancy.
Make sure you have viewed the Ground Rules session before attending!

Second, if you missed the other live sessions this semester, I have good news for you! Two of them: Starting Your Clinical Placement and Preparing for Primary births, are now available as videos in the CLNC 100 Class Documents for you to download at your leisure. And the other two will be presented this month:
Clinical Orientation and Overview on Thursday, December 4 at 1:00 pm MST
and
Applying for the NARM Exam on Thursday, December 11 at 11:00 am MST
Remember that the Clinical Orientation is required for completing your first semester of CLNC 100!

Finally, for students in clinical placement, I have exciting news--we expect to have an electronic option for your end of semester evaluations available by the end of the semester. The old paper forms will still work, but you'll have the option to fill out your statement of clinical progress, self-evaluation and preceptor evaluations online. Watch for news in December!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving next week--I am grateful for each of you!
Sarah Carter

Clinical Update: October 7, 2014

Happy Fall, everyone!

1. We have the following live sessions coming up:

• Preparing for Primary Births on Tuesday, October 14 at 12:00 pm
• Starting your Clinical Placement on Tuesday, October 28 at 12:00 pm
• Clinical Rounds on Thursday, October 30 at 9:00 am (Shannon Greika presenting on Lip/Tongue Tie)

Check your upcoming events for registration information!

2. There are several Clinical Placement opportunities on bulletin board recently--check them out!

3. I have issued a statement on international clinical placement (see the post following this one). As of December 31, 2014, we will not be allowing international clinical experiences to fulfill graduation requirements. Please read the statement and contact me with questions.

4. Finally, if you are planning to take the NARM exam and graduate before the end of the year (for the pre-2013 clinical requirements) you MUST have your application in to NARM by October 24. That means your Request for NARM testing needs to be to me as soon as possible. Contact me immediately if this is you!

Have a great day!

International Midwifery Experiences

As of December 31, 2014, Midwives College of Utah is issuing a moratorium on clinical credit for international midwifery experiences. While recognizing the benefits of international midwifery service, including a broader understanding of midwifery in other cultures and opportunities for preceptorship beyond what is available in the United States and Canada, we have found that the challenges, both logistic and ethical, are too great to permit us to encourage students using these experiences for credit toward their degree. Challenges such as the differing standards and scope of midwifery in other countries, the inability to provide oversight at clinical sites overseas, safety issues for midwives, students and clients, and most of all, the deep and alarming racial, economic and associated power-privilege dynamics that may hinder the ability to provide quality, ethical care--these are the issues that have led to this decision.

Students may still choose to do service experiences in any location they choose, but experiences outside the United States will not be applicable to clinical experience requirements for graduation or taking the NARM exam. This should allow students to focus on service and learning without concern for fulfilling experience “numbers”. It is still strongly recommended that students complete the cultural competency course before embarking on this type of work, and we are currently working on additional modules and classes that will be available for students planning international midwifery service. As additional resources become available, we will keep the student body notified.

Exceptions may be made for students who are residents outside the US and Canada (for example, if you are a student in and from the Dominican Republic, we will do our best to support you in approving a local clinical placement or you can travel to the US for your clinical work.) We do recommend that students living and planning to practice outside the US consider their local training and certification options first, so they can learn midwifery as it is practiced in their country or locale.

Based on our belief that midwifery care prizes the “physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother” (from the Midwives Model of Care™) above the ability of midwives to receive educational experience, we are enacting this moratorium until standards can be set on an international level that will sufficiently protect women and families and the midwives who serve them.

This policy was decided by the MCU administration in consultation with leaders of other MEAC schools and international midwifery programs as we collectively come together as midwifery educators and practitioners to develop and implement comprehensive standards for international clinical placements. 

Contact Sarah Carter, Clinical Dean, with questions about this policy at ClinicalDean@midwifery.edu.

Five Tips for a Great Apprenticeship

This blog post was written especially for new clinical students by one of our students nearing graduation, Lindsay Kinman. Thanks, Lindsay!

Finding a preceptor is one of the scariest and most exciting experiences for a student midwife.  It is the opportunity to finally perform the skills that you have been preparing for.  For many of us we have waited a long time for this to come.  Although we are eager to do whatever is asked of us it is also important to remember a few things before jumping in.  Here is my advice for a good apprenticeship.

