New graduate nurse preceptor program: A collaborative approach with academia

Abstract

The purpose of this project involved partnering experienced nursing faculty with hospital educators to enhance an existing preceptor program. The existing preceptor program consists of a six week program designed to facilitate the new graduate nurse during transition from student nurse to graduate nurse. The aim of the project was to promote preceptor and preceptor trainer competency. The project was designed to increase job satisfaction and retention of new graduate nurses as the nursing shortage escalates. Paired t-test of preceptor perceptions of ability to motivate, guide and educate, and evaluate new graduate nurses revealed significantly increased confidence for each of these items following completion of the preceptor training and precepting experience. The results from this study provide health care organizations, hospital educators, and faculty nurse educators with encouraging findings indicating the benefits of continued partnerships between academia and practice settings.