Supporting and retaining preceptors for NNP programs: results from a survey of NNP preceptors and program directors

Preceptors are vital resources for the clinical education of healthcare providers, especially neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs). With the increasing number of NNP programs, including distance accessible programs, there is a need for research to identify effective strategies for recruiting, preparing, and supporting preceptors in their roles. This article presents a review of existing literature and describes findings from a survey of NNP program directors in the United States and from a survey of preceptors for a distance-based NNP program in an Academic Health Sciences Center in the southern United States. The survey focused on current practices in recruiting and supporting preceptors and on perceptions of strategies that would facilitate success and enhance preceptor satisfaction with their roles. The article concludes with presentation of a model based on survey findings and recommendations from the literature that can guide NNP faculty and researchers in identifying effective strategies for recruiting, preparing, and supporting clinical preceptors.