Effectiveness of a preceptors' social support program to aid novice nurses' error experience on preceptors' skill and novice nurses' perception of social support: A quasi-experimental study.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of the preceptors' social support program (PSSP) on preceptors' social support skill-supportive relationships and post-error support-and novice nurses' perception of received social support. METHODS: This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group of a non-random assigned sample of 47 preceptors and novice nurses and an intervention group of 48 each. Intervention group preceptors received training in building supportive relationships skill and post-error support skills three times in the PSSP over 7 months. Preceptors' social support skill and novice nurses' perception of received social support were measured as primary outcomes. Data were collected at baseline (T0), 1 month after the second session (T1), and 1 month after the last session (T2) and analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences in demographics or scores were shown at baseline (T0). Preceptors in the intervention group showed significantly better supportive relationships (T2, 101.6 ± 9 vs. 96.9 ± 7.6, 95% CI [0.95, 8.42], p = .015) and better performance of post-error support (T2, 67.6 ± 5 vs. 62 ± 6.5, 95% CI [2.78, 8.32], p < .001). Intervention group preceptors' social support skill increased or remained stable, while it decreased over time in the control group. Novice nurses in the intervention group received significantly better supportive relationships and post-error support from preceptors (T2, median 112 vs. 101, p = .007; 70.5 vs. 65, p = .028, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The PSSP improved preceptors' supportive relationship skills and post-error support performance, leading to novice nurses' perceptions of better supportive relationships and receiving greater post-error support.

Measuring social support for novice nurses: Development of the supportive relationship inventory and perceived availability of post-error support tool.

AIM: To develop and psychometrically test the Supportive Relationship Inventory and Perceived Availability of Post-error Support Tool for novice nurses. BACKGROUND: Novice nurses are particularly susceptible to adverse effects from medical errors. Supportive relationships and the perceived availability of social support can limit the impact of these errors. However, there are no valid and reliable instruments to measure these forms of social support for novice nurses in medical error settings. METHOD: Questionnaires were distributed to 597 novice nurses at 20 hospitals throughout Japan, with 305 responses. Construct validity was tested by confirmatory factor analysis, and criterion validity, by correlation with external criteria. Reliability was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis indicated good model fit for both scales, establishing construct validity. The Supportive Relationship Inventory and its subscales displayed good internal consistency (α = 0.795-0.951), as did the Perceived Availability of Post-error Support Tool and its subscales (α = 0.831-0.944). Test-retest correlations were above 0.74. CONCLUSION: The reliability and validity of the scales was determined. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse managers can use these two scales to foster supportive colleagues, to build a supportive organisational culture and to evaluate whether colleagues' support meets novice nurses' needs.