Taylor Rackey
CLNC 2030
The winter 2020 semester was by far one of the most challenging of clinicals that I have
ever had, for an abundance of different reasons. While the beginning of the term started “nomal,”
with extended classes and overwhelming feelings, no one knew that a global pandemic was just
around the corner. From lifestyle changes to clinical changes, is it quite possible that every
aspect of normal that we knew was somehow impacted or changed. I choose to continue my
placement at a high-volume birth center and be a frontline healthcare worker for the families we
I have seen a significant change in how I have improved as a midwife over this most
recent term, juggling more roles and responsibility before moving into the final skills of phase
two. Starting in March, I began preparing each chart for the clients that would be seen in clinic,
which took a level of diligence and time management to ensure that each chart was thorough,
correct, and on-time ready for the appointment. This process includes entering the clients
allergies, significant events of their pregnancy, previous medical history that may impact their
care or pregnancy, what the client stated at the last appointment, while ensuring terms are
vitals, asking all questions that are prompted by EMR, charting the client’s answers, following
our practice’s individualized check-list dependent on gestational week, obtaining and blood
draws and performing physical exams as necessary, palpating, measuring, and listening to fetal
heart tones. Outside of appointments, I am required to send faxes for ultrasound requests, fill out
requisition sheets for lab draws or ultrasounds, communicate with other providers for test results,
Challenges that I have encountered within my clinical placement have only been limited
to not advancing in skills as fast as I likey should have intended to be. I have maintained a sweet
and comfortable spot where I wait to be invited to perform new skills, instead of asking to
perform new skills and further my hands-on learning within the clinical setting. Recently, I have
acknowledged the amount of time that I have available until I take my phase 2 assessment and
have been asking to perform new skills. Vaginal exams are something that sit at the epitome of
my unknowing, with only 2 attempts that ended in not understanding what I was feeling or where
to advance. I hope to ask for more opportunities to practice this skill, knowing that it will unlock
more doors for me to obtain more advanced phase 2 skills that will be required for assessment.
Though I do not have a particular set in stone clinical learning strategy, I try to focus on
sharing the things that I am learning and focusing on in clinic with my preceptors. This works to
help develop a goal that I may have to learn new skills and further my education during clinical
time. I have a tendency to give it my best shot without much hand-holding before asking for help
with prompting or instruction. It has helped tremendously to not have nervous or anxious fears
that may result in hestitaton, but rather “fake it till you make it” and go in knowing my
effort to the table, remaining present and being available where needed. I take pride in paying
attention to detail and focusing on the little things, knowing that my effort is appreciated and
checking in on clients, following up from appointments that aren’t on my clinical day, and
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