Reflection on Nurse Preceptor Training Courses: The Experiences of Nurse Preceptors and Preceptees

Abstract

The Taiwan Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation established a nurse preceptor training program in 2012. However, there has been minimal assessment of the nurse preceptor training program from the respective perspectives of nurse preceptors and preceptees. This study explores the teaching experiences of nurse preceptors and the learning experiences of new nurses, and reflects on the nurse preceptor training program. Investigators used a qualitative method to conduct 5 focus group interviews with 15 nurse preceptors and 14 new nurses in a medical center in northern Taiwan. Interview data was analyzed using content analysis. Eight themes were categorized from the teaching experiences of preceptors and two themes were categorized from the learning experiences of preceptees. The analysis of the data shows that this nurse preceptor training program focused on enhancing teaching skills and assessment skills and lacked instruction in teaching affection, guidance skills, and emotion management. This study may be used as a reference for developing training courses for nurse preceptors in Taiwan.