Clinical Update: Every Mother Counts

This isn't a personal blog. I don't usually talk about my personal experiences or feelings here. But I'm going to today, because this is too important not to talk about.

When I was about 17, my dad took me to see the movie Schindler's List. He said, "We don't usually see movies like this (my parents were very strict about media consumption) but I feel like we have a responsibility, as people of German descent, to see this, to bear witness. Because the Holocaust happened, and because our ancestors were part of it, we have a responsibility to bear witness and make sure it never happens again." It was a sobering thought for a high schooler who grew up in a safe, comfortable world.

So why do I bring this up?

Because one of my colleagues shared this link with me:

http://dooce.com/2015/10/21/the-women-who-inspire-me-to-run/

and reminded me that once again I find myself part of a privileged class, bearing witness as racially biased, systemic violence occurs to women and their children in the US and around the world. And I have a choice--to turn away and pretend I don't see or am unable to help, or to try to intervene, to do something to save lives and prevent harm.

It's tempting to turn away. It's frightening and uncomfortable to see this happening. It hurts and it is frightening to look at this, to acknowledge that I might be even a small part of the problem. It would be easier to turn away. It would be easier not see.

But I see. If you're willing to see too, you can watch the video below, or visit:

http://www.everymothercounts.org/pages/giving-birth-in-america

Today, I'm donating my income, the money I make--just today, to help. That's something I can do. It's not an enormous, big step, but it's something I can do right now, today. I'd encourage you to look at what you can do, whether it's volunteering in your own community, donating to a scholarship fund to help us get more midwives of color serving women of color, or helping Every Mother Counts.

This matters. We have a responsibility to mothers, as women, as human beings to bear witness and to hear our conscience voices. We have a responsibility to help. They need our help.

Overcoming Difficulties in Clinical Work

This helpful post comes to us from Jen Bertagnole, who will be graduating soon!

Clinical work can be rewarding and difficult.  What better way to solidify the knowledge you are gaining through schoolwork by putting it into practice in your clinical experiences?  Many times, students excitedly anticipate a clinical placement, only to encounter disheartening difficulties that can side-track them in their progress.  Here are a few suggestions in overcoming difficulties in clinical placements.

1. Be honest with yourself, your family, MCU and your preceptor about your readiness for an apprenticeship.  It was difficult for me to get my first preceptor to accept me as a student.  Four days before I was to finally start working with her, my adult stepson was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  I agonized about putting off a clinical placement that had been so difficult for me to secure.  However, I knew that it would be nearly impossible for me to juggle clinical work with this unexpected situation and everything else in my life.  I sent my preceptor an email, explaining the situation.  She was exceptionally understanding and allowed me to start my clinical work a couple of months later when my son’s health was more stable.

2.  Reach out to MCU and your preceptor when a life change occurs.  This can be a health issue, miscarriage, move, a change in marital status, death of a friend or family, etc.  Do not let pride, embarrassment, etc. keep you from being extremely honest with those that are helping you achieve your goals of becoming a midwife.  Even if you do not think the life event will impact your clinical or didactic work, REACH OUT.  Contact your house mother if you need help in doing this.   She can either help you reach out to teachers, the clinical dean, your preceptors, etc. or she can just touch base for a period of time to see how the life change is affecting your clinical work.

3. Look and think outside of the box.  I had wanted to apprentice with a local birth center but could not afford the fee they charged students.  For months I hoped for a way to make it happen.  Finally, I got the nerve to contact them and asked if I could work with them during the holidays for a reduction in of their fees.  To my surprise, they eagerly agreed, as out-of-town students rarely want to come during the holiday period.  If you never ask, the answer is always no.  Do not hold yourself back!!

4. Address problems in your preceptorship as they arise, with your preceptor in an honest, open way, away from clinical work, if possible. Do not take things personally, even if they are meant personally. A crucial part of your learning is knowing how to communicate in a professional, appropriate way. If you are concerned about your ability to do this, consider taking COMM 114: Communication Skills prior to beginning your clinical work.

