2.3 PSW Fanshawe Clinical Instructor
PSW Fanshawe Clinical Instructor Role
A Fanshawe College Faculty member assigned to a group of PSW Students to deliver, facilitate, support, teach, and evaluate the PSW students’ professional practice clinical placement experience. This role will involve bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and applying it in a practical setting. Clinical instructors will facilitate students’ progress and prepare them to meet their professional practice competencies and skills as personal support workers. The Clinical Instructor will oversee students in a Long-Tern Care Setting (first placement).
Instructor Expectations
- Attend PSW team meetings led by the PSW program co-ordinator.
- Familiarize yourself with the Professional Practice agency setting by attending orientation with students, introducing yourself to staff, and requesting a tour of the facility (before the start of the course).
- Attend the student Clinical Orientation on campus at the beginning of the semester.
- Connect with the PSW students frequently and communicate expectations for the Clinical Professional Practice Placement.
- Seek out professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge of the PSW’s role and strengthen understanding of teaching and learning.
- Facilitate and engage students in the Professional Practice Course Resources hub, additional learning, and resources.
- Guide the student in becoming confident in completing the domains of practice competencies in the PSW Professional Practice Placement Curriculum.
- Communicate expectations for the PSW Professional Practice Placement.
- Be available to answer questions and teach/guide the PSW students in practice and skills.
- Review, evaluate, and grade all Clinical Professional Practice requirements in partnership with the PSW agency mentors/preceptors.
- Review the PSW Clinical Professional Practice curriculum.
- Review and apply policies, procedures, and everyday tasks in the clinical setting.
- Bring forth clinical and instructional knowledge of providing client care.
- Exhibit an approachable and receptive demeanour to students’ learning needs, and provides continuous support.
- Be a positive role model displaying enthusiasm, positivity, and caring attributes, and portraying an enthusiastic, positive, and passionate display of the profession of Personal Support Workers.
- Collaborate with students, agency mentors, agency staff and the program coordinator.
- Know the procedures to follow if they are ill or students are sick, there is an agency outbreak, inclement weather, and be responsible for creating a student contact plan.
- Collaborate successfully with placement administrators and staff, and the Fanshawe College Placement coordinator and program coordinator.
- Support student achievement by initiating a Collaborative Success Plan and notifying the program coordinator when a student is at risk.
- Enter final grades in the Fanshawe College learning management system and WebAdvisor.
- Remain registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
- Remain up-to-date with mask fit testing, immunizations, and CPR certifications.
- Complete learning modules required by Fanshawe College (e-learning).
For further exploration of the Clinical Instructor role, review Sherri Melrose Publications: A Virtual Memory Box – Chapter 11.
