Preceptorship in home care

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• The preceptor role is crucial for effective nursing orientation.
• Home health agencies require robust onboarding processes for clinical and administrative staff.
• Understanding staff perceptions is key to improving preceptorship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey nursing staff perceptions of the current preceptorship process.
• To identify areas for improvement in the orientation of new hires.
• To provide recommendations for enhancing the preceptorship model.

Main Methods:

• Methodological survey design.
• Data collection from clinical and administrative nursing staff.
• Analysis of current perceptions within a small New England home health agency.

Main Results:

• Identified specific staff perceptions regarding the existing preceptorship model.
• Highlighted strengths and weaknesses of the current orientation process.
• Provided a baseline understanding of the preceptor's impact.

Conclusions:

• The preceptor's role significantly influences the orientation experience.
• Evidence-based strategies can optimize the preceptorship process.
• Targeted improvements are recommended for nursing staff development.