First of all, I would figure out what I want to do and become before beginning. I would have a clear vision of my goals and expectations so that my preceptor would understand how serious I was about learning. Then I would be better at communicating. I would be honest about who I am, what I can do, what I know and don’t know, and what I hope to learn. I would communicate from the beginning about those expectations, disappointments, fears, concerns, and things I was learning. I would not be afraid to ask tons of questions until I completely understood various concepts, skills and situations that are crucial to know. I would realize that it’s okay to not know everything at first and that my preceptor can’t know what I don’t know unless I ask questions.
Secondly, I would overcome my fear of trying new things. I tended to always let my preceptor do the stuff I didn’t particularly like or feel comfortable with (newborn screening, blood draws, vaginal exams, etc.), so it took me much longer to learn these skills than it should have. I wish I had more consistently made an honest effort when my preceptor asked me if I’d like to do something. I would also be humble enough to take constructive criticism and work on improving. My preceptor often told me I needed to become more aggressive or assertive, and I struggled to not be offended by that, to trust her judgment and to understand why she was encouraging that. I am a pretty gentle person by nature and this was hard for me, but when I made the effort to do better at taking charge, not only did our relationship improve, but my abilities also reached a much higher level.
Next, I would understand that it’s okay for me to develop my own way of doing things. Each preceptor likes things done a certain way and when working for and with them, it’s important to do things the way they want them done. But I wish I had learned sooner that I can develop my own style without being a threat to my preceptor. When I did learn this, her respect for me increased, which allowed my self-respect to also improve.
I would also work on being more forgiving – of my preceptor and myself. There are good and bad prenatal days. Days are often long, and nights even longer at a birth and people are sometimes on edge when things are not perfect at a birth. Instead of being overly sensitive, resentful, or frustrated if my preceptor snapped at me or seemed annoyed, I would realize that she is most likely just stressed about the situation and it will blow over. I would try harder to look for the good and focus on the positive. I would forgive myself for making mistakes and for taking longer to do things than my preceptor who has over 40 years of experience more than I have.
I would definitely do better with my paperwork. I would understand the requirements thoroughly so that there wouldn’t be surprises when I got to the end. I would review and discuss skills at each clinic day, if possible, and have my preceptor sign the skills and visits at the time they occur. (This will save you countless hours, trust me!)
There are other things I would change, but these are some of the things that have made my experience as a student midwife wonderful and fulfilling.
