The preceptorship experience: an examination of ethical and accountability issues

In this article, the authors examine ethical and accountability issues that emerged from a recent retrospective grounded theory study exploring the challenges for preceptors when working with nursing students whose clinical practice is unsafe. A primary goal of nursing education is to prepare safe and competent practitioners who can be accountable for their own actions (M. Smith, Y. McKoy, & J. Richardson, 2003). Within the context of preceptorship, both preceptors and faculty have an academic, legal, ethical, and professional responsibility not only to teach but also to evaluate students' clinical performance to ensure that as graduates of their programs they are competent to provide the public with safe nursing practice (P. Boley & K. Whitney, 2003; M. Smith, Y. McKoy, & J. Richardson, 2003). The findings of this study have implications for nurse educators and administrators in preparing and supporting both preceptors and students, especially in difficult or challenging teaching-learning situations.