Responsibilities and Duties of a Clinical Facilitator

A clinical facilitator is a healthcare professional who plays a vital role in training and guiding healthcare students and novice healthcare professionals in a clinical setting. The clinical facilitator is responsible for creating a supportive and conducive environment that promotes learning, growth, and development of healthcare professionals. In this article, we will discuss the responsibilities and duties of a clinical facilitator.

1. Teaching and Coaching

The primary role of a clinical facilitator is to teach and coach healthcare students and novice healthcare professionals. They are responsible for providing instructions, guidance, and feedback to students, which will help them improve their clinical skills and knowledge. The facilitator also needs to be patient, supportive, and understanding, creating an environment that encourages learners to ask questions and seek clarification on topics that they don't understand.

2. Clinical Supervision

The clinical facilitator is responsible for supervising and assessing the performance of healthcare students and novice healthcare professionals in the clinical setting. They ensure that the students are adhering to the best practices and standards in healthcare and providing quality patient care. They also provide feedback on the students' performance, identifying areas that need improvement and recommending appropriate interventions.

3. Curriculum Development

The clinical facilitator collaborates with other healthcare professionals to develop a curriculum for clinical training programs. They use their experience and knowledge to identify the key skills and competencies that healthcare students and novice healthcare professionals should acquire during the training program. The facilitator also ensures that the curriculum aligns with the latest standards and best practices in healthcare.

4. Preceptorship

The clinical facilitator serves as a preceptor to healthcare students and novice healthcare professionals. They provide on-the-job training and guidance to the learners, helping them to gain practical experience and apply the knowledge they have learned in the classroom. The facilitator also provides feedback on the learners' performance, identifying strengths and weaknesses and recommending strategies for improvement.

5. Professional Development

The clinical facilitator participates in continuing education and professional development activities to maintain their expertise in healthcare. They stay up-to-date with the latest trends, standards, and best practices in healthcare and incorporate this knowledge into their teaching and coaching activities. The facilitator also participates in research and scholarly activities to advance the field of healthcare education.

In conclusion, the role of a clinical facilitator is critical in the development and training of healthcare students and novice healthcare professionals. They play a vital role in creating a supportive learning environment, providing guidance and feedback, and ensuring that learners adhere to the best practices and standards in healthcare. A clinical facilitator's responsibilities and duties include teaching and coaching, clinical supervision, curriculum development, preceptorship, and professional development.