1. MS-DI Preceptor Training Program
Anne Kendall, PhD, RD, LDN
Susan Brown, MS, RD, LDN

2. Planning Learning: Competencies will intern achieve
Knowledge, skills and experiences of the intern
Learning activities needed to achieve competencies
Will you set these up?
If intern must interact with other practitioners or administrators, when will this occur, will you arrange these meetings?
Plan for increasing intern responsibility
Reflection/Discussion: What suggestions do you have for a new preceptor who feels overwhelmed at the thought of trying to fulfill all of the preceptor roles?

3. Planning Learning: What are emergency and backup plans
How will the schedule and other information be communicated to all who need to know
Orientation to facility
Policies and procedures
Dress code
Make expectations clear: 80% of failures in the work place arise from unclear expectations
Reflection/Discussion: What suggestions do you have for a new preceptor who feels overwhelmed at the thought of trying to fulfill all of the preceptor roles?

4. Teaching Professionalism:
Professionalism: a set of internalized character strengths and values directed toward high quality service to others through one’s work.
Characterized by:
Sound judgment
Problem-solving
Integrity
Ability to work independently
Dedication
Perseverance
Respect
Reflection/Discussion: What the student observes and learns from you and other professionals solidifies and internalizes the concept of professionalism. What will you do to reinforce your student’s ability to practice professionally and ethically?

5. Teaching Professionalism:
Characterized by:
Appreciation of diversity
Cultural competence: the ability to discover the culture of each client/patient and effectively adapt interventions for her or him. (Curry 2000).
Skills needed for cultural competence
Become more knowledgeable about different cultures
Develop flexibility in approaches/interventions
Identify and/or develop culturally appropriate education approaches, techniques, and materials
Reflection/Discussion: What the student observes and learns from you and other professionals solidifies and internalizes the concept of professionalism. What will you do to reinforce your student’s ability to practice professionally and ethically?

6. Evaluation of Interns:
Assessing student learning:
Shared responsibility of the preceptor and UF faculty liaison
Often the most challenging preceptor role
Goal: to provide meaningful feedback for your student’s development.
Feedback should be frequent, ongoing, and constructive.
Aim for daily feedback.
The written evaluation forms should not provide the student with any surprises!

7. Sharing Feedback with Students:
Students like feedback, and often identify it as one of the most important characteristics of a good preceptor.
Feedback is described as comments that:
Let the student know what they have done well
Let the student know what they need to improve
Let the student plot a course of action

8. Students who Receive Regular Feedback about their Performance:
Often perform significantly better
Develop better judgment
Learn faster than students who do not receive regular feedback
Goal of feedback is for the student to become competent at the level expected at a given point in his/her education and to be ready to move on to the next rotation/experience.

9. Giving Feedback:
Identify the purpose of feedback: to help the intern learn what it is that he/she is expected to be able to know and do (be specific)
Identify strengths first before moving on to areas for improvement: sandwich method
Describe behaviors the student needs to change or develop
Back up comments with specific evidence and observations
Prioritize the feedback by focusing on areas that are most important first

10. Giving Feedback: Share current and timely information
Make comments descriptive rather than judgmental
Consider the information the student noted in his/her self assessment
Plan for follow-up feedback
Develop an action plan

11. Giving Feedback: Provide feedback on a routine basis
Make sure the feedback has been clearly understood: have intern summarize feedback and plan
Avoid sending mixed messages
Be honest in all of your feedback
Be sure you have the evidence needed

12. Summary: Always be fair and ethical when providing feedback
Formative feedback during rotation is consistent with final/summative evaluation
No surprises at the final evaluation

13. References:
Allen-Chabot, A. M. (2006, May 25). Teaching in the Clinical Setting: Strategies for Success.
Anderson, J. A., Bueche, J., Felton, A., Fornari, A. B., Gates, G. E., La Potin, C. H., et al. (2009, September 11). Dietetics Preceptor Training Program. Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
Curry, KR.  Multicultural competence in dietetics and nutrition.  J Am Diet Assoc. 100: , 2000.
Harden RM and Crosby JR.  An extended summary of Association for Medical Education in Europe Medical Education Guide No. 20, Medical Teacher 22(4):   (
Oermann MH.  A Study of Preceptor Roles in Clinical Teaching, Nursing Connections 1996 Winter; 9(4):57-64.
Stenson, James B. “Professionalism and Workplace Savvy” retrieved January 29, 2007