Nurse practitioner preceptor education to increase role preparedness

Background: The public has become aware of the need for nurses and nurse practitioners in primary care with the widespread public health crisis. As the need for nurses and nurse practitioners grows, there is a need for the clinical educator and preceptor. However, preceptors have noted barriers to precepting such as time constraints, lack of preceptor role education, and role preparedness. Local problem: Currently, neither preceptor role development nor education has been implemented within a local institution. Preceptor vocalization led the charge for preceptor role development education within the institution. Methods: This quality improvement project focused on the preceptor role preparedness and education. A convenience sample was recruited from a large, diverse academic institution. The modified Clinical Supervision Self-Assessment Tool-Skills was utilized to determine the effectiveness of online education in preceptor role preparedness. Interventions: An online, self-directed, evidence-based preceptor education webpage with easily reproducible information related to collaborating with students and faculty situations. Literature, such as the One Minute Preceptor, Ask, Tell, Ask, and engaging student scenarios, was included from the literature review. A voice-recorded PowerPoint summarizing the webpage was included with a transcript for accessibility. Results: A paired t-test was used to assess the mean differences between the preintervention and postintervention periods. The results indicated the online preceptor education was effective. Conclusions: Preparing nurse practitioner preceptors for their roles benefits the health care system. An online, self-directed, evidence-based preceptor education webpage can be beneficial in future preceptor education planning.

Automated summary

With the growing need for nurses and nurse practitioners in primary care, the importance of clinical educators and preceptors is also increasing. Despite the lack of preceptor role development and education in local institutions, an online, self-directed preceptor education webpage has shown effectiveness in improving preceptor role preparedness.