Helping Learners Receive Feedback in the Emergency Department

Feedback is essential to professional development in emergency medicine, yet its impact hinges on the learner's ability to receive and apply it-an often-overlooked element of the feedback equation. In the high-acuity, time-pressured setting of the ED, creating conditions for meaningful feedback reception can be particularly challenging. This EM Download reframes feedback through the lens of the <i>educational alliance</i> and highlights key strategies to foster learner receptivity: cultivating trust, promoting active learning, recognizing appropriate timing, and nurturing a growth mindset. Using practical examples and the "Ask-Tell-Ask" model, this piece offers evidence-informed guidance for building a feedback culture that empowers learners and strengthens clinical education in the ED.