The broad definition of a nursing preceptorship can be applied at the start of a nurse’s career. This is the period of a known structured transition that is designed to guide and then support those newly qualified practitioners.
Nurses may need the period when they begin to graduate from being students to an autonomous professional. With a successful preceptorship, a nurse can quickly develop their practice.
In this guide, we will look at what a preceptorship is and how a preceptorship helps a nursing professional. We will also look at the further benefits for employers, what a nursing professional can expect from a preceptorship, and its lasting effects.
What Is A Nursing Preceptorship?
Once an individual becomes a nursing professional, their preceptorship effectively begins. The aim of this initial period is to provide a welcome to a nursing professional and integrate them into their team and workplace.
While nursing professionals will have learned their training, the preceptorship is when they begin to apply it. That means applying their knowledge into real situations and everyday practice to know how their teachings really translate.
How A Preceptorship Helps A Nursing Professional
It should be noted that a preceptorship is not there to come in the way of appraisals or even act as an alternative to a formal induction.
Mandatory training will still apply, though the preceptorship will provide an opportunity to repeat and re-try those skills and applied knowledge. The preceptorship may even be voluntary but form a crucial part at the beginning of a nursing professional’s career (see also our article on a nursing management career path).
Those benefits for a nurse, midwife (see also ‘How To Become A Postpartum Nurse‘), or nursing associate are numerous. Aside from the structured support for applying that knowledge into real-world situations, the period helps a nursing professional identify their own development needs.
The benefits may even be felt more by the employer as they see a nursing professional advance in their performance from an increased confidence (see also ‘How Long Does It Take To Be A Confident Nurse?‘) with a sense of belonging.
Further Benefits For Employers From A Nursing Preceptorship
Keeping employees happy is a key factor for any employer and that can come from a nursing preceptorship. One of the telling reasons for a nursing preceptorship is how their successful outcomes matter so much to retention and better recruitment.
If more nurses, midwives, and nursing professionals are seen to succeed in the profession then that only attracts more to the profession. Positive outcomes from a preceptorship continue to help nursing professionals strive to provide excellent and effective care.
What A Nursing Professional Can Expect From Their Preceptorship
The start of a nursing professional career can seem daunting so it helps to be supported by a senior nurse. Their nous and experience can prove vital in certain situations when training does not seem to apply.
There may not be just a single nurse but a team who are available to answer any questions or queries a nursing professional may have.
However, chances are that during a preceptorship, there should be primarily a single person required to sign off on a nursing professional’s competencies.
The preceptorship is typically recommended to last between six and 12 months. That period could be even longer depending on how comfortable the nursing professional feels and how many competencies have been ticked off.
It may also vary depending on the employer and the recommendation of the senior nurse who has been allocated to oversee the preceptorship.
There could also be a set amount of sessions to attend whereas other preceptorships may be less structured and more fluid to allow the nursing professional to go ahead and do it.
The Lasting Effects Of A Preceptorship
A preceptorship is well worth undertaking for a nursing professional as its benefits can be felt early on and throughout their career. This is a crucial period that can really help an individual prove that they are qualified to do the job.
Whether this is typically spent building on their current knowledge, the period is also used to identify any weak areas which can be developed.
There may be certain scenarios that have not been mentioned during training yet during preceptorship they can be worked on.
It helps a nursing professional to know that they can ask questions and be supported on certain aspects of their job. There may be a desired list of competencies in the role and a preceptorship helps a nursing professional gain confidence in several and grow their abilities.
This can identify certain strengths but also identify areas which need to be improved and focused on. Each workplace will do their preceptorships a little bit differently as it is more of a period of learning and not every scenario can be covered.
Final Thoughts
Any prospective nursing professionals should find out as much as they can about a preceptorship as it forms such an important part of their development.
It helps to know what support is on offer and how long the preceptorship is expected to take. If a nursing professional does get several job offers then finding out about a preceptorship becomes an even bigger responsibility.
Both for their own learning and development, but also finding out about how well the employer trains and retains their staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Preceptorship Mandatory For Nursing Professionals?
Though a preceptorship is seen as a vital part at the start of a nursing professional’s career, it is not strictly mandatory. A lot of employers may insist that they form part of a nursing professional’s start in a new workplace though it only comes strongly recommended.
How Long Does The Period Of A Newly Qualified Nurse Last For?
Whether a nursing professional undertakes a nursing preceptorship or not, their period as a newly qualified nurse lasts for between four and 12 months. That first year is crucial for training and learning on the job.
However, the amount of time spent under a preceptorship may well depend on how well a nursing professional is considered professionally competent.