Thank you for working with our students in their precepting assignments for the semester.  We have added the following items to help you with the requirements of the Precepting assignment and required forms.

Please review the following items:

• Preceptorship Manual
• Preceptor Orientation
• Preceptor Information Form (all preceptors need to complete this online form)
• Form A: Student-Preceptor Form
• Form B: Student-Preceptor Letter of Agreement
• Form C: Proposed Preceptorship/Preceptor Schedule
• Form D: Daily Preceptorship/Preceptor Attendance Record
• Form E: Student Objectives for Preceptorship
• Form F: Student Evaluation of Preceptorship
• Form G: Preceptor Evaluation of Nursing Student NUR 115
• Form H: Preceptor Evaluation of Nursing Student NUR 221
• Form I: Preceptor Final Evaluation of NUR 221 Nursing Student

CONTACT INFORMATION

GOALS OF PRECEPTORSHIP

The goals of the preceptorship are to:

1. Facilitate transition from the role of the student to the role of the professional nurse.
2. Provide students with opportunities to apply leadership and management theory.
3. Provide students with opportunities for learning new nursing roles, refine nursing skills, develop advanced skills, including context-specific technology.
4. Provide students with opportunities for expanding knowledge, critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills in the clinical setting.

This can best be accomplished by:

1. The student working directly with a preceptor as the preceptor works on the nursing unit.
2. The preceptor and student working as a team to accomplish the required patient care, supervision of other personnel, plus the many other duties on a nursing unit.
3. As the preceptor feels comfortable with the student’s expertise and confidence, the student should be allowed to increase the responsibility and amount of work accomplished.
4. The preceptor assisting the student in selection of specific objectives to be accomplished during the preceptorship will evaluate these objectives informally on a daily basis.
5. The preceptor giving immediate feedback to the student on performance as they work together as a team on the nursing unit.

PRECEPTOR INFORMATION

Preceptor agreements are individual contractual arrangements for supervision of students. The faculty, in collaboration with nurse educators and managers of the contracted clinical facilities, provide an educational experience designed to meet the NUR 115 and NUR 221 course objectives. The preceptorship includes a minimum of 48 clinical hours for NUR 115 under the direct supervision of an assigned Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) preceptor, and a minimum of 156 clinical hours for NUR 221 under the direct supervision of an assigned Registered Nurse (RN) preceptor, utilizing the clinical setting as a simulated entry level practice experience.

PRECEPTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

The preceptor has to be an LPN or RN who holds a current unencumbered license to practice professional nursing in the state of Alabama, with a minimum of an ADN degree, has at least one year of nursing experience, and exemplifies clinical competencies in the area of their responsibility. The preceptor is responsible for the on-site clinical supervision of the assigned nursing student, must have exceptional communication skills, readiness to participate in the educator role, clinical proficiency, and exhibit leadership qualities. The preceptor agrees to be assigned no more than one student per shift.

PRIOR TO BEGINNING:

Meet with the student to:

1. Complete the preceptor portion of the Student/Preceptor Data Form in the student’s handbook.
2. Sign the Student-Preceptor Letter of Agreement.
3. Develop with the student a mutually agreed proposed schedule for a minimum of 48 clinical hours (NUR 115) or 156 clinical hours (NUR 221) and complete the Proposed Preceptorship/Preceptor Schedule.
4. Complete the Preceptor Orientation to become familiar with the preceptor’s responsibilities and the preceptorship policies. (See above)
5. Review the Student’s Learning Objectives and the Skills Checklist with assigned student.

DURING THE PRECEPTORSHIP:

1. Assist the student to develop/refine skills in delegation, priority setting, critical thinking, and consideration of the multidisciplinary team concept.
2. Assist the student in gaining insight, responsibility, and accountability in the staff nurse role, including communicating with members of the health care team.
3. Select clinical assignments based upon the student’s knowledge, clinical objectives, nursing skill competency, student limitations, and guidelines for adult learners outlined in the Preceptorship
4. Facilitate the use of technology to document, communicate (SBAR), and support decision m
5. Demonstrate nursing procedures and/or observe the student in performance of such procedures.
6. Ensure Student Limitations are met. Directly observe all invasive procedures (i.e. nasogastric tube insertion/removal, catheterization, venipuncture, all injections, IV push medications).
7. Sign the Daily Preceptorship/Preceptor Attendance Record each day to verify the number of hours The student may work up to 12.5 hours per shift and lunch is counted.
8. In NUR 115, students will be evaluated during the faculty visit. In NUR 221, the student’s performance of clinical objectives will be evaluated after the sixth clinical day and at the end of the preceptorship. Completion of the evaluation form and signatures of the student, preceptor, and faculty are required. If a rating of “Needs Improvement” and/or an “Unsatisfactory” is given on any objective, the student will be required to meet with the faculty to discuss remediation.
9. Communicate with the faculty at any time during the preceptorship regarding the student’s progress, any difficulties that the student is having, or for any questions, or
10. If the student seems unprepared, or whose performance jeopardizes the safety of the patient, they shall be removed from the clinical unit and the faculty notified immediately. The faculty advisor will decide the next course of action according to department policies.

AT THE END OF THE PRECEPTORSHIP:

Complete the final evaluation of the student’s performance of each clinical objective. Review and discuss the evaluation before obtaining signatures of the student, preceptor, and faculty.