Psychometric properties of clinical nurse preceptor competence assessment tools: A COSMIN-based systematic review

To systematically identify instruments assessing clinical nurse preceptor competence, evaluate their methodological quality and measurement properties and provide recommendations for instrument selection in clinical and research practice.

Clinical nurse preceptors are experienced nurses who guide and support nursing students and nurses undertaking clinical training at different career stages. They play a vital role in clinical education and professional development. Numerous instruments have been developed to assess clinical nurse preceptor competence; however, a comprehensive systematic evaluation based on the COSMIN guideline is still lacking.

A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the COSMIN guideline.

Six English databases and two Chinese databases were searched to identify studies involving instruments used to assess clinical nurse preceptor competence. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection, data extraction and literature appraisal. Methodological quality was evaluated using the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist and measurement properties were synthesized according to COSMIN criteria.

18 studies involving 16 instruments were included. Three instruments received Category C, while the others were classified as Category B.

Among Category B instruments, the revised Nursing Student Mentors' Competence Instrument (MCI), the core competence tool for clinical nursing teachers and the Core Competence Scale for Nursing Preceptors of Undergraduate Students showed high-quality evidence for sufficient structural validity and internal consistency and were provisionally recommended for use. Future studies should further refine and evaluate these instruments, emphasizing cross-cultural validity, measurement error and responsiveness in line with COSMIN guidelines.