The Department of Nursing at the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (FAHS), KNUST held a workshop for preceptors from 11 clinical institutions on the 10th February 2022 at the FAHS Building, Boadi to equip them on their role in Nursing and Midwifery education.

The workshop was attended by over 40 clinical professionals from the FAHS-affiliated institutions who serve as preceptors to students. The workshop commenced with the introduction of Mrs. Alberta Lomotey as the Chairperson, Dr. Felix Apiribu, and Mrs. Gloria Ofori-Atta as the resource persons, Prof (Mrs). Victoria Bam – Head of Nursing Department, FAHS, and all other health professionals present.

Professor Alexander Yaw Debrah, Dean of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences in a welcome note appreciated the presence of all the participants at the workshop. He acknowledged their important role in the training of students and urged them to put in more effort at their health facilities to deliver quality healthcare. Prof. Debrah further noted that there will be more workshops from the FAHS to improve the clinical training of students.

Dr. Felix Apiribu, a Senior lecturer at the Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences made a presentation on the roles of preceptors in teaching students who are novices to become experts. He briefly described preceptorship as the process of imparting knowledge, confidence, and security to less experienced nurses in their professional health care roles. Dr. Apiribu emphasized that preceptorship is the number one way of teaching clinical skills in Ghana hence the health professionals should see students as patients who require more attention while learning on the job.

 

 

Mrs. Gloria Ofori-Atta, the Clinical Coordinator at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital gave an overview of Preceptorship, who can be a preceptor in nursing and midwifery, the process of preceptorship, and the role of students.

 

 

Dr. Felix Apiribu gave the final presentation on Conflict management. He highlighted when conflict management is needed as nurses and midwives, effects of unresolved conflicts, conflict management strategies, and benefits of solved conflicts. He advised the health professionals to be firm in dealing with students and be strategic in managing conflicts.

Prof. (Mrs) Victoria Bam, Head of the Department of Nursing stated that in Nursing and Midwifery training, the three major elements that are considered are knowledge, skills, and attitude. Therefore, students should be equipped in these areas and preceptors play a vital role in doing this. She explained that the workshop is to furnish Clinical professionals in the institutions used by FAHS in training students with updated knowledge in their role as preceptors and also interact with them as stakeholders to deliberate on how clinical students’ training can be improved.

The workshop concluded with an assessment and evaluation of clinical practice and a group discussion.