1. Preceptor Education & Credentialing
Susan A. Boyer, RN, M.Ed.
Director, VT Nurse Intern Project

2. Objectives Describe impact of preceptors Explore preceptor development
Identify potential collaboration

3. Role of Preceptors Orientation of new nurses
Nurture and teach new graduates
Provide support for nursing students
Cross training staff from other units
Provide performance feedback
PROTECT SAFETY

4. Precepting skills Used in patient/family relations
Teaching and mentoring colleagues
Teaching role with clients/community
Support the function of the unit
Team work/collaboration
Conflict resolution
Communication
Role model, etc

5. High Quality Preceptors Need:
Educational preparation
Ongoing Support
Time to precept
Evaluation and feedback
Role definition (expansion?)

6. Educational prep Just in time, just enough? or
Research and theory based educational preparation
- ongoing development

7. Ongoing support Program structure
Clearly defined and accessible resources
Support group meetings
Continuing education – role
Planning for improvement – self and program

8. Time
Time to precept
Time to plan
Meeting place
Time to give feedback

9. Evaluation and feedback
Planned into program
Continuous performance appraisal
Planning for improvement
Professional development

10. Role definition Clearly defined role and responsibilities
Communication between parties
Manager understanding of role and expectations
Improved connections with faculty
Consider role expansion

11. What does a preceptor need to know?
Cognitive?
Psychomotor skills?
Affective objectives?
Other?

12. Development of Preceptors
Two fold purpose:
Existing RNs will improve skills in teaching, leadership, communication, and evaluation – thus increasing their effectiveness in working with novices
Change the culture of the workplace!

13. Research and Theory based education
Self study
Workshop
Clinical Application
With support and resources
Evaluation and feedback

14. Pre-assignment Self-learning module Articles Self-exploration
Story telling
Web assignment for learning style and personality inventories
Practice with critical thinking and reflective practice

15. Articles assigned for pre-reading
Nurses, are we still eating our young?
Professional development through Preceptorship.
Interpretive Analysis of Precepting an Unsafe Student.
Critical Thinking Skills for at-the-bedside success.
Improving Your Ability to Think Critically
Alfaro-LeFevre, R. (2002) Nursing Spectrum - Career Fitness Online

16. Introduction to Precepting
Role & Responsibilities
Novice to Expert
Learning styles and adult learning theory
Delegation/Liability
Team Building and Group Dynamics
Preceptor Toolkit
New Graduates and competency assessment
Personality Styles
Communication
Conflict Management
Fostering Critical Thinking in the Novice

17. Requested topics include: (these are requested in addition to basic workshop!)
Change Theory
Case Scenarios
Conflict Resolution
Communications
Legal issues
Pt. Teaching
Dealing with the difficult preceptee
Practice with documentation tools
Specialty area orientation check lists
Writing critical & positive evaluation comments
More on Benner’s model in precepting

18. Clinical Application Develops skills and networking Feedback based
Professional development
Preceptor support groups
Preceptor Expertise Evaluation

19. Statewide Credentialing
Recognition and reward
Pay differential ?
Standardization of expectations
Performance appraisal
Professional development
Demographic data collection
Work with externs ?

20. Recognized by: Vermont State Nurses Association
Vermont Organization of Nurse Leaders
Vermont Inservice and Continuing Education
VNA Health Systems of Vermont
Long Term Care Community Coalition
Vermont Assoc of Hospitals and Health Systems
BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont
Vermont Department of Health, Board of Medical Practice, Division of Health Care Administration, Program for Quality in Health Care, Inc., Area Health Education Centers

21. Recognition and reward
Educational bonuses
Preceptor Support
Clinical Educator
Networking/list serve
‘For credit’ course
Certificate or credentialing
Nat’l Certification
Pay differential
Clinical ladders
Paid time for WS
Lessened workload
Colleague support
Networking
Tuition
Luncheon &/or coupon for meal

22. Program strengths
Collaboration between nurse leaders from education, practice settings, and regulation
Advanced preceptor development
Developing programs for statewide use, rather than facility specific
Standardization

23. Advanced Preceptor Prep
Educational preparation
Ongoing Support
Time to precept
Evaluation and feedback
Role definition (expansion?)
Recognition and reward

24. Collaboration Builds strength Adds attendance Spreads the workload
Standardization of approach

25. The Effective Preceptor
Educational Monograph Series
Southern NH AHEC
Preceptor development
The Effective Preceptor – CME program

26. VT Nurse Intern Program
web page at:
"Teachers do not empower adult learners; they encourage the use of the power that learners were born with."
  Vella, J.

27. References Addendum:
Craven & Broyles. (1996) Professional Development Through Preceptorship. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, Vol. 12, No. 6, pp
(2001) Critical Thinking Skills for at-the-bedside success (editorial). Nursing Management, January 2001, pp 37 – 39
Freiburger, O. (2001). A Tribute to Clinical Preceptors. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, Vol. 17, No. 6,
Godinez, G., Schweiger, J., Gruver, J., Ryan, P. (1999) Role Transition from Graduate to Staff Nurse: A Qualitative. Analysis Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, Vol. 15, No. 3,
LaDuke, S. (2001). The Role of Staff Development in Assuring Competence. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, Vol. 17, No. 5,
Mee, C. (1999) Nurses, are we still eating our young? Nursing99, 29(11),
Ohrlin, K, Hallberg, I. (2000) Student nurses’ Lived Experience of Preceptorship. International Journal of Nursing Studies 37 (2000) 13-23

28. References Addendum:
Rittman and Osburn. (1995) Interpretive Analysis of Precepting an Unsafe Student. Journal of Nursing Education, Vol. 34, No. 5, pp
Stone, C., Rowles, C. (2002) What Rewards do Clinical Preceptors in Nursing Think are Important? Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, Vol. 18, No. 3,
Yonge, O., Krahn, H., Trojan, L., Reid, D., Haase, M. (2002) Supporting Preceptors. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, Vol. 18, No. 2, 73-79
Yonge, O., Krahn, H., Trojan, L., Reid, D., Haase, M. (2002) Being a Preceptor is Stressful! Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, Vol. 18, No. 1, 22-27
lfaro-LeFevre, R. (2002) Improving Your Ability to Think Critically. , RN, MSN Nursing Spectrum - Career Fitness Online
Benner, P., Wrubel, J. (1982) Skilled Clinical Knowledge: The Value of Perceptual Awareness The Journal of Nursing Administration, May 1982, Vol 12, No. 5, 11-14