8-13
STAGES OF CLINICAL LEARNING
The role students take in clinical consultations depends on a number of factors. But
generally they are given more responsibility as their training progresses.
At first students may be mainly observers, staying in the background and saying
little. As they gain more knowledge and experience, they usually take an increasingly
active role (and the instructor a less active one). By the end of the training program,
students should be able to take charge of the consultations. The instructor stays
very much in the background, participating only when her advice is asked or when
students forget an important step or make an error.
STAGE 1:
Instructor takes
the lead; students
observe.
STAGE 2:
Instructor still leads, but
students take increasing
responsibility.
STAGE 3:
Students conduct the
consultation;
instructor
observes.
STAGE 4:
Students in charge:
instructor absent
but on call if
needed