Nurse Leader Perspectives on Precepting in a Graduate Nursing Administration Practicum.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Administration
• Leadership Development
• Graduate Education

Background:

• Graduate nursing practicums bridge academic knowledge and real-world application for aspiring nurse leaders.
• Limited literature exists on best practices for structuring these essential graduate nursing administration practicums.
• Preceptor insights are crucial for understanding and optimizing these experiential learning opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and describe the perceptions of nurse leader preceptors regarding graduate student practicum experiences in nursing administration.
• To identify key themes and insights from preceptors supervising nurse leaders in training.
• To inform the development of effective graduate nursing administration practicum models.

Main Methods:

• Utilized semistructured interviews with eight experienced nurse leaders serving as preceptors.
• Transcribed interview data for detailed examination.
• Applied selective thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and themes within the data.

Main Results:

• Identified five significant themes from preceptor perspectives: professional and personal growth, the transition of education into practice, academic partner engagement and support, time commitment, and the student's contributions to the organization.
• Highlighted the multifaceted nature of practicum experiences from the preceptor viewpoint.
• Revealed the importance of structured support and clear expectations for successful practicums.

Conclusions:

• Graduate nursing leadership practicums are vital for cultivating real-world perspectives and essential for developing future nurse leaders.
• The study provides valuable insights from nurse leader preceptors for enhancing practicum structure.
• Findings offer implications for fostering robust and sustainable academic-practice partnerships in nursing education.