 

photo courtesy of Wikimedia

1.)   Know your boundaries!  Before discussing with the midwife what her expectations are it is important to discuss with your family (spouse, partner, kids, etc.) what their needs and expectations are.  Many midwives have sacrificed their lives on the altar of midwifery by pretending that they can be all things to all people.  The truth is that everyone has limits.  If you lose the most important relationships in your life to midwifery you help no one.  How can we be promoters of health and not have emotional, physical, and spiritual health in our own lives?  Here is a list of questions to begin the discussion with those closest to you:

·         How many clinic days will fit in our schedule?

·         How many births are too many?

·         How far am I willing to travel for a birth?

·         How will the household responsibilities change? Who will handle what?

·         Who will watch the kids? Do we have to pay?  Is it in the budget?

·         When will we have “us time”?

2.)   Know your preceptor! Once you have figured out your boundaries then you will be in a more secure place when talking with your preceptor.  Before meeting with her, try and find out more about her.  Many midwives have a “baby counter” on their website and you can average how many births they do a month.  Also what is her area of coverage?  Maybe she is at a birth center close by but she averages 10 births a month.  Maybe she is a rural midwife and she has a huge coverage area.  Are you willing to drive 2 hours to a birth if there is a chance you are going to be gone for 3 days?  Meet with her and discuss what she needs in a student.  Here is a list of potential questions:

·         How many births do you average a month?

·         How far do you travel for births?

·         Would you expect me to be at every birth?

·         What is your philosophy on home birth?

·         What is your philosophy on interventions? (For example: abx, transfer, breaking water, etc.)

·         What do you need from a student?

·         How do you handle conflicts with other midwives?

·         Do you work with any other midwives?

3.)   Know your area! It is important for you to understand the types of clients that you will attend as a student.  Are you in an urban area where home birth is trendy?  Are you in a rural area where clients are more conservative? Understanding clientele will help limit frustrations with your apprenticeship.  Ask your preceptor the following questions:

·         What are the demographics of your clients?

·         What do clients expect from you?

·         What is your transfer rate?

·         Why do you transfer most often?

photo courtesy of Wikimedia

4.)   Know your goals.  When first looking at all the things to check off it can be overwhelming.  You also can be delusional to think that these things are going to happen in a nice neat order.  It is important to look at the whole book and group things together.  It is not your preceptor’s responsibility to make things happen for you.  It is yours. Here are some suggestions for grouping things together:

·         What are tasks that I can do outside an actual clinical setting (sterile gloves, hand washing, etc.)

·         What are tasks that run together in a clinical setting (at a birth, at a prenatal appointment, at a postpartum)

·         What do I need to work on?

·         Are there continuing education classes where I can practice and get further instruction?

5.)   Know why you are there!  Why are you becoming a midwife?  My guess is because you want to have the personal, non-interventive, and peaceful practice.  If this is the case then DO NOT TREAT your apprenticeships like numbers that need to be met.  This means that you may have to be at more appointments and spend more time than you want to in order to “get your numbers”; however, this is what midwifery is: taking more time.  You are not entering someone’s hospital room you are most likely entering someone’s living room.  Most clients do not want strangers in their living rooms.

·         Why do you want to be a midwife?

·         Where do you want to practice?

Clinical Update: July 28, 2014

Two weeks left in the semester and I'm sure you're all focused on getting classwork turned in! It's almost nearly August--World Breastfeeding Month! Make sure you tell a mom how great it is to feed their babies!

Mary Cassatt, Baby John Being Nursed (courtesy Wikicommons)

Just a reminder, if you're in clinical placement, don't forget to turn in your clinical paperwork--this is very important! You must submit at the end of each semester you're in a clinical placement:
1. Statement of Clinical Progress (and experience logs)
2. Clinical Self Evaluation
3. Student Evaluation of Preceptor
4. Preceptor Evaluation of Student
If you have not done any clinical experiences this semester, there is no need to send any of this paperwork in. If you have done only observed experiences, you can send those logs in alone. If it takes you past the end of the term, send them anyway-better late than never. As always, pdf format and uploading through the CLNC 100 class is preferred!

