Nursing preceptorship, a supportive and reflective approach for promoting a healthy working environment: a multi-methods design

Verena Jochim,Kristina Rosengren

doi:10.1177/20571585211025207

Abstract

Shortage of nurses negatively influences the working environment in hospitals, by placing extra burden on newly graduated nurses. Thus, it is important to improve the knowledge and skills of nurses to increase their confidence levels. Experienced nurses serve as role models for junior nurses. This study aimed to describe and analyze a project with a nursing preceptorship in an internal medicine ward in the eastern region of Sweden. Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE 2.0) were used in the multi-method approach. Quality indicators, staff turnover, short-term absence, and annual survey were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Moreover, two focus group interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The results showed marginal improvements due to quality indicators and working environment, and decreased staff turnover and short-term absenteeism. Two factors, ‘supportive working environment’ and ‘improvement in nursing’, were identified. The study concluded that selection of nurse preceptors with expertise and interest in supportive and reflective approaches is significant for promoting a healthy working environment. Moreover, interventions such as nursing preceptorship facilitate implementation (<one year) and evaluation using a multi-method design to describe, explain, and understand the possible considerations and consequences of quality improvement in healthcare.

Highlights

Due to the global shortage of nurses, workplaces need to recruit and retain well-trained nurses.[1,2] Personal and organizational factors influence nurses’ behavior in the workplace.[3]
Personal factors are described as interest, professional ambitions, job satisfaction, life situations, and family circumstances,[4,5] while organizational factors include infrastructure, working environment, salary, work tasks, and career plans.[1,6]
In terms of staff turnover, organizational factors appear to influence nurses’ decision to resign, while personal factors determine whether they remain in the profession.[7]

Summary

Introduction

Due to the global shortage of nurses, workplaces need to recruit and retain well-trained nurses.[1,2] Personal and organizational factors influence nurses’ behavior in the workplace.[3]. Limited preparedness in nursing with gaps between theory and practice causes insecurity and problems such as physical fatigue, mental stress, and insomnia.[8,9,10,11] Organizational weaknesses and the shortage of nurses causes tension between a nurse’s ideals on holistic care and demands at work.[1,4] Unexpected changes in patients’

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Conclusion