Two Pills Tips: You'll Thank Yourself for Self-Reflection!
You have finished with students/residents/learners! Or you’re almost there! While everything is fresh, this is the perfect time to reflect on your experience as a preceptor and consider changes for next year. You will likely receive formal evaluation feedback from students , but self-reflection is key. This tip will discuss some questions to ask yourself to honestly self-evaluate your performance in guiding students on rotations.
Was I prepared for the rotation?
Preliminary schedule created
Key people informed that the learner is coming
My schedule adjusted to accommodate learner
Is there anything you want to include for next year?
Anything you would like to remove?
Was it well-organized?
Did I make the learner feel welcome?
Orienting him/her to the site
Introducing them to key people
For me, also means orienting them to the electronic medical record
Could I create resources/schedules/handouts to make this easier? (Key phone numbers, areas of the EMR frequently visited, etc)
Did I set individualized goals for students at the beginning of the rotation?
Many schools require learning plans for students. I also require a pretest at the beginning of the rotation and have students self-identify learning areas. We reflect back on these goals throughout the rotation to keep them accountable.
Did I act as a role model throughout?
Did I provide regular feedback?
Was it both positive and constructive?
Was it on a regular basis?
Did I encourage the learner to self-evaluate his/her own performance?
Were the methods I used to teach/question the most effective?
Did I use thought provoking questions to link learner’s previous courses to current experience?
Was student progress observed?
Did I feel confident in my knowledge and abilities in guiding a learner? What steps can I take to improve as a preceptor?
Review student evaluations for themes-not just outliers. What do I plan to do to address these areas for improvement and feedback received?
Consider these questions and I recommend making any changes now. You will thank yourself when you have your next set of learners! Thank you for tuning in to Two Pills Podcast!
