Survey of advanced practice student clinical preceptors

Most nursing schools use preceptors to provide critical elements of practice, instruction, and supervision. It is important to understand the factors influencing preceptors to volunteer their time and expertise. The purpose of this survey of advanced practice student clinical preceptors was twofold: to determine the barriers to and motivators for providing clinical mentoring and evaluation, and to determine the need for educational preparation to facilitate their roles as clinical preceptors. An online survey was distributed to a convenience sample of active clinical preceptors from multiple graduate-level programs. Responses to items in the categories of organizational support; rewards, disincentives, and barriers; relationship with school of nursing faculty members; and preparation for the preceptor role offered insights into the challenges and rewards that preceptors experience in their practice settings. This study's findings will be useful in understanding some of the issues that contribute to the shortages.