Development of an Online, Evidence-Based CRNA Preceptor Training Tutorial (CPiTT): A Quality Improvement Project

Preceptorship is an effective teaching and learning model that is the mainstay of undergraduate and graduate clinical education. It has a well-documented history in healthcare literature dating back to 1946. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) who serve as clinical preceptors have the critical job of transferring high-quality patient care and patient safety skills to the student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) they precept. The education of CRNAs in best precepting practices has the potential to enhance this transfer. However, most CRNAs do not receive formal instruction in how to precept SRNAs, which has the potential to limit the CRNA preceptors' effectiveness in this critical educational role. This article describes the iterative development and evaluation of an online, evidence-based CRNA Preceptor Training Tutorial (CPiTT). Four evidence-based precepting modules were developed through expert educators' input and literature review. Feedback from CRNAs (n = 24) and SRNAs (n = 20) in a facilitated evaluation session refined the content. Additional surveys of both CRNAs (n = 97) and SRNAs (n = 36) established current local precepting practices, with gap analysis identifying areas of deficiency, which were incorporated into the learning modules. The final educational program was launched via an online learning management system.