Guiding the way: acting as a preceptor for graduate students

This article has conceptualized and discussed clinical preceptorship of graduate students in psychiatric nursing, an area poorly represented in the literature. While grounded firmly in the nursing process, it is flexible to accommodate other frameworks as the student participates in various learning activities to meet her course objectives. Many issues have been addressed to guide the preceptor in helping the student approach her new role with realistic expectations, increased confidence, and visions of a future filled with promise.