5. Know ethical and unethical behavior, how to address ethical questions and the laws of the state in which you are apprenticing.  Courtney Everson is an excellent resource for discussing ethical issues that you may be uncertain about how to manage.  While you are certainly accountable to your preceptor, do not forget your responsibility to the client and (just as important), to yourself.  If you are uncertain about ethics and the laws regarding midwifery care, consider taking SOSC302, Ethics & the Law in Midwifery, before beginning your clinical work.

So often students eagerly look forward to beginning their clinical experiences without considering the difficult work that it can sometimes be.  While it is certainly rewarding, be honest with yourself about your readiness to add such responsibilities to your current life.  Being aware of some of the difficulties one can encounter during a clinical placement and how to address them can help you better navigate this exciting time in your midwifery career.

Clinical Tips: Things I Would do if I Could Start Over

Senior student Robin Belliston will be graduating soon and shared these tips with new clinical students:

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.

Clinical Update: September 3, 2015

Welcome Back!

Just a couple quick notes as we start the new semester. If you are on clinical warning or probation, PLEASE contact Kaylee about resolving it. We want you to succeed!

Also, take a moment and make sure you've completed your Clinical Handbook assignment. All students need to do this assignment, whether it's your first semester or your last!

And REMEMBER! Clinical Training Agreements must be turned in before you start logging experiences. Take the time to go over and sign these agreements with preceptors before you start your placement--they are for your protection!

There are a LOT of Upcoming Events to look forward to this month:

CLINICAL ROUNDS
Clinical Rounds-Kassia Walcott-(not so) Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn
Wednesday, September 9, 2015, 12:00 pm Mountain Time 

CLINICAL ORIENTATION
For new students and anyone who would like a reminder of the clinical program and how it works.
Monday, September 14, 2015 at 1:00 pm Mountain Time
Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 10:00 am Mountain Time

STARTING YOUR CLINICAL PLACEMENT
This is a session for students who are starting or about to start their first clinical placement this semester. We'll go over applying to the clinical program, preceptor approval, clinical training agreements and filling out log forms.
Monday, September 14, 2015 at 10:00 am Mountain Time
Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 1:00 pm Mountain Time

PREPARING FOR PRIMARY BIRTHS
This is a session for students who are hoping to start primary births in the next year. We'll go over what classes, skills and forms need to be sent in to be approved for primary births, and what forms students will want to have once they begin that phase.
Monday, September 21, 2015 at 11:00 am Mountain Time
Monday, September 28, 2015 at 1:00 pm Mountain Time

APPLYING FOR THE NARM EXAM
Understand what forms need to be completed and sent where to apply to take the NARM exam.
Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 1:00 pm Mountain Time
Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at 10:00 am Mountain Time

And finally,

OFFICE HOURS this semester will be Mondays from 1-3 pm Mountain time (although not Labor Day!)


Have a wonderful September!

Clinical Update August 10, 2015

Just a few notes and reminders as we finish this semester!

 ###All Students###
REMEMBER! Clinical Training Agreements must be turned in before you start logging experiences. Take the time to go over and sign these agreements with preceptors before you start your placement--they are for your protection!

Also, please plan to complete your "Preparing for Successful Preceptorship" assignment BEFORE starting your first clinical placement if at all possible. Already started your placement? Do it now! These modules are very helpful and can help you get ready as you're completing your clinical application. I guarantee these are not busy work or extra paperwork--they are brief lessons that will really help you have a great clinical experience and solve problems that can arise with preceptors BEFORE they start.

###New Students###
Please take a moment and make sure you've completed your Clinical Handbook assignment before this semester ends. The Clinical Handbook and Clinical Orientation recording is available to help you in your CLNC 100 class! This should be done BEFORE your first semester ends, so if you haven't done it, the time is now!

 ###Students in Clinical Placement###
Don't forget to complete your Statements of Clinical Progress, Self Evaluation and Preceptor Evaluations and ask your preceptor to complete their evaluation of you too!

If you have applied to the clinical program but weren't in clinical placement this semester, just fill out the statement of clinical progress and let us know that!

