Other Titles

Developing nurses: From student to nurse leader

Abstract

Session presented on Friday, July 22, 2016:

Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to examine the relationships between preceptor's perceptions of benefits, rewards, supports and commitment to the preceptor role.

Methods: A non-experimental, descriptive, correlational and quantitative survey design and a non-probability purposive sampling method were applied and utilised in this study. The setting for the research is the Intensive Care Units (n=13) of four major academic hospitals in Gauteng Province. The sample comprised of 80 (n=80) Intensive Care registered nurses, employed throughout the Intensive Care Units (n=13). Data was collected by means of a self-administered checklist (Dibert & Goldenberg, 1995) and participants were asked to rate all the items independently on a 4-point Likert scale. Data analysis determined the incidence of preceptor's perceptions of the benefits, rewards, support and commitment to the preceptor role. Preceptors perceive there are benefits for the preceptor in preceptorship.

Results: Preceptors use the preceptorship relationship to assist a student/newly qualified nurse in the transition and adaption to the new role and environment in which they are placed. It is an educational relationship between a skilled and experienced individual and a preceptee in need of support in the environment of placement. It offers a period of support and socialisation into the new role being taken by the student upon achieving their qualification. Preceptorship is a time-limited teaching and learning strategy in the clinical environment where clinical staff act as role models. Primarily, preceptors engage in preceptorsship to share knowledge, obtain recognition and achieve job satisfaction. Preceptors are highly qualified and valued staff, who undertake this role in addition to their clinical responsibilities and the risk of burnout exists if asked to assume additional obligations without appropriate rewards and support. Consequently, needs and expectations necessitate understanding so that preceptors, preceptees and clinical facilities may benefit from such programmes. The study indicated that if preceptors perceive there to be support for them in the preceptor role, their commitment to the role of preceptorship increases. Years of experience, age and gender had no significant role in the preceptor commitment.

Conclusion: Preceptors in the intensive care environment in Gauteng are committed to their role. It is the responsibility of the education, institutions and nursing practice to provide benefit, rewards and support to sustain this role.

Author Details

Alida Hettie Viljoen, RN, RM, RCC

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Descriptive/Correlational

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Preceptorship, Critical Care, Quantitative

Conference Name

27th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Cape Town, South Africa

Conference Year

2016

Rights Holder

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All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

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Nurse preceptors' perceptions of benefits, rewards, support and commitment to their preceptor role

Cape Town, South Africa

Session presented on Friday, July 22, 2016:

Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to examine the relationships between preceptor's perceptions of benefits, rewards, supports and commitment to the preceptor role.

Methods: A non-experimental, descriptive, correlational and quantitative survey design and a non-probability purposive sampling method were applied and utilised in this study. The setting for the research is the Intensive Care Units (n=13) of four major academic hospitals in Gauteng Province. The sample comprised of 80 (n=80) Intensive Care registered nurses, employed throughout the Intensive Care Units (n=13). Data was collected by means of a self-administered checklist (Dibert & Goldenberg, 1995) and participants were asked to rate all the items independently on a 4-point Likert scale. Data analysis determined the incidence of preceptor's perceptions of the benefits, rewards, support and commitment to the preceptor role. Preceptors perceive there are benefits for the preceptor in preceptorship.

Results: Preceptors use the preceptorship relationship to assist a student/newly qualified nurse in the transition and adaption to the new role and environment in which they are placed. It is an educational relationship between a skilled and experienced individual and a preceptee in need of support in the environment of placement. It offers a period of support and socialisation into the new role being taken by the student upon achieving their qualification. Preceptorship is a time-limited teaching and learning strategy in the clinical environment where clinical staff act as role models. Primarily, preceptors engage in preceptorsship to share knowledge, obtain recognition and achieve job satisfaction. Preceptors are highly qualified and valued staff, who undertake this role in addition to their clinical responsibilities and the risk of burnout exists if asked to assume additional obligations without appropriate rewards and support. Consequently, needs and expectations necessitate understanding so that preceptors, preceptees and clinical facilities may benefit from such programmes. The study indicated that if preceptors perceive there to be support for them in the preceptor role, their commitment to the role of preceptorship increases. Years of experience, age and gender had no significant role in the preceptor commitment.

Conclusion: Preceptors in the intensive care environment in Gauteng are committed to their role. It is the responsibility of the education, institutions and nursing practice to provide benefit, rewards and support to sustain this role.