Abstract
Preceptorship, students working with expert clinicians, is a common model of clinical education for health professions. Preceptorship allows students to apply knowledge, refine skills, and adopt professional attitudes. However, an ongoing preceptor shortage hinders nursing education at all levels. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors influencing nurse practitioners’ (NPs) decision to be preceptors. We deployed an online survey to NPs residing in the United States. We used quantitative and rapid qualitative analysis to evaluate the influence of 11 factors on preceptorship status and intent to be a future preceptor. We received 1,295 responses. Employer support, self-efficacy, NP program, clinical setting, incentives, and benefits of preceptorship, predicted status as a previous or never, compared to current preceptor. Attitude toward preceptorship predicted previous preceptors, while normative beliefs predicted never preceptors. Narrative responses highlighted clinical setting and lack of employer support as predictors of previous or never preceptors. These findings support previous studies of NP preceptorship. NP programs should develop strategies focused on employers, relationships with potential preceptors, and optimization of clinical placements. This study could be replicated with other nursing roles and professions to evaluate a common barrier to healthcare provider education.
Notes
References:
Boyce DJ, Shifrin MM, Moses SR, Moss CR. Perceptions of motivating factors and barriers to precepting. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2022;34(11):1225-1234. Published 2022 Nov 1. doi:10.1097/JXX.0000000000000788
Burt L, Sparbel K, Corbridge S. Nurse practitioner preceptor resource needs and perceptions of institutional support. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2021;34(2):348-356. Published 2021 Jun 15. doi:10.1097/JXX.0000000000000629
DeClerk L, Chasteen S, Wells C, Baxter J, Rojo M. To precept or not to precept: Perspectives from nurse practitioners. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. Published online September 10, 2024. doi:10.1097/JXX.0000000000001071
DeClerk L, Lefler L, Nagel C, Mitchell A, Rojo M, Sparbel K. Why don't all nurse practitioners precept? A comparative study. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2021;34(4):668-682. Published 2021 Dec 29. doi:10.1097/JXX.0000000000000680
Roberts LR, Champlin A, Saunders JSD, Pueschel RD, Huerta GM. Meeting preceptor expectations to facilitate optimal nurse practitioner student clinical rotations. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2020;32(5):400-407. doi:10.1097/JXX.0000000000000304
Sigma Membership
Gamma Xi at-Large
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Mixed/Multi Method Research
Keywords:
Precepting, Clinical Education, Nurse Practitioners Attitudes Towards Preceptorships
Recommended Citation
DeClerk, Leonie and Rojo, Martha, "Predicting Preceptorship: A Multi-State Survey Study" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 172.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/172
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
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.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Predicting Preceptorship: A Multi-State Survey Study
Seattle, Washington, USA
Preceptorship, students working with expert clinicians, is a common model of clinical education for health professions. Preceptorship allows students to apply knowledge, refine skills, and adopt professional attitudes. However, an ongoing preceptor shortage hinders nursing education at all levels. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors influencing nurse practitioners’ (NPs) decision to be preceptors. We deployed an online survey to NPs residing in the United States. We used quantitative and rapid qualitative analysis to evaluate the influence of 11 factors on preceptorship status and intent to be a future preceptor. We received 1,295 responses. Employer support, self-efficacy, NP program, clinical setting, incentives, and benefits of preceptorship, predicted status as a previous or never, compared to current preceptor. Attitude toward preceptorship predicted previous preceptors, while normative beliefs predicted never preceptors. Narrative responses highlighted clinical setting and lack of employer support as predictors of previous or never preceptors. These findings support previous studies of NP preceptorship. NP programs should develop strategies focused on employers, relationships with potential preceptors, and optimization of clinical placements. This study could be replicated with other nursing roles and professions to evaluate a common barrier to healthcare provider education.
Description
Lack of preceptors creates barriers to nurse practitioner (NP) education. This survey study evaluated predictive factors of NP preceptorship. Eight factors identified status as a previous or never preceptor compared to current preceptor. These findings support previous studies of NP preceptorship. NP educational program can use findings to frame strategies to increase available preceptors. The study could be replicated for other nursing roles or professions.