Date of Conferral

2016

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

Jean Sorrell

Abstract

Consistency in clinical preceptor training for sonography students is important in assuring equity in sonography student evaluation. Review of a local community college sonography program revealed a gap between expected roles and responsibilities of clinical preceptorship and what was actually done in the clinical setting. The purpose of this project study was to explore perceptions of graduates and preceptors regarding what constituted best practices in the evaluation of sonography students in the clinical setting. Knowles's theory of active learning provided a framework for understanding the student-preceptor relationship in the evaluation process. Research questions focused on sonography graduates' and clinical preceptors' perceptions of important practices for ensuring consistency and equity in clinical evaluation. A case study design composed of face-to-face interviews with 5 graduates and 5 preceptors at the study community college was used to address the research questions. Sonography graduates were at least 2 years post-graduation; preceptors had at least 1 year with the program and at least 2 years of clinical experience. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and open coded to identify common themes. Four themes were identified: similar definitions of consistency in evaluation, importance of immediate feedback after skillls performance, potential favoritism in clinical evaluation, and the need to enforce program policies. Findings were used to design a clinical preceptor training workshop that could provide a better understanding of effective measures to attain consistency and equity in the evaluation process, fostering positive social change by helping prepare sonography students as competent practitioners to address health care needs locally and globally.

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