A few upcoming events in the next two weeks:
Clinical Rounds (Shannon Smith on Drug Use and Abuse during Pregnancy), Wednesday, August 6 at 11 am MDT
Preparing to Apply for the NARM Exam, Wednesday, August 6 at 12 pm MDT
See your MCU Message box for login information!

Clinical Update: July 3, 2014

Happy Canada Day and US Independence Day this week!

As a reminder, MCU offices will be closed and no office hours will be held on Friday.

In the next couple weeks, there are a few live events coming up:

  Preparing for Primary Births presentation on Wednesday, July 9 at 11 am (MDT)

  Starting Your Clinical Placement presentation on Wednesday, July 16 at 1 pm (MDT)

  Clinical Rounds presented by Rachel Cook on retained placenta on Thursday, July 17 at 9 am (MDT)

Make sure before attending your first session of clinical rounds, make sure you have viewed the clinical rounds ground rules session, available here: 

Clinical Rounds Ground Rules

And speaking of Clinical Rounds, I have openings for fall presentations starting in September. Remember that you are required to present at Rounds at least one time before graduating. Share what you're learning from your clinical experience with your classmates! Email me for a date and for more guidance.

Clinical Update June 16, 2014

Happy Summer everyone! We have two sessions of Clinical Rounds available this week.
Tues, June 17 at noon-Kastle Likens will present on two vessel cord anomaly and then
Weds, June 18 at noon-Kayte Brown will present on stillbirth.

Remember that before you attend Clinical Rounds for the first time, you need to view the Ground Rules Session. Also, if you're ready to do present at Clinical Rounds, I do have two open slots in July. Contact me ASAP and we'll set your date!

Also we have some live sessions coming up:
Weds, June 18 at 1 pm, Preparing for Primary Births
Weds, June 25 at noon, Starting Your Clinical Placement
All times are Mountain zone. These will be fantastic!

Have a great day!
 Sarah Carter

Clinical Update: June 2, 2014

I'm here at the MCU Student Conference this week and there are so many wonderful things going on in the clinical department!

First, my office hours are still in force--you can call or skype me with questions Friday mornings (9-11 am Mountain time) or send me a message and we can set an appointment to talk. I'm always glad to talk to students.

Second, I will be out of town visiting friends in the Seattle, WA area next week, so email responses will be delayed. You can still send signatures and logs to Kaylee, and I will respond starting on Friday, but don't be surprised if it takes me a few days to catch up! If you live near Seattle, I am meeting students for lunch on Monday, June 9--details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/251146958402892/ or send me an MCU message. Preceptors are welcome, too!

Finally, live sessions will be continuing later in June. Clinical Rounds presentations are planned for Tuesday and Wednesday, June 17 and 18 at noon and we'll have a live session on Preparing for Primary Births, Wednesday June 17 at 1 pm. And then a repeat of Starting Your Clinical Placement, Wednesday June 25 at 11 am. Remember, all times are in the Mountain time zone, convert as necessary.

See you soon!
Sarah Carter

Clinical Update May 13, 2014

Whew! Made it through the first week--now it's time to get down to business! I have a couple items of which I'd like you to be aware.

Bulletin Board
We have a bulletin board for CLNC 100 now where you can find up to date information about upcoming live sessions, links to helpful videos and post questions for me to answer or helpful tips for your classmates! There is also the Clinical Training Opportunities board, full of (you guessed it) Clinical Training Opportunities! Check it out!

Upcoming Live Sessions
Wednesday, May 14 @ 11:00am - Starting Clinical Placement (what you need to know about preceptors, applying to the program, and filling out paperwork as a student)
Wednesday, May 21 @ 9:00am - Clinical Orientation (introduction to the clinical program, required for new students)
Wednesday, May 28 @ 11:00am - Preparing to Apply for the NARM (how to apply for the NARM, change to electronic testing, completing the clinical requirements)
All times are Mountain Daylight Time Zone, and these sessions will be repeated during the semester.

Finally, I just want to thank everyone for their patience this week as I try to keep up with emails and messages. This is a very busy period and I'm not ignoring anyone, but some requests do take time to answer, so thank you for being patient with me.

Happy Summer!
Sarah Carter

Clinical Update May 6, 2014

Welcome to Summer Semester! Join me on the beach. I have new flipflops. We have lots of exciting live sessions happening this summer ---> see schedule over here.

