Nuggets of Knowledge for the Novice Preceptor in Primary Care: Piloting a Novel Delivery Approach

Purpose: A HRSA grant targeting the integration of primary care content into a BSN pre-licensure program led to the creation of a new academic-practice partnership with a federally qualified health center (FQHC). Senior level students completed clinical learning experiences in primary care clinics of the FQHC. Clinical placement in the primary care setting is a relatively new learning environment for BSN students. Therefore, nurses now functioning as preceptors, have not recently received professional development related to the knowledge and skills of precepting. A learning needs assessment revealed that although preceptors indicated basic knowledge, they also had a desire to learn more related to current strategies for appropriate oversight and clinical teaching of BSN students.

The purpose of this poster is to share the novel aspects of design, delivery, and evaluation of a pilot preceptor education series for a new academic-practice partnership, while incorporating a preceptor learning needs self-assessment.

Description: Nurse managers identified a lack of recent experience with RN student learning and formal preceptor development opportunities. While potential learning needs were discussed at that time, a self-assessment was constructed and completed by potential preceptors. Education topics were derived from the self-assessment, core preceptor competencies, and educator expertise.

Evidence-based content was delivered in 30-minute sessions scheduled at the beginning of the RN work day.

A virtual delivery format allowed individual preceptors from various practice or academic locations to join in group discussions which would not have been possible in face-to-face training.

Clinical faculty, site managers (RNs) and potential RN preceptors attended an initial one-hour session focused on the new academic-practice partnership and orientation to academic course requirements. A facility specific preceptor handbook was distributed to support the session content and included preceptor expectations, student evaluation templates, and tips for precepting in the primary care setting.

The educational series was designed building from simple supportive teaching strategies to complex, evaluative, and accountability strategies. Each session can be completed independently but builds upon the previous module’s content. Sessions included precepting processes, reflection on past experience, and analysis for future application. Continuing education credit was awarded for individual sessions as live or recorded events.

Evaluation/outcome: Session outcomes were assessed through group discussions and individual evaluations revealing new insights about application of the topics to the primary care setting. Examples include allowing students to determine learning goals while working in a drive-up clinic setting, encouraging students to take a leadership role when designing a flu clinic, and engaging students through provision of formative evaluation. Participants also discussed applying their new knowledge in other interprofessional relationships within the practice setting. A collective evaluation score of 4.66 (of 5-point scale) indicated that participants found the session content and presenters to be effective in achieving session outcomes.

The series will be evaluated using grant-required evaluation questions, general applicability of the content to practice, and usefulness of the novel delivery approach. Attendance ranged from 40-60%; however, the model accommodated independent learning so additional preceptors and RN staff can benefit from the professional development opportunities.