Your Clinical Fellowship Experience- Setting Expectations
ASHA has several pages of information and valuable content pertaining to your Clinical Fellowship. ASHA’s 9 Steps to Completing the Clinical Fellowship Experience is a great place to start. I’d like to talk in greater detail about Step 4: Setting Expectations. By clearly defining expectations for both the CF and the Mentor, you will reduce any misunderstandings or miscommunication.
During one of your first meetings with your Mentor, be prepared to work together to set the framework for your experience by talking about the following items:
Get to know one another – You can do this by sharing both good and challenging professional experiences. What made you choose this field? What do you enjoy most about your career? What happened when something didn’t go well? What is your learning style? How do you like to receive feedback? Share what motivates you!
Establish timelines – Know the monitoring process. How often should you expect your Mentor to come visit you? How long will s/he stay typically? In addition to the on-site activities, what other types of monitoring activities should you expect?
Response time – Set clear terms for communicating quickly and efficiently. Will you have regularly scheduled check-ins? If you send an email to your mentor, what is the expected response time?
Information sharing – Your Mentor will be able to suggest activities, articles, and other various resources for you to engage with throughout the year. Additionally, you may want to share what you are currently using with her. Mentoring SLPs enjoy finding out about the latest technology or resources being utilized by new graduates. It helps us keep learning as well!
The Clinical Fellowship Experience should be mutually rewarding for both the CF and the Mentor. By establishing clear guidelines for sharing and communicating, you can maximize the experience for both of you.
Links:
https://www.asha.org/Certification/2020-SLP-Certification-Standards/
