The Pleasure of Your Company: Attitudes and Opinions of Preceptors Toward Nurse Practitioner Preceptees

Abstract

The attitudes and opinions of preceptors are extremely important to the availability of a qualified and motivated pool of preceptors, the clinical growth of the students, the quality of the student's learning experience, and the survival of nurse practitioner programs.

Worth Their Weight in Gold: The Role of Clinical Coordinator in a Family Nurse Practitioner Program

“…Preceptor comments included the positive aspects of serving as a preceptor and the satisfaction of giving back to the professional community and to the profession of nursing. The negative aspects described, such as time constraints, unfamiliarity with the student's knowledge base and skill level, and ill-prepared students, are consistent with studies revealing the reasons why NPs choose to be or not to be preceptors (Edmunds, 1983;Flynn, 1997;Gibson, & Hauri, 2000;Hayes, 1994;Hayes, & Harrell, 1994). Clinical coordinators interviewed were quite adamant about taking a student out of the clinical site if there was an unsolvable problem between the student and the preceptor.…”

Preceptor rewards: How to say thank you for mentoring the next generation of nurse practitioners

“…In addition, faculty should not underestimate the importance of a nurturing and supportive faculty–preceptor relationship. Preceptors appreciate formal evaluation of how they are doing and site visits by faculty to provide a realistic view of students’ performance and a forum for mutual feedback (Gibson & Hauri, 2000). Clinical site visits provide faculty and preceptors an opportunity for face‐to‐face acknowledgment of the contribution of the preceptor and nurturing of the preceptor in that role.…”

“…A considerable body of literature exists in which the authors have cited examples of supports and resources critical to the faculty-student-preceptor triad (Amelia et al, 2001;Gibson & Hauri, 2000;Hildebrandt, 2001;Lyon & Peach, 2001;NONPF, 2000;Sobralske & Naegele, 2001). These are detailed in Table 2.…”

“…In addition, faculty should not underestimate the importance of a nurturing and supportive faculty-preceptor relationship. Preceptors appreciate formal evaluation of how they are doing and site visits by faculty to provide a realistic view of students' performance and a forum for mutual feedback (Gibson & Hauri, 2000). Clinical site visits provide faculty and preceptors an opportunity for Table 1 Preceptor rewards mentioned in the literature a Free continuing education units for licensure and certification renewal Waiving registration fees for conferences sponsored by school of nursing Certificates of appreciation; plaque with gold plate for each year of precepting Hand-written personal thank you notes Inviting preceptors to campus events Nominating preceptors for awards-local, regional, and national Publishing names and credentials of preceptors in college and university catalogues and other materials about the programs Publishing news about preceptors in newsletters of the school and professional organizations Inviting preceptors to receptions for graduate students and general school receptions Gift of college bookstore vouchers or discounts Access to library resources on campus or via the web Invitations to sit on school advisory boards, focus groups Honoring preceptors at a breakfast, luncheon, dinner, reception attended by school administrators, faculty, and students Creating preceptor training workshops Tuition vouchers for individual preceptors or awarded to agencies Adjunct or clinical faculty status Parking privileges on campus Letters of acknowledgment listing number of hours for recertification Establishing a student-generated preceptor of the year award Recognizing preceptors at graduation Inviting preceptors to participate in classes or attend classes on any topic on the course or program syllabuses Identifying and developing continuing education programs requested by preceptors Responding to individual needs of preceptors such as editorial help with manuscripts, goal statements for doctoral programs, support letters for grants Providing complementary textbooks Seeking sponsorship from pharmaceutical companies for educational programs a Compiled from Amelia et al, 2001;Haussler, 2001;Hayes, 1994;Lyon & Peach, 2001;NONPF, 2000;Sobralske & Naegele, 2001. face-to-face acknowledgment of the contribution of the preceptor and nurturing of the preceptor in that role.…”

Pearls of Wisdom for Clinical Teaching: Expert Educators Reflect

“…For experienced preceptors, education programs should provide resources to maintain theoretical competence. The key to successful student encounters begins with communication during the preceptor's orientation to the education program's expectations and never ends 15 …”