Clinical Education
Clinical education is essential in healthcare training across many disciplines and typically takes place in either private clinics, community practices, or dedicated student clinics. It offers students the opportunity to progress from the classroom setting as they gain practical skills and learn to apply their acquired knowledge in real-world settings. The supervision of experienced professionals should enable a safe learning environment for students in the presence of a patient/client, providing support and building confidence towards embarking on their own professional career.
Teaching time in the clinic involves different challenges to the classroom setting, including the fact that the presence of students alongside patients changes the overall dynamic in various ways. It can be harder to follow a formalised plan as numerous unexpected situations may arise, as they can on any normal day in clinic. This necessitates flexibility on the part of the clinical educator and knowledge of a variety of teaching approaches to suit varying circumstances.
The immersive learning approach required in a clinical setting helps students develop practical skills, critical thinking, and professional behaviours necessary for effective patient care. Through clinical education, students gain exposure to diverse patient populations, medical conditions, and approaches to practice.
N. Strawbridge
Herbal medicine student
"I would like to thank you for the opportunity you have given to me to expand and practice my clinical knowledge while attending your patients’ consultations. It has been a very rewarding and interesting time and I have greatly appreciated your support, patience and guidance. You have been a wonderful mentor and I have really appreciated my time in your clinic."
Marcos Patchett
Medical Herbalist & Clinical Tutor
"Having worked with Lara at Heartwood online, she is attentive, flexible, and one of the best listeners and adapters I know. She takes students' views into consideration, adeptly balancing and conciliating differing viewpoints. She effectively mentors students by encouraging kind-hearted introspection and reflection, and building student confidence in practice; her ability as a clinical trainer is second to none."
Nathalie Chidley, Clinical Supervisor Heartwood
“Lara has a thorough understanding of the theoretical concepts underpinning learning and particularly how they apply to Clinical Training situations. She has brought this understanding into her practice first as an assistant and then as a practitioner in our Online clinic (Heartwood), and I have no doubt that this has benefitted our students in their learning journey.”