Abstract
Background:Preceptorship has been found to ensure a positive and healthy start to a clinician’s career. Evidence shows increased staff satisfaction and empowerment and decreased medical errors as a result of preceptorship. There is limited literature that includes allied health professionals, particularly new orthoptic graduates. This study aims to: 1) explore the effectiveness of the British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS) preceptorship programme at providing support and confidence in newly graduated orthoptists, 2) explore new graduates’ experience of embedding public health in their clinical practice.Methodology:Focus groups were organised for mentors and mentees to discuss their experiences with the BIOS preceptorship programme and how it facilitated embedding public health into clinical practice. Constant comparison analysis was used to identify key themes of discussion.Findings:The preceptorship document promoted structure, reflection, and engagement all of which contributed to effective transition for the mentees. However, document navigation, lack of preceptorship exposure at undergraduate level and leadership engagement were potential barriers to using the programme. The programme encouraged public health engagement among new graduates but barriers such as time pressure, lack of experience and patient understanding were challenges that often prevented the adoption of public health skills and behaviours within their practice.Conclusion:The BIOS preceptorship successfully supports new graduates in their transition into an autonomous practitioner. The programme could be improved by the implementation of a guidance document to assist mentors in their role. Preceptorship engagement could be improved by increasing exposure to undergraduate orthoptic students and departments alike.
Highlights
The themes were broadly grouped into enablers and barriers for uptake of the preceptorship programme followed by the outcomes of having completed the programme from both the mentors and mentees perspectives
The preceptorship programme by British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS) was successful in engaging new graduate orthoptists in constructive professional behaviours which contributed to career progression and helped to harbour a positive relationship between mentee and mentor which continued postpreceptorship
The interviews demonstrated the BIOS preceptorship successfully embedding behaviours that contribute to high quality practice in healthcare, such as leadership and autonomy
Summary
The presence of preceptorship has been shown to improve turnover rates, costs and retention rates while decreasing medical errors among newly qualified nursing staff (Lee et al 2009). It has demonstrated increased sense of psychological empowerment and professional autonomy One study reported newly qualified nurses were more likely to feel engaged and satisfied with their work if their preceptor had high levels of authentic leadership (Giallonardo, Wong, and Iwasiw 2010) This suggests an important part of effective preceptorship is engagement and leadership of the preceptor. This study aims to: 1) explore the effectiveness of the British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS) preceptorship programme at providing support and confidence in newly graduated orthoptists, 2) explore new graduates’ experience of embedding public health in their clinical practice
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