Professional Experience Placement

A descriptive study by Kim et al (2014) evaluated the perceptions of senior nursing students regarding their preceptorship experiences; provision of nursing care; confidence and competency level of nursing skills. Outcomes demonstrated that students’ perceived competency was positively associated with their level of interaction with their preceptor. There was a significant correlation between the overall competency level and confidence of students. Interestingly a driver for this study was fiscal management. Healthcare environments cautiously analyse their systems to ensure effective utilisation of human resources. This study (USA) reported that the expenses of orientating and a new professional nurse in an acute setting could over $96 000 (USD).  It has also been calculated that in 2007 it cost between $82-88000 to replace a nurse.  Therefore effective preceptorship is important to reduce turnover rate of nurses.  These authors also reported that this model reduced medication errors made by new nurses from 50% to 0%.  Kim et al (2014) argued that effective preceptorship programs could increase the confidence and competence of senior nursing students, improve socialisation and assist with reducing orientation costs when they hired participants after the program.

Kim et al (2014) indicated they found that the development of a working relationship between the preceptor and students was a vital aspect of the preceptor-guided practicum experience. Students indicated it was very important to have a primary preceptor. It is documented that this one-to-one relationship benefits the student by enabling setting go objectives and goals and development of trust. Similarly preceptors indicated this enabled assignment of activities based on students competency was possible. Kim et al (2014) also reported that the length of time students spent undertaking their practicum influenced how confident and competent they self-rated themselves. This is important because the combination of being effectively preceptored and being in placement for sufficient periods of time bodes well for students gaining confidence and competence that can be translated into work-readiness for these senior students.

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