Precepting Challenge: Helping the Student Attain the Affective Skills of a Good Midwife

Abstract

Preparing students for a career in midwifery is a rewarding venture. The knowledge and techniques necessary to meet the requirements of a safe, beginning-level practitioner are familiar to experienced midwives. It is common for students to achieve learning outcomes in the classroom (actual or virtual) but struggle in the clinical setting. Other students may struggle academically but perform smoothly and comfortably when they apply knowledge and skills in the clinical setting. The cognitive and psychomotor domains of learning are represented by a student's application of knowledge and performance of skills. Affective skills of caring and professionalism are equally important. Research that describes characteristics of what is considered a good midwife identifies affective characteristics associated with effective midwifery practice. By attending equally to all domains of learning, the preceptor can more effectively support the student in attainment of the skills, values, and beliefs that make a good midwife. This article focuses on the acquisition of affective skills by students in the clinical setting. When affective skills are well developed, they require little attention, but if they are not, the recognition and remediation can be a difficult task for the preceptor. Acquisition of affective skills in the realms of caring and professionalism are necessary for midwifery practice. Effective teaching techniques and knowledge of the affective domain enhance the preceptors' ability to evaluate and remediate deficiencies.

Keywords: affective domain; clinical teaching; midwife; midwifery; midwifery education; precepting; preceptor; student.