Nurse preceptors fulfill a primary role in the success of preceptorship experiences during the education of student nurses in their final year of study. Evidence suggests that this success depends greatly on adequate preceptor role preparation and support. The purposes of this qualitative, descriptive study were to explore and describe preceptor role support and development within the context of a rural and northern mid-sized Canadian community. More specifically, in this study the following are described: preceptors' (a) perception of past role preparation and current role support; (b) use and evaluation of the existing print-based fourth-year Preceptor Resource Manual (PRM); (c) perception of role support facilitators and barriers; and (d) recommendations for improvements to preceptor role preparation and support. Data were collected through individual and group interviews. Through content analysis four major themes emerged: accessible resources, role complexity, partners in precepting, and role development.

Strategies for managers to support interprofessional team functioning emerged. These strategies include ensuring that there are appropriate policies, orientation of new members, allocation of time to support interprofessional teamwork, leadership to enhance team collaboration and clear delineation of responsibilities of each member.

This article describes three learning activities used in the undergraduate nursing degree program at a mid-sized university in northeastern Ontario, Canada. Each activity, a reflective writing assignment, scenario testing, and an OSCE experience, is considered in terms of integrative thinking. Formal and informal evaluation of the activities is also discussed.Based on the authors' experiences, integrative thinking including habits of mind and cognitive skills can be directed and enhanced. To maximize students' growth as integrative thinkers, they should be exposed to many kinds of activities that target this growth. Generally, such activities tend to be case-based and interactive in nature. They also require a level of scaffolding or directedness. To develop and implement such activities, teachers are encouraged to work with educational researchers and instructional designers.