Preceptor Training

Project: Education and Training of the ED Nurse Preceptor

Research supports the education and training of the bedside educator - the nurse preceptor. The new graduate nurse requires an orientation that prepares them to work with patients with complex medical issues in challenging work environments. Clinically competent and effective preceptors are essential to prepare new graduate nurses as they transition from student to independent practicing nurses.

Preceptor education and training are necessary to improve the confidence and abilities of the nurse preceptor. Preceptor training can be for a first-time preceptor or a seasoned preceptor. The emergency department nurse preceptor should have the training and learn strategies to communicate effectively, evaluate performance, teach hands-on skills using adult learning principles, and develop the clinical reasoning skills of the new nurse.

An eight-hour interactive preceptor workshop can meet the educational needs of the ED nurse preceptor. NTS consultants can work with the client's education team to develop a workshop that best meets the goals and objectives of the client's organization.

Preceptor Workshop

Preceptor workshop activities were designed to be interactive and engaging for the participants. Adult learning and experiential learning theories were used to develop the content. Participants worked in teams throughout the workshop to better prepare themselves to perform the preceptor role.

Learning topics for the workshop included understanding and applying adult learning principles when teaching a new skill, prioritization of care strategies, clinical reasoning development through simulation, performance evaluation using a standardized rubric, and feedback delivery using written and verbal skills.

The preceptor workshop can be modified to best meet the needs of learners in the NTS client's organizations.

Problem

Lack of Training for the ED Preceptor

An eight-hour preceptor workshop was developed for her project site as part of Allison Helmerichs' (NTS Senior Consultant) Doctoral project. The workshop was implemented at a Midwest academic teaching hospital with an emergency department that sees approximately 70,000 patients annually. The project site is a Level I trauma center, a comprehensive stroke center, and partners with an academic emergency medicine residency program. The project site hires approximately 8-12 new graduate nurses annually—the project aimed to implement and sustain preceptor training for the emergency department nurse preceptor.

Solution

Development of Preceptor Workshop

What does an ED preceptor need to know, and why is it important? The ED nurse preceptor needs to know the following:

Adult learning principles
Effective feedback delivery
Performance evaluation
Developing clinical reasoning skills
Conflict resolution

Workshop teaching methods were developed using case studies, group discussions and activities, role-play, and simulation.

Implementation

Workshop Day

The preceptor workshop was implemented in a classroom setting with simulated breakout rooms. Each participant was provided a whiteboard with dry erase markers, a notebook and pen, and classroom materials.

A pre-and post-survey design with quantitative and qualitative questions were used for data collection.

Evaluate

Pre- and Post Data

Significant findings in the survey data found improved overall confidence of the preceptor post-workshop. The participants (n = 16) reported in qualitative data the interactive strategies and simulation were the most helpful elements in the workshop.

Preceptor Pie Chart

Pre Workshop Confidence

Post Workshop Confidence

Education Content

NTS Consultants can write simulation content, designing case(s) within various centers' capabilities, allowing learners to meet objectives and educators to evaluate performance and lead an effective debriefing.