Graduate Clinical Nurse Preceptors: Implications for Improved Intra-Professional Collaboration.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Advanced Practice Nursing
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• The number and acceptance of advanced practice nurses (APNs) are growing.
• Quality clinical education is essential for preparing APNs for collaborative healthcare roles.
• Graduate clinical preceptors are vital for APN students' education and socialization, yet factors influencing their commitment are understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review literature on graduate-level clinical preceptor experiences.
• To identify factors influencing graduate clinical preceptors' role commitment.
• To provide recommendations for improving the graduate clinical preceptor role.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on graduate clinical preceptor roles.
• A study involving 91 graduate clinical preceptors.
• Analysis of factors impacting preceptor role commitment.

Main Results:

• Identified key factors influencing graduate clinical preceptors' commitment to their role.
• Highlighted a lack of visibility and integration of the preceptor role in academic and healthcare structures.
• Emphasized the need for collaboration to support preceptor recruitment and retention.

Conclusions:

• The graduate clinical preceptor role requires greater visibility and integration within nursing schools and healthcare organizations.
• Intra-professional collaboration among faculty, administrators, and clinicians is necessary.
• Strategies are needed to facilitate the recruitment, cultivation, and retention of graduate clinical preceptors.