Nurse preceptor experiences with a prelicensure senior baccalaureate student nurse

ABSTRACT

The clinical nurse preceptor offers a transition to senior student nurses into professional nursing practice with a student preceptorship. Despite this historical educational resource in nursing baccalaureate programs, there is increasing difficulty in obtaining qualified preceptors to serve in this role (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2019). The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice (NACNEP) (2020) recently addressed the shortage of clinical preceptors and highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic affected the clinical learning experiences of student nurses in the United States (US). As a result, the Council recommends increasing the necessity to ensure adequate availability and quality of preceptors. This study aims to describe the preceptor experience in the current US healthcare environment, predominantly in the eastern part of the nation. The research question that guided this study was What is the lived experience of the clinical nurse precepting a prelicensure senior baccalaureate student nurse? Participants of this study included a sample of 10 clinical nurse preceptors employed in an acute care hospital in the eastern US. Digitally recorded interviews completed via Zoom or telephone used a verbal question and answer format consisting of 11 demographic and five open-ended questions. The description of the clinical nurse preceptor experience can share meaning on current relevant issues. The qualitative study using descriptive phenomenology extracted six themes and two subthemes from the data analysis applying Colaizzi's (1978) method. The six identified themes included processing transition, initiation to the role with two subthemes-invitation and education, reciprocal learning, perception of support, help to get through the day, and momentous anecdotal memories. The study findings can assist nurse administration, educators, and clinical nurse preceptors with further insight to support preceptor experiences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)