Our clinical program is based on the principles and philosophy of Apprenticeship Training. We believe that students are best equipped and trained by learning directly from experienced and qualified midwives.

Our clinical study differs from traditional midwifery schools in that;

• Our school provides students with licensed preceptors.
  
• We guarantee that each student will obtain the required clinical numbers within the allotted time.
  
• As a student, you are not required to find your own preceptor. You are also not required to pay any additional fee to our clinical preceptors.

Your tuition will cover the cost of your academic education along with your clinical training. You will begin your clinical training soon after you arrive at our facility. We believe in integrating the students into the clinical rotation as soon as possible.

Mentoring

Each student will be placed on a team with a qualified midwife supervisor. Teams are comprised of one or more supervisors, other mid-level midwifery staff and one or more students. Each team conducts a weekly prenatal clinic where new patients are attended. They also host the initial intake day when new prenatal patients are screened and examined. Teams are responsible to conduct and carry out the initial screening day once per month (approximately 40-50 new patients are accepted weekly). The team is also responsible for three 12 hour birth room shifts per week. During these shifts the students and other team members provide all labor, delivery and post partum care to any and all patients admitted to the clinic at that time.

Students are mentored through the entire process of each activity. Initially, students observe as supervisors or other qualified staff carry out the duties. Soon students are able to provide some hands on care with the oversight of trained staff and supervisors in all areas from prenatals to deliveries to post partum care. Students are given the opportunity to gain first hand knowledge by observation, participation and discussion as each of these services are carried out. The students develop great relationships and close bonds with the supervisors and other staff working on their team.

Student Involvement

Midwifery education is very much a hands-on clinical training education. Practical hands-on learning has been proven to be one of the best methods of teaching. Therefore, it is our aim and goal to integrate students immediately into our busy maternity clinic. Students are allowed to observe and participate in both prenatal and birth room activities as soon as they have arrived and are settled. This starts with the students working along side one of our trained midwife supervisors.

As the student observes and learns she is given more and more opportunities to participate in the care herself. Due to the very high numbers of patients we serve, students learn practical midwifery skills very quickly working alongside our supervisors. Since the majority of our patients are poor we deal with a large number of risk factors. This provides students with a significant amount of practical experience in dealing with complications and emergencies. Students gain tremendous confidence in their abilities to deal with life and death situations by the end of their schooling time.

Clinical Requirements

• Attend 30 births as an active participant.

• Attend an additional 20 births in the role of primary midwife.* At least 5 of these births you must provide continuity of care. Continuity of care includes 4 prenatal visits, birth, newborn exam and at least 1 postpartum exam.

• Complete 100 prenatal visits (including 20 initial exams)

• Complete 25 newborn exams

• Complete 40 postpartum exams

• Complete 30 well woman exams/family planning consultations

*You provide all aspects of care as if you were the primary midwife, although a supervising midwife has primary responsibility and is present in the room during any care provided.