There's no beach in Utah. Sorry. BUT, to review from last semester, with the new NARM electronic testing you can apply whenever you're ready and they will start assigning test dates when you are approved. If you've finished your clinical requirements and are within 6 months of graduation, download the Request for NARM Testing and send in your paperwork!

Don't forget as you sip your icy drink by the pool, Office Hours are Friday mornings (9-11 am Mountain time) and also, Clinical Placement Opportunities are now posted on the Bulletin Board: Clinical Training Opportunities. I will no longer be messaging these to you, so when you're looking for a placement, check the bulletin board!
Finally, I am still looking for students to present at Clinical Rounds this summer. What do you think? Sun in your hair, sand in your toes and a great presentation on a great prenatal, intrapartum or postpartum case. What could be more sensational?

Happy Summertime!
Sarah Carter

Clinical Update April 14, 2014

Winter Semester ends April 18th--there will be no office hours on April 25 and May 2 but they will start again on May 9th. If you are in Clinical Placement, please make sure you send in your end of semester paperwork (Evaluation Forms, Self-evaluation and Statement of Clinical Progress) INCLUDING CLINICAL HOUR TOTALS FROM YOUR HOUR LOGS. You can continue to log clinical hours during the break, just start Summer's log on April 19th. If you are not in clinical placement and you've completed your Orientation/Clinical Handbook quiz, you do not need to do anything else for this class this semester. Rest and be thankful.

Happy Spring! There are several Clinical Placement Opportunities posted on the Bulletin Board: Clinical Training Opportunities. I will no longer be messaging these to you, so when you're looking for a placement, check the bulletin board! I get requests for short- and long-term students all over the country and occasionally at approved international sites, so it's always worth checking!

You may have noticed that the Upcoming Events calendar no longer includes NARM application deadlines. That's because you can now apply to take the exam at any time. Send me your Request for Testing when you are ready!

We will be having our last Clinical Rounds of the semester on Thursday, April 17 at noon Mountain Daylight Time. Lindsay Vanderburg (formerly Novinger) will be presenting on Retained Placenta. Login instructions are in your email. If you're interested in presenting at Clinical Rounds in May, June or July, send me a quick email! I have several dates still available.

Enjoy the spring!
Sarah Carter

Clinical Update March 17, 2014

Lucky you! It's Postpartum Week for Clinical Rounds! (Like Shark Week, but with fewer teeth!)

We have three fantastic presentations planned:
Tue Mar 18 at 12:00 pm-Lisa Lycklama-Delayed Cord Clamping
Wed Mar 19 at 12:00 pm-Tina Craner-Postpartum Depression and Tongue Tie
Thu Mar 20, at 12:00 pm-Joella Pettigrew-Placentas

Those will all be starting at noon Mountain Daylight Time and the login information is in your email. Make sure you view the Clinical Rounds Ground Rules in the Digital Library before attending Rounds. We'd love to have you.

ALSO, I have openings for Clinical Rounds presentations in April. Contact me if you're interested!

And a hearty congratulations to our students who passed the NARM this spring: Brindie, Jenn, Tina and Mimi. NICE WORK!!!

Finally, a medium to long-term clinical placement is available in Virginia-Check your email for details and the online application link!

Have a great week everyone!

Sarah Carter

Clinical Update February 7, 2014

Very briefly, there is a long-term clinical opportunity in Meridian, Idaho. See the email attachment for details!

I'm pleased to report that a recording of the Clinical Orientation and Overview now exists on digital library under Training Materials. If you haven't had a chance to attend one this semester, you can watch the video, read the Clinical Handbook and complete your quiz for the Clinical Handbook assignment!

We have Clinical Rounds coming up February 18th at 12 noon,  the 19th at 11 am and the 20th at 12 noon. Don't forget to view the Ground Rules if you haven't already!

Have a wonderful weekend and best wishes to our students taking the NARM exam on the 19th!

Clinical Update January 22, 2014

Good morning, students!

Just a few notes as we finish January up.

