Examining the Role Mentorship Plays in the Development of Athletic Training Preceptors

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Context: Mentorship has been identified as a contributor to the socialization of athletic training preceptors. Understanding how mentorship occurs and contributes to preceptor development may help athletic training educators facilitate effective mentorship within their athletic training programs. Objective: Examine preceptors' perceptions of mentoring as part of their socialization into this role. Design: Qualitative study. Setting: Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education programs. Patients or Other Participants: Twelve athletic trainers representing 4 National Athletic Trainers' Association districts, including 5 men and 7 women, average age = 32 ± 10.5 years, and average of 5 ± 5.0 years' experience as a preceptor. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants responded to 14 interview questions regarding their perceptions of mentoring. Two researchers analyzed data using an inductive approach to identify themes and supporting categories. Trustworthiness was established by piloting the interview, using multiple analyst triangulation, and peer review. Results: Four themes emerged from the data: (1) characteristics, (2) processes, (3) mentoring by emulating, and (4) roles of mentoring. Participants identified that communication and commitment are characteristics of effective mentorship. Preceptors learn to mentor by emulating other preceptors, and mentoring relationships develop through both formal and informal processes. Mentoring serves multiple roles for preceptors, including providing a support system and facilitating reciprocal learning for both mentors and protégés. Conclusions: Participants perceive mentoring as beneficial to their initial and ongoing development as preceptors. Preceptors learn to mentor by emulating current and past mentors, emphasizing the importance of modeling for both preceptors and students. Clinical education coordinators can facilitate the mentoring of preceptors by educating them on the benefits of engaging in it as well as connecting experienced preceptors with newer preceptors.