Examining Preceptors’ Perceptions of Need Around Facilitating Clinical Immersion Experiences

Abstract

Context Clinical immersion experiences allow students to gain firsthand, authentic experiences to help them successfully matriculate into the profession. Preceptors supervise athletic training students during these experiences and are critical in the student’s clinical competence development. It is important to understand their needs to help facilitate a successful experience for the student. Objective To explore the needs of preceptors as they facilitate clinical immersion experiences for their athletic training students. Design Qualitative case study. Setting Athletic training practice settings facilitating clinical immersion. Patients or Other Participants Eight preceptors (6 female, 2 male) who met our inclusion criteria participated in our study. Data Collection and Analysis An exploratory, multiple-case study design was completed with preceptors. Results Four major themes emerged regarding preceptor needs for facilitating a clinical immersion experience: onboarding, communication on individual student needs, professional development as an educator, and relying on social support network. Conclusions Preceptors in our study communicated several needs that would better assist them in facilitating an immersive clinical experience for their students. Understanding these needs as a program administrator can better enhance the relationship between the didactic and clinical components of the educational program. Preceptors must also ask for additional information, resources, and support to help serve their needs in facilitating an immersive clinical experience for a student.