​​Julie Kim (left), a Master of Occupational Therapy student from Western University, and preceptor Meaghan Tangredi

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Student placements can be daunting experiences for learners. Often, they are in an unknown environment, meeting many people, and experiencing new things. Having a friendly, knowledgeable, and supportive clinical preceptor, otherwise known as a placement supervisor, can make all the difference.

For Julie Kim, a Master of Occupational Therapy student from Western University, a strong relationship with her preceptor helped make her placement at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

“I feel like placements can sometimes be tough for students. We go from going to class every day to working full-time and that can be challenging," reflected Julie, whose placement was in Adult Inpatient Acute Orthopaedic Traumatology at Victoria Hospital. “My preceptor and the rest of the staff on my floor were so welcoming and inviting, and they really made work enjoyable."

Julie's preceptor, Meaghan Tangredi, has been mentoring learners at LHSC for five years. She draws on her own experiences as a student to help create positive experiences for those she now mentors.

“I try to bring an empathetic lens to precepting, remembering that it is a huge transition from the classroom to seeing people who are injured or sick," explained Meaghan, an Occupational Therapist.

"As a student, I recall feeling taken aback by some of the health conditions and injuries we treat as occupational therapists. Reflecting on this helps me mentor students in that empathetic way."

For Meaghan, being a preceptor is not just a chance to mentor others and give back to the next generation of occupational therapists, but an opportunity for personal growth and learning as well. It also presents an opportunity to make connections with the local community of health care practitioners.

“I remember being a student and just soaking in everything I could from my preceptors," she said. “Now that I've been out of school for nearly 12 years, I like to learn from my students. It helps me stay up-to-date and learning is always refreshing."

Julie's placement at LHSC was her first at a hospital and the collaborative environment was the first thing that stood out to her. In her role, she regularly teamed up with nurse practitioners, social workers, speech language pathologists, physiotherapists, physiotherapist assistants, occupational therapist assistants, and residents.

“I didn't realize how collaborative it would be," she reflected. “It was amazing to see everything that goes into providing patient care. Everyone has a role in leading a patient down a successful road to recovery."

Recognizing that Julie was a highly motivated and quick learner allowed Meaghan to give her opportunities to work independently and develop her practice. It was this level of trust between preceptor and learner that helped create an outstanding learning experience.

“Meaghan helped ease me in and was great at guiding me through the fundamentals, like charting online," Julie said. “I was able to be independent on my placement, but I still felt supported when I came back, and she was asking me questions and debriefing. She made me feel like I could open up and show my true personality, and that made me comfortable and eager to come into work every day."                       

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