Clinical Preceptors
As an apprenticeship-based midwifery education program, a student’s clinical preceptor plays a crucial role in that student’s midwifery education and training. NMI’s precepting faculty are tasked with teaching the hands-on midwifery skills that are fundamental in the transformation each student makes from student into midwife. In keeping with our mission to provide decentralized midwifery education, with most midwifery students working in their own communities, NMI does not provide students with clinical placements. Rather, NMI students are responsible for finding and securing their own preceptorships. Typically, NMI students work with a single preceptor, who teaches all essential clinical skills to the student. However, some students work in multi-preceptor practices, or apprentice with two midwifery practices at the same time. NMI supports the primacy of the student-preceptor relationship and allows preceptor-student pairs to create their best arrangements for their work together.
Precepting Faculty Requirements
National Midwifery Institute is an equal opportunity employer and educational institution. There shall be no discrimination against any employee, applicant for employment, preceptor, or any student on any basis including actual or perceived sex, gender identity, race, color, marital status, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or disability. This non-discrimination policy applies to all educational policies and programs and to all terms and conditions of employment, which include (but are not limited to): recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, benefits, promotions, disciplinary actions and termination.
Precepting faculty for National Midwifery Institute must be credentialed health professionals providing primary care for pregnancy and birth in an out-of-hospital setting, including postpartum care, newborn care., and reproductive health family planning care. They may be midwives (LMs, RMs, CMs, CPMs, CNMs), family practice physicians, obstetricians, or other care providers authorized to provide maternity care. Contact NMI today to discuss your qualifications!
All precepting faculty must:
Agree to uphold NMI Program Goals, Philosophy and Purpose Statement, and Mission Statement;
Demonstrate an effective teaching style, incorporating student input and feedback;
Work cooperatively with other faculty;
Maintain updated clinical skills meeting current program goals;
Complete cultural sensitivity/diversity training or course work;
Evaluate student progress according to the required schedule;
Complete and document 30 hours of continuing education every three years (consistent with NARM CEU policy);
Maintain a professional ethic (as defined by the MANA Statement of Values and Ethics), upholding student confidentiality at all times;
Agree to participate in conflict resolution, utilizing the program’s Grievance Mechanism as necessary;
Respond appropriately to the suggestions arising from the annual NMI program review;
Be in active practice in an out-of-hospital setting;
Be certified/licensed/registered by a mechanism recognized in their jurisdiction, or maintain the CPM credential where midwifery is not regulated and not prohibited by enforcement of existing law;
Periodically attend peer review. Preceptors are encouraged to include students in routine peer review, if acceptable within the local midwifery community.
In addition, as precepting midwives observe and document increasing skill in their students, they are expected to respond by making additional responsibilities and practice opportunities available to students in a timely fashion.
Preceptor Payment
Most preceptors realize adequate exchange with an apprentice via assistance with the practice. However, it is possible that a preceptor will charge a student additional fees. Students are responsible for this as a separate agreement.
Preceptor Paperwork
Students are responsible for keeping track of all clinical experience in observe, assist, and primary phases and documenting experience properly. NMI currently supplies students with paper forms to obtain signatures to verify skills and client interactions. In the near future, the option of electronic documentation will become available to students and preceptors who elect this option. Original signatures on forms will still be required per MEAC and NARM requirements.
Integrating Academic and Clinical Experiences
Knowledge and skills gained in the didactic/course work portion of the program prepare students for active participation during the apprenticeship experience. Through a joint process of preceptor and self evaluation, students document their accomplishments and progress towards meeting NMI program objectives and mastering MANA core competencies. Educational and Clinical Directors at NMI help bridge these aspects of student education and counsel students regarding the integration of skills, knowledge, wisdom, and intuition.
Resources for Preceptors
NMI Handbook
The NMI Handbook provides details on NMI’s Mission, Goals, Philosophy and Purpose, as well as basic orientation to NMI policies.
NMI Faculty Preceptor Handbook
For a more in-depth orientation to precepting for National Midwifery Institute students please review NMI’s Faculty Preceptor Handbook .
Supporting Preceptor as Educator
NMI was founded to preserve community-based midwifery education by developing curriculum that enhances and supports the apprenticeship model. NMI supports preceptors with resources relevant to adult education and ways to precept students effectively.
Access to MEDLINE with Full Text
All NMI students and faculty, including active clinical preceptors, have access to NMI’s institutional subscription to MEDLINE with Full Text, to aid in enriching student research and up-to-date clinical practice guidelines informed by experience, intuition, and evidence.
Copyright Resources
NMI provides resources related to copyright online for all prospective and current faculty on our Faculty Copyright Resources page. All faculty and staff at National Midwifery Institute are required to comply with NMI’s Copyright Policy and Procedures, specified on our Copyright Resources page. One training/professional development opportunity is scheduled by NMI each year to cover the basics of Copyright, the Doctrine of Fair Use, and NMI Copyright Policy and Procedures. Although attendance is mandatory for academic faculty, NMI recognizes that the constraints and demands of clinical practice often prohibit clinical faculty from attending live sessions. As such, clinical faculty are exempt from in-person training; instead, NMI provides preceptors with online content on Copyright, the Doctrine of Fair Use, and NMI Copyright Policy. All preceptors are required to initial and sign a Copyright Policy Statement as part of their acceptance process with NMI.
NMI maintains a web resource for prospective and current faculty members to provide orientation to copyright, the doctrine of fair use, and NMI’s Copyright Policy and Procedures. View the web resource here.
To learn more, view the NMI Handbook.
