Student Rights and Responsibilities
Students have the right:
to be treated according to behavioral guidelines established by the MANA Statement of Values and Ethics (see Appendix A9, MANA Statement of Values and Ethics).
to be treated without discrimination on any basis including actual or perceived sex, gender identity, race, color, marital status, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or disability.
to receive opportunities for clinical midwifery experiences commensurate with previous experience and anticipated program length.
to self-determination in defining their current learning objectives and goals for acquiring clinical midwifery experience.
to be excused from clinical duties due to death in the family, a sick family member, or other extenuating circumstances to be fairly negotiated with the preceptor.
to bathroom and lunch breaks in the course of a workday.
to be informed of any deficits in their performance as determined by preceptor, with clear guidelines for remediation, as long as this feedback is given privately and not in the presence of clients.
to give feedback to preceptor regarding any questions or disagreements with preceptor’s decisions in caregiving, as long as this feedback is given privately and not in the presence of clients.
Students are required to:
Maintain a professional ethic (as defined by the MANA Statement of Values and Ethics), upholding instructor and preceptor confidentiality at all times;
Agree to participate in conflict resolution, utilizing the program’s Grievance Mechanism as necessary.
Students are expected to submit course work according to NMI’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Students are also expected to be respectful and assertive in obtaining their education, asking questions of both academic and clinical faculty until they are satisfied that they have the correct information and understand it. Students are responsible for full participation and engagement with the resources provided and recommended by clinical and academic faculty. If a student’s work does not demonstrate comprehension or mastery of a topic, it is returned with feedback and must be resubmitted. Students will be notified of any revisions in course work and will be expected to complete the updated version if the update is significant, or if the student has been enrolled beyond 7 years as part of Continued Enrollment Beyond 7 Years Policy.
Once a student and preceptor agree to work together, they complete and sign the NMI Apprentice/Preceptor Work Agreement and Informed Consent Worksheet. This document must include the following information regarding the preceptor’s practice:
philosophy
experience and training
certification and licensure status
legal standing in the context of preceptor’s location and scope of practice
malpractice insurance status
number of clients both for the previous year and the current year
number of midwifery students the preceptor has trained
number of midwifery students the preceptor takes into the practice at a time (with breakdown of learning opportunities for each student)
While precepting, student midwives are introduced to their preceptor’s clients as members of the care team, but clients must be fully informed of the student’s apprenticeship status and must give consent to the student midwife’s participation in their care.
Student midwives are encouraged to actively participate in professional organizations such as CAM, MANA, and ACNM, as a means of acquiring a broad view of midwifery practice and politics while networking with other midwifery students.
Evaluation Protocols
During clinical training, preceptor and student jointly evaluate student progress regarding skills successfully acquired and those requiring further development. Students and preceptors meet to present and discuss their evaluations on the following schedule: at the close of the initial three-month period, and then every three months UNTIL the student has begun student-primary care under preceptor supervision. Once the student has begun student-primary care under preceptor supervision, these evaluations occur after every five births. Completing a formal skills evaluation after every 5 births as student-primary midwife under preceptor supervision documents skills attainment over time. It also provides opportunity for student-preceptor pairs to identify strengths as well as areas where growth and improvement are needed as students move forward in their training. The preceptor completes a final summative skills evaluation when a student is competent to receive a rating of 4 on all required skills.
Preceptors may recommend specific course work modules for the student to complete to enhance knowledge and competency as they progress toward mastery of the skills and knowledge necessary for entry-level midwifery practice: these recommendations are shared with the student and the student’s Course Work Instructor during each evaluation cycle. Preceptors and Course Work Instructors may also discuss student progress with each other at any time as requested by the preceptor and/or course work instructor in order to best support each student’s learning. Faculty are encouraged to suggest revisions in mechanisms for evaluating students when completing the annual NMI program review, provided as an online survey each year by May 5th (International Midwives Day).
Apprenticing students submit self and preceptor evaluations on the following schedule: at the close of the initial three month period, and then every three months UNTIL the student has begun student-primary care under preceptor supervision. Once the student has begun student-primary care under preceptor supervision, these evaluations occur after every five births.
Student evaluation of faculty is integral to assessing faculty performance and facilitating an egalitarian learning experience and working relationship. Faculty are expected to demonstrate responsiveness to the feedback and individual learning needs of their students. Should a serious disagreement develop between a student and instructor, both will participate in conflict resolution, either through mediation or the program’s Grievance Mechanism.