 Have a great last week of the semester and finish strong--you can do it!
 Sarah Carter

Clinical Update July 29, 2015

The dog days of summer, indeed!

Just a few reminders as we approach the last few weeks of the semester:
1. New Students (and old students too)
Make sure you've completed CLNC 100's orientation questions from the clinical handbook (Section 2) before the semester ends. You can use the recorded Clinical Orientation videos in Class Files for help!

2. Upcoming Clinical Rounds
Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 12 noon MDT, Jen Bertagnole presenting on Urachus. This will be the last clinical rounds for this semester. I am taking reservations for September and October if you are planning to present during Fall Semester--just send me a message with the week you'd like to present and your case topic.

3. NARM Requirements Update
<<<THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL STUDENTS TO READ AND BE AWARE OF>>>
NARM has recently updated their requirements to include this:
"Regardless of when a student started the program, ... a minimum of 10 of the 25 Primary Under Supervision births must be attended in the US or Canada regardless of route of entry. (effective date for MEAC students- January 1, 2016)"

For most of our students, this makes no difference at all, but if you are an international student (outside the US or Canada) or otherwise have questions about how this policy change may affect you, please contact me ASAP and we can talk about your situation. If I've already contacted you and we've already talked about it, nothing has changed!

4. End of Semester
Don't forget, if you're in clinical placement, you need to complete the end of semester "paperwork" online and your preceptor(s) should complete their evaluations of you, online or on paper if they prefer. Turning in evaluations on time means Kaylee and I can spend our semester break with cold fruity drinks in our hands and our feet in a pool. Or, at least that we don't have to send reminder emails and clinical warning notices to students.

Have a fantastic rest of your summer!

Clinical Update May 22, 2015

Welcome to Summer!
Hopefully you're enjoying your semester and making time for relaxing fun over this long weekend. It's been an unusually wet spring in Utah and we're looking forward to some sun! This clinical update comes to you in seven very special parts.

1. Clinical Orientation
For new students (and students who'd like a review), one more session of Clinical Orientation is still available: Wednesday, May 27, 2015 10:00 AM MDT. See your upcoming events board for details and the link to sign up.
If you are unable to attend a live orientation, you can download and view a recording (in Class Documents for CLNC 100, under Recorded Live Sessions).

2. Optional Live Sessions
We also have 2 optional Live Sessions being scheduled for later this month. They are for specific situations, so if they seem applicable to you this semester, please plan to attend. They will be recorded for later viewing as well!
-Starting Your Clinical Placement
This is a session for students who are starting or about to start their first clinical placement. We'll go over applying to the clinical program, preceptor approval, clinical training agreements and filling out log forms.
-Preparing for Primary Births
This is a session for students who are hoping to start primary births in the next year. We'll go over what classes, skills and forms need to be sent in to be approved for primary births, and what forms students will want to have once they begin that phase.

3. Clinical Training Opportunities
Check the bulletin board titled Clinical Training Opportunities--I’m always posting new opportunities around the country for students seeking clinical placement. In the last month we've seen clinical opportunities in Oregon, Washington, Michigan and I just posted another in Virginia.

4. Upcoming Rounds Sessions
Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at 11:00 am MDT ViviAnne Fischer will be presenting and Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at 10:00 am MDT Karin Peacock will be presenting. See the Upcoming events bulletin boards for signup links to these presentation. There was a Clinical Rounds scheduled for next week, but we needed to move it to July 1. These are going to be great presentations--please plan to join us if you can!

5. OFFICE HOURS this semester will be Mondays from 1-3 pm Mountain time (although not Memorial Day!). You can also call our shiny new clinical extension and someone from the clinical department will respond to you ASAP.

6. Just a reminder, all of your “assignments” for CLNC 100 and any lab classes should be uploaded via the class as PDF files if possible. If you need to send a file you can’t upload or send multiple files, please send them to Clinical Dean Assistant (Kaylee Ridd).

7. Finally: You can visit the Clinical Department blog for updates like these as well as helpful tips, events and news. The address is: http://midwifingmidwives.blogspot.com/ and I highly recommend bookmarking or subscribing to it--it has pictures!