Other Titles
Insight Into the Orientation Needs for a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, From the Preceptor’s Perspective [Poster Title]
Abstract
Nursing orientation has been noted to have long-term impacts on confidence, preparedness, and retention (Barrett, 2020). Preceptors play a key role of any orientation program and are vital to a successful orientation and transition to practice (Chu, 2023; Durkin et al., 2022). Nurses transitioning to the Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) require additional education and training to gain competency caring for fragile newborns (Fiske, 2018; McDermott, 2023).
The overall aim of this IRB approved quality improvement initiative was to understand and improve the orientation experience from the preceptors’ perspectives. Surveys were provided to 42 nurses, 28 responded and 23 provided comments. Surveys were voluntary and anonymous. Comments from the survey were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Three major themes were found: the need for a shared mental model, necessity for a strong foundation for neonatal nursing and the desire for a supportive learning environment. Shared mental model was characterized by respondents’ desire for standardization. They expressed a need for consistency in the approach to orientation, specifically content and expectations. Respondents commented on meeting individual needs of each orientee including timeline of orientation, solidifying workflow and the progression of learning.
Nurses reflected on the necessity for a strong foundation for neonatal nursing. They addressed the need to have flexibility within a framework and a desire for orientees to have access to didactic learning.
The theme of supportive learning environment was characterized by systems support and attitudes that impacted the learning environment. Respondents recognized the need for assistance with prioritization of orientee assignments, support for redirecting orientation and development of learning goals. Respondents also reflected on meeting between the Clinical Nurse Educator and the preceptor orientee dyad referred to as ‘check-ins’ on our unit. Lastly, they commented on the impact of teamwork and the influence of the interdisciplinary team on the learning environment.
Providing an orientation experience for nurses caring for unique patient populations necessitates acquisition of foundational skills, identification of goals and a plan to assist learners in meeting these goals. Understanding preceptors experiences in sub-specialty settings will provide valuable insight into the specific professional development needs for orientees and preceptors.
Notes
References:
Barrett, R. (2020). Changing preceptorship to achieve better quality training and less attrition in newly qualified nurses. British Journal of Nursing, 29(12), 706–709. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2020.29.12.706
Chu, R. Z. (2023). The impact of nurse preceptors on new graduate rns. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!, 21(2), 37–39. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nme.0000913960.18904.52
Durkin, G. J., Cosetta, M., Mara, C., Memmolo, S., Nixon, C., Rogan, M., & Pignataro, S. (2022). A multimodal project to assess preceptor burnout. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 39(1), 33–41. https://doi.org/10.1097/nnd.0000000000000820
Fiske, E. (2018). Nurse stressors and satisfiers in the nicu. Advances in Neonatal Care, 18(4), 276–284. https://doi.org/10.1097/anc.0000000000000514
McDermott, C. (2023). Supporting competency-based time-variable orientation of newly licensed rns. Nurse Leader, 21(2), 169–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2022.12.005
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quality Improvement
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Transition to Practice or Onboarding, Precepting, Competence, Orientations
Recommended Citation
Flynn, Megan E. and Cyr, Angela, "Insight into the Orientation Needs for a Sub-Specialty From the Preceptors Perspective" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 92.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/92
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
Insight into the Orientation Needs for a Sub-Specialty From the Preceptors Perspective
Seattle, Washington, USA
Nursing orientation has been noted to have long-term impacts on confidence, preparedness, and retention (Barrett, 2020). Preceptors play a key role of any orientation program and are vital to a successful orientation and transition to practice (Chu, 2023; Durkin et al., 2022). Nurses transitioning to the Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) require additional education and training to gain competency caring for fragile newborns (Fiske, 2018; McDermott, 2023).
The overall aim of this IRB approved quality improvement initiative was to understand and improve the orientation experience from the preceptors’ perspectives. Surveys were provided to 42 nurses, 28 responded and 23 provided comments. Surveys were voluntary and anonymous. Comments from the survey were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Three major themes were found: the need for a shared mental model, necessity for a strong foundation for neonatal nursing and the desire for a supportive learning environment. Shared mental model was characterized by respondents’ desire for standardization. They expressed a need for consistency in the approach to orientation, specifically content and expectations. Respondents commented on meeting individual needs of each orientee including timeline of orientation, solidifying workflow and the progression of learning.
Nurses reflected on the necessity for a strong foundation for neonatal nursing. They addressed the need to have flexibility within a framework and a desire for orientees to have access to didactic learning.
The theme of supportive learning environment was characterized by systems support and attitudes that impacted the learning environment. Respondents recognized the need for assistance with prioritization of orientee assignments, support for redirecting orientation and development of learning goals. Respondents also reflected on meeting between the Clinical Nurse Educator and the preceptor orientee dyad referred to as ‘check-ins’ on our unit. Lastly, they commented on the impact of teamwork and the influence of the interdisciplinary team on the learning environment.
Providing an orientation experience for nurses caring for unique patient populations necessitates acquisition of foundational skills, identification of goals and a plan to assist learners in meeting these goals. Understanding preceptors experiences in sub-specialty settings will provide valuable insight into the specific professional development needs for orientees and preceptors.
Description
Providing an orientation for nurses caring for unique patient populations necessitates acquisition of foundational skills, identification of goals and a plan to assist learners in meeting these goals. The aim of this presentation is to provide insight into the orientation experience in a sub-specialty area from the preceptors’ perspectives. Understanding preceptors’ experiences will provide valuable insight into the specific professional development needs for orientees and preceptors.