Orientation for BSN-to-DNP Clinical Preceptors

Abstract

To support preceptor retention and recruitment efforts, a college of nursing in North Carolina desired to implement a formal orientation for clinical preceptors within a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to Doctor of Practice in Nursing (DNP) program. An online orientation training module was constructed as a DNP project. The training module was distributed via email to the program’s clinical preceptors (N = 137). During the project’s implementation 12-week implementation period (February 23, 2021 through May 18, 2021), an application was submitted to associate module completion with continuing education credit. The self-paced module addressed: program and course-specific information; expectations of students, preceptors, and faculty; and strategies for providing structured student feedback (via the “One Minute Preceptor” and “Feedback Sandwich” methods). Interactive components of the module included: a pre-module demographics survey/training methods preference assessment, a post-module feedback survey, and a post-module knowledge check. Approximately 90% of respondents indicated satisfaction with the training module and 75% of respondents indicated a strong preference for online training. The module received approval for one hour of continuing education credit after the implementation closed. Future participants will be eligible to receive one hour of continuing education credit from August 2021 through August of 2023. Project limitations included a low response rate overall (14.5%) and restrictions resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic. Continuing education credit was not offered during the study’s implementation which may have increased participation. This project highlights the ongoing need to support clinical preceptors to support growth of nurse practitioners in the healthcare workforce.