Abstract
Introduction: Nursing school is a rigorous and demanding program, often presenting more challenges than other baccalaureate degree programs. Clinical rotations can be particularly challenging as students spend over 50% of their time learning under the guidance of clinical nurse preceptors. The effectiveness of preceptors is crucial to the students' success (Cipher et al., 2021).
Purpose Statement: The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine how clinical nurse preceptors perceive their effectiveness while working baccalaureate nursing students.
Methodology: Convenience sampling was employed, and the inclusion criteria specified that participants must be registered nurses with at least one preceptorship experience within the past five years. A total of sixteen nurses participated in the study. Data were collected through interviews, field notes, journaling, and a demographic survey. After the data collection was complete, the six steps of thematic analysis were utilized (Braun & Clarke, 2006).
Results: Four main themes were identified that influenced the effectiveness of preceptors. The first theme, "Preparation is Essential for Preceptor Success," emphasizes that a preceptor's readiness, experience, and willingness have a significant impact on their to teach effectively. The second theme, "Student Readiness for Clinical Engagement," reflects students' preparedness to engage actively in clinical settings.
The "Need for Faculty Communication" emerged as the third key theme. The final theme, "Administrative Challenges," emerged as a significant barrier based on participants' insights regarding hospital facilities.
Implications: This study presents specific recommendations for both policy and participants in implementing these initiatives to enhance the preceptorship experience. Policy implications included suggestions aimed at improving their training and professional development opportunities, recognition in the role, and selection procedures for preceptors. Implications for practice included suggested initiatives that targeted communication gaps, lack of faculty presence, and gaps in awareness of students' scope of practice.
Conclusions: This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experience of being a preceptor. The data facilitated the identification of facilitators and barriers to the preceptors' ability to be effective, which is crucial as preceptors are at the core of successful student outcomes in clinical practice.
Notes
Extensive reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Iota Nu at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Phenomenology
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Precepting, Teaching/Learning Strategies, Teaching, Learning Strategies, Competence, Medical Preceptorship, Nurses' Attitudes, Professional Competence
Recommended Citation
Jenkins-Arraf, Kelly Anne, "Nurse Preceptors' Perceptions of Barriers and Facilitators to Effective Precepting" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 63.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2026/presentations_2026/63
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-04-30
Nurse Preceptors' Perceptions of Barriers and Facilitators to Effective Precepting
Washington, DC, USA
Introduction: Nursing school is a rigorous and demanding program, often presenting more challenges than other baccalaureate degree programs. Clinical rotations can be particularly challenging as students spend over 50% of their time learning under the guidance of clinical nurse preceptors. The effectiveness of preceptors is crucial to the students' success (Cipher et al., 2021).
Purpose Statement: The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine how clinical nurse preceptors perceive their effectiveness while working baccalaureate nursing students.
Methodology: Convenience sampling was employed, and the inclusion criteria specified that participants must be registered nurses with at least one preceptorship experience within the past five years. A total of sixteen nurses participated in the study. Data were collected through interviews, field notes, journaling, and a demographic survey. After the data collection was complete, the six steps of thematic analysis were utilized (Braun & Clarke, 2006).
Results: Four main themes were identified that influenced the effectiveness of preceptors. The first theme, "Preparation is Essential for Preceptor Success," emphasizes that a preceptor's readiness, experience, and willingness have a significant impact on their to teach effectively. The second theme, "Student Readiness for Clinical Engagement," reflects students' preparedness to engage actively in clinical settings.
The "Need for Faculty Communication" emerged as the third key theme. The final theme, "Administrative Challenges," emerged as a significant barrier based on participants' insights regarding hospital facilities.
Implications: This study presents specific recommendations for both policy and participants in implementing these initiatives to enhance the preceptorship experience. Policy implications included suggestions aimed at improving their training and professional development opportunities, recognition in the role, and selection procedures for preceptors. Implications for practice included suggested initiatives that targeted communication gaps, lack of faculty presence, and gaps in awareness of students' scope of practice.
Conclusions: This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experience of being a preceptor. The data facilitated the identification of facilitators and barriers to the preceptors' ability to be effective, which is crucial as preceptors are at the core of successful student outcomes in clinical practice.
Description
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how clinical nurse preceptors perceive their effectiveness when precepting nursing students. A solid understanding of what facilitates and hinders the preceptor's ability to be effective in their role can guide future recruiting, professional development, and retention initiatives.