Preceptorship as a Clinical Teaching Strategy: Nursing Students’ Experiences at Selected Clinical Settings in the North-East of Namibia

Abstract

Preceptors with relevant experience are employed to facilitate learning in clinical areas in order to transfer knowledge to undergraduates to help them build their clinical competence. Institutions of higher education should continuously explore the experiences of nursing students regarding preceptorship. However, the experiences of student nurses on the use of preceptorship as a teaching strategy in clinical areas in Namibia have not been extensively researched. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe student nurses’ experiences in this regard during placement in clinical settings in the north-east of Namibia. A qualitative approach was employed comprising an explorative, descriptive and contextual design. The research population for this particular study consisted of nursing students studying for a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree at the University of Namibia, Rundu campus, who were registered for the 2020 academic year. The sample was drawn from this population using convenient sampling. Data were collected on 15 student nurses from years 1 to 4 undertaking a Bachelor of Nursing programme, using semi-structured interviews and analysed by means of thematic analysis. Four main themes subsequently emerged: preceptorship as a teaching strategy; facilitators for preceptorship; hindrances to preceptorship; and improvements to regain preceptorship. The study recommends that the University of Namibia consider recruiting more preceptors on all levels for major subjects. The findings of this study consequently call for well-articulated plans and actions on the part of the Faculty of Health Sciences and School of Nursing management teams to address the challenges identified in the study.