aed, INNOVATION ABSTRACTS i."

[ ] “a 2G Published by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development

‘ay With support from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and Sid W. Richardson Foundation

PRECEPTORSHIP: IT REALLY WORKS!

History and Purpose Preceptorship! After four years this term is now a "household" word at Red Deer College. The

program—a rewarding experience for students, college instructors, and hospital staff—is a final clinical experience where on-the-job learning is individualized through a student's relationship with a preceptor.

The preceptorship program arose to facilitate learning in the final course of the nursing program. Preceptorship—a learning method to aid in the prevention and ease the impact of reality shock—allows students to be exposed to the realistic view of nursing while still a student. Both nursing education and nursing service are concerned with the disillusionment and frustrations of new graduates as they enter nursing practice. The preceptorship concept provides a link between service and education.

Description of a Preceptor

A preceptor is a nurse who is a positive role model and a clinical expert—someone who is competent in the clinical knowledge and skills required for practice in her area. Facilitator, teacher, observer, and evaluator are terms used to describe a preceptor. She must be able to establish sound interpersonal relationships, generate and examine alternatives, seek assistance from others (exhibit problem-solving skills), give both positive and constructive feedback, and must want to teach students and facilitate their learning.

We request that the preceptors have been employed by the hospital for a minimum of one year, to ensure that they can function as resources around hospital philosophy, policy, and procedure interpretation.

Planning,

Initially, we planned the program, set out tasks and timelines, and developed a handbook explaining the components of the practicum course and preceptorship. We hosted a tea for all the involved agencies. We met with head nurses, directors, and assistant directors of nursing to outline the proposed program and obtain initial feedback. To our surprise and joy, we received immediate support and approval.

A student/preceptor handbook was also developed which included course information and the various evaluation forms. We met with the head nurses to assist them in matching the students with the preceptors.

We met with the students to distribute the student/preceptor handbooks, to describe the program, to request their learning objectives and asked them to meet with their preceptors prior to commencement of their experience. The purpose of the meeting between students and preceptors was to allow them to become acquainted and to review the learning objectives.

Workshops for preceptors were conducted to establish the functions, roles, and communication systems of students, preceptors, and instructors; to identify potential problems and methods of resolving these problems; and to clearly establish expectations of the evaluation system.

We attempted to predict problem areas—such as, personality differences, disparity in values, and communication difficulties. We encouraged open communication and discussion between student and preceptor, but agreed that intervention by a college instructor would be made to resolve any debilitating conflicts or situations (e.g., the extended absence of the preceptor).

A skill inventory list—common procedures which the student was expected to perform competently—was developed to help meet individual student objectives. The student and preceptor were required to review the inventory together and then plan assignments and experiences that would provide the greatest number of learning opportunities.

Implementation

The first preceptorship program began in May 1982. Students had developed learning objectives for the clinical areas they had chosen. Preceptors had attended an orientation workshop and had met with instructors to determine communication lines and times. Meetings between preceptors, students, and

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