Regional Clinical Faculty

Statement of Purpose

Regional Clinical Faculty (RCF) advises, supports, evaluates, and educates students. This is done through a variety of methodologies, including in person, over the phone, and in written documentation. The RCF also supports clinical preceptor faculty in keeping with the policies established by the program to insure an effective clinical experience for the students. The RCF provides leadership in establishing relationships within the nurse-midwifery/ nurse-practitioner community to further the goal of increased access to clinical sites for Frontier Nursing University (FNU), and to insure the larger goal of access to nurse-midwifery/nurse-practitioner care for an increasing number of families.

Major Tasks, Duties, and Responsibilities

General

• Ambassador for FNU

  • Represents FNU in the nurse-midwifery and/ or nurse practitioner community by attending appropriate local chapter meetings.
  • Helps to recruit students by participating in area conferences and professional meetings.
  • Cultivates relationships with existing and potential preceptor sites in the region.
• Attends faculty meetings and annual commencement.
• Maintains professional memberships including appropriate continuing education.
• Develops a scholarly agenda and participates in community service.
• Participates in standing or ad hoc committees as assigned.
• Prepares a yearly budget based on projected caseload.
• Participates in annual self-evaluation of performance.
• Participates in orientation and support of new RCFs.
• Maintains knowledge of and competency in FNU procedures, communication systems, and technologies.
• Provides students, preceptors, and interested nurses with regional gatherings and/or Case Presentation Days one to two times a year.
• Teaches on campus for assigned clinical bound sessions.

Student Involvement – Pre-admission

• Provides information to nurses who wish to apply to the program.

Student Involvement – Pre-clinical

• Provides students with program information through letters, Banyan Tree messages, or telephone contact.
• Contact with student upon entering FNU to discuss role of RCF and general plans for clinical practicum. This contact is initiated by the RCF after Frontier Bound.
• Review of plans for clinical practicum approximately six months prior to Clinical Bound.
• Approves clinical sites submission by student in the Clinical Plan database..
• Assignment of Clinical Bound date for students following completion of clinical site approval.
• Transition to Clinical Interview telephone contact with each student the term before Clinical Bound to discuss planned clinical sites, and overview of plans for clinical rotation.

Student Involvement – Clinical

• Advises student during clinical phase by communicating at least every other week by phone, video conferencing or email.
• Reviews and evaluates documentation, including MDATs, DDATs, Reflections, SOAP notes, continuity clients for the CNMs, clinical numbers (hours and patient encounters) at least twice monthly and reviews COI reflections as indicated.
• Maintains contact with student’s clinical preceptor at least monthly while student is in clinical.
• Does on-site evaluation of student, clinical site, and preceptor in order to participate in the student’s formative evaluation.
• Assigns clinical grades in coordination with Clinical Director.
• Participates in reviewing the student’s clinical case presentation and charting during the site visit.
• Provides student with encouragement and direction during clinical education.
• Advises student for course registration in terms following Clinical Bound.
• Works with student and Clinical Director to help student maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Coordinates end of clinical details.

Clinical Problem Solving

• Works with student and preceptor to identify clinical problems using the Developmental Assessment Tool (DAT). May consult with Clinical Director if indicated by seriousness of clinical problem. At this time, a determination will be made regarding the need for Problem ID sheet, Learning Plan or Performance Plan.

• Works with preceptor and student to complete Problem Identification Sheet as indicated.
• Works with preceptor and student to design student’s Learning Plan as indicated.
• Maintains at least weekly contact with student and preceptor until problems are satisfactorily resolved when indicated.
• Provides Clinical Director with a copy of the Learning Plan when indicated.
• Does on site evaluation of student in clinical site and provides feedback to student and preceptor; In the case of unsatisfactory clinical performance, a second site visit may be indicated.
• Maintains close contact with the Clinical Director during problem solving in the Learning Plan phase and assists in the identification of students who need Performance Plans.
• Works with the Clinical Director in designing a Performance Plan for a student with unsatisfactory clinical performance or other clinical issues.
• Monitors Performance Plans for students in clinicals in collaboration with the Clinical Director.
• Provides student with guidance and support during clinical problem solving.
• Validates that all end of clinical paperwork is complete and appropriately submitted within 2 weeks of completing clinical hours.

Clinical Site Evaluation

• Ensures that clinical sites comply with FNU guidelines for a clinical site by doing a site evaluation and submits the report according to policy.
• Performs in person pre-clinical site evaluation on primary sites not visited by FNU faculty within the last three years or where there have been significant changes. Any deviation from this time frame must be approved on an individual basis by the appropriate Clinical Director.

Preceptor Support

• Provides preceptors with guidance in student clinical issues such as scheduling, identifying learning style needs, and identifying special student needs.
• Encourages preceptor to participate in Preceptor Training, providing the link to The Gift of Precepting.. The RCF ensures the preceptor has access to The Gift of Precepting and provides clarification of FNU policies and procedures.
• Invites preceptors to Case Presentation Days and other appropriate FNU events.
• Educates preceptors about mechanisms available for dealing with student problems.
• Coordinates the signing of the Declaration of Safety document and other end of program details.

Qualifications

• Nationally certified in nurse-midwifery, family nurse practitioner, or appropriate advanced practice role. Appropriate continuing education program enrollment.
• Active in nurse-midwifery or nurse practitioner community.
• Doctorate in Nursing or related field.
• Experience precepting students.
• Skilled in communication, problem solving, computer literacy, management, and organization preferred.

Reporting Relationship

• The Regional Clinical Faculty reports to Clinical Director based on specialty area.