Nursing interns' perception of clinical competence upon completion of preceptorship experience in Saudi Arabia

Background: Nursing interns are newly graduate students with limited real-life work experiences. These novices are in the process of enhancing their competencies in the delivery of quality nursing care with the guidance of the preceptors. Hence, it is relevant to examine the impact of preceptorship, as a teaching strategy, among nursing interns during their preceptorship years in clinical settings. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine if the preceptorship program has provided the nursing interns the needed education in enhancing clinical competence. Setting: The study was conducted in one of the tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants: Convenience sampling was used to recruit 92 undergraduate nursing interns who have completed the five-years nursing education including preceptorship. Methods: The nursing interns completely answered the survey questionnaires which covers Benner's Competencies, Knowles' Adult Learning Theory and the Nursing Process. Design: The study followed a mixed-methods design wherein a descriptive cross-sectional approach was used to identify factors affecting the nursing interne perception towards clinical competence. Two open-ended questions referring to the improvement of internship program and competency were concurrently collected which was the qualitative portion of the study. Results: The preceptorship program enhanced the preceptees competencies in the clinical setting primarily in priority-setting with acutely ill patients, multitasking and demonstrating complex nursing skills. The majority of the nursing interns perceived preceptorship as a constructive experience. The availability, approachable attitude, and trustworthiness of the preceptor were viewed as influential factors in improving the interne clinical competence. Variations were significant with phases of internship and type of school. Furthermore, results showed positive correlation between the nursing interne efficacy and clinical competencies in professional behavior, general performance, and core nursing skills. Conclusion: Preceptorship program positively impacts nursing interne skills in handling actual patients in clinical setting. Hence, the preceptorship program is an effective teaching strategy which advances the novice to the next stage of developing clinical competence.