First, there is a new form available for everyone currently in clinical placement called CLINICAL HOURS LOG. Please, if you're in a clinical placement, download it and start filling it out for this semester. In the past we've had students estimate the number of hours they spend on clinical work and by and large, students don't know what to include, leading to inaccurate estimates. I know no one loves more paperwork, but this is a simple page for recording the time you spend on clinical work each day, and what can be included in that. It's probably more than you think! At the end of the semester, you'll notice a change to your Statement of Clinical Progress. It now asks how many hours you spent on clinical work this term, so this log will be invaluable in answering that question, just like your experience logs help you with the other questions.

Second, an extra date for Clinical orientation has been opened for students who are opened CLNC 100 late or just had trouble getting into other sessions. These are a great opportunity for new students to get oriented to what they need to do as they get started!
The upcoming times are:
Friday, January 24 at noon or Wednesday, January 29 at 9 am (Mountain time).

Finally, I am tragically behind on email this week. I apologize. I am working through it and will respond to all messages. Remember office hours are Friday mornings and I would love to answer questions for you via skype or phone if you want to message me then!

All the best--stay warm!
Sarah Carter

Clinical Update January 15, 2014

Hello, lovely students!

A few things to be aware of for the rest of January:
1. The last Clinical Orientation session of the semester will be held Friday, January 24 at 12:00 noon (Mountain time zone). Every student in CLNC 100 needs to attend one of these sessions or read the handbook and take the online quiz. Believe me, the live session is easier AND you can ask questions and get an instant response!

2. Make sure you're turning in Clinical Training Agreements BEFORE you start a new clinical placement! I've been contacted by preceptors lately asking about students who are working with them and I have no idea about it because we've never received a Clinical Training Agreement. You must get these documents in before starting a placement!

3. Our first Clinical Rounds session for the semester is coming up: Wed Jan 22 at 12:00 pm. Sarah Simmons will be presenting on Preterm Labor.

 4. Before you attend Clinical Rounds, make sure you've viewed the Clinical Ground Rules Presentation:
http://prezi.com/fr5ikcdfhquj/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share 
You'll be able to read it most easily if you make it full screen--it takes about 15 minutes to view--just use the buttons at the bottom to navigate through the presentation.

 5. If you're planning on an International Clinical Placement in the coming semester or year, the ICP module is now available to take. We'll be starting a cohort on January 21, so if you're interested, let me know ASAP so I can get you in! That's everything.

Remember I have office hours Friday mornings and I'm always happy to get your messages and emails.

All the best, Sarah Carter

Welcome (Back) for Winter Semester!

Happy 2014 Everyone! As you can see, I've made a few changes on the blog to celebrate, including a new calendar on the blog with upcoming clinical department events.

It's that time of the semester for Clinical Orientation! I have these dates scheduled and everyone's invited. Orientation is especially for new students, but students who have done it before are always welcome back and it DOES fulfill your Clinical Handbook assignment. So come join us for any of these sessions!

Clinical Orientation

Thursday, January 9 at 1:00 pm
Wednesday, January 15 at 9:00 am
Friday, January 24 at 12:00 noon (all times Mountain time zone)

We have a great clinical rounds lineup this winter. If you'd like to present, I have a couple of openings in April too.

Clinical Rounds
Wed Jan 22 at 12:00 pm - Sarah Simmons-Preterm Labor
Tue Feb 18 at 12:00 pm - Brianna Curtis
Wed Feb 19 at 11:00 am - Jodi Borsk
Thu Feb 20 at 12:00 pm - Rebecca Porter
Tue Mar 18 at 12:00 pm - Lisa Lycklama-Delayed Cord Clamping
Wed Mar 19 at 12:00 pm - Tina Craner-Postpartum Depression and Tongue Tie
Thu Mar 20 at 12:00 pm - Joella Pettigrew

There will be a new and improved Clinical Ground Rules presentation available for download next Monday, January 13.

Finally, I am looking for a few students from each of the following states/provinces to write a short paragraph about what is required for a midwifery license/registration in your state, in addition to a CPM or graduating from MCU. If you're willing to help with this project (which will eventually benefit students and potential students from all over the US and Canada), send me a quick email saying where you're from and how familiar you are with the license/registration process in your area. I'm especially looking for students from Washington, Utah, California, Montana, Idaho and Alberta right now. Just send me a message with "STATE OF MIDWIFERY" and then your state or province in the subject line.