Using theatre in preceptorship.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Post-registration nursing education requires innovative methods to bridge theory and practice.
• Traditional methods may not fully address the complexities of workplace behavior and culture.
• Creating safe spaces for reflection is crucial for developing compassionate healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of theatre methods in a UK National Health Service (NHS) acute trust preceptorship program.
• To explore the use of theatre techniques for enhancing reflective practice and understanding behavioral impact in nursing.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of different approaches to integrating theatre into nursing education.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a professional theatre company to deliver interactive scenarios.
• Incorporated theatre techniques facilitated by experienced educators.
• Employed individual educator-led sessions focusing on role-playing and reflection.
• The program was part of a structured preceptorship for newly registered nurses.

Main Results:

• Theatre methods provided a unique, safe environment for exploring real-world practice challenges.
• Participants gained compassionate insights into the impact of their behaviors on workplace culture.
• The multi-faceted implementation (professional company, peer educators, individual educators) offered varied learning experiences.
• The approach facilitated deeper reflection on interpersonal dynamics and professional conduct.

Conclusions:

• Integrating theatre methods into post-registration nursing education is a valuable strategy.
• This innovative approach enhances reflective practice and understanding of workplace culture.
• Theatre techniques offer a powerful tool for developing compassionate and effective healthcare professionals within safe learning environments.