A preceptorship programme for newly qualified nurses: a study of preceptees' perceptions

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education and Practice
• Healthcare Professional Development
• Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodologies

Background:

• The transition from student to newly-qualified nurse (NQN) is frequently stressful.
• Preceptorship programmes are literature-supported interventions to ease this transition and promote role adaptation.
• Existing research often lacks a comprehensive evaluation of preceptorship effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a preceptorship programme for newly-qualified nurses (NQNs).
• To assess preceptee engagement, impact, value, and sustainability from the nurses' perspectives.
• To provide insights into the long-term viability and effectiveness of NQN preceptorship.

Main Methods:

• Evaluative research design utilizing a mixed-methods approach.
• Data collection via questionnaires, reflective journals, and audio recordings from 44 NQNs.
• Quantitative data analyzed with descriptive statistics and t-tests; qualitative data analyzed using the Framework Method.

Main Results:

• High preceptee engagement (85% valued the programme) and positive impact on skill development (communication, clinical) and professional growth.
• Preceptors effectively alleviated NQN stress, contributing to positive role adaptation.
• Despite time constraints, NQNs found the programme valuable and would recommend it, expressing a desire to become preceptors themselves.

Conclusions:

• This study offers a unique, comprehensive evaluation of preceptorship, examining engagement, impact, value, and sustainability.
• Findings underscore the positive influence of preceptorship on NQN confidence, competence, and retention.
• The research provides valuable insights into sustaining effective preceptorship programmes and meeting NQN competence expectations.