Giving effective feedback


Part 3 of of a series about advancing practice by John Fowler is on feedback. This short article uses a brief case study to highlight issues about providing feedback that can impact on learning and relationships within the clinical environment.

Fowler (2013)  stated that feedback needs to be constructive, balanced and objective. He indicates that smaller incremental and achievable objectives need to be made to scaffold learning and utilise strengths identified. The author states that balanced feedback identifies strengths and weaknesses is important for reinforcing effective or appropriate knowledge, skills, behaviour or attitudes, whereas discussing weaknesses provides direction for improvement. Objective feedback provides opportunities to be holistic about practice development rather than focussing on specific components.Fowler (2013) also discussed that feedback demonstrates that you have noticed and value their contribution to the team.

During October I attended a session on giving effective feedback to students by Iris Vardi. She discussed the need for students to be alert and engaged to receive feedback and as I have previously mentioned cued to know the information is feedback by labelling it so! She also indicated that giving more feedback may not be the answer! She discussed providing overview or global feedback and also providing specific feedback is useful to guide students. Vardi (2012) also mentioned that respect and trust are essential for warm relationships where learning can occur.

Being welcoming and developing belongingness amongst learners within teams is important for learners and has been discussed in previous blogs. Vardi and Fowler both support this notion that being ready to learn and learning are affected by the environment. Ensuring that students are orientated and prepared for placement will enhance their capacity to learn.  It is the role and function of the clinical supervisor to support and guide students and assist with the development of being alert, engaged and ready to learn.

If you have any comments or suggestions about how you prepare students to be ready to learn in your place you are welcome to post them here.

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