Date of Conferral
2015
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Health Services
Advisor
Cassandra Taylor
Abstract
Nurse turnover is a significant problem that has led to a nursing shortage in hospitals, particularly in rural hospitals. The nursing shortage will continue to grow if changes are not implemented to retain qualified nurses. Nurse turnover puts patients at risk for substandard care and increases healthcare-related costs, as organizations try to recoup costs to train and orient new nurses. Retention, turnover, and quality of care are important organizational drivers. One strategy that targets each of these drivers is to have newly hired nurses partake in a preceptorship, where a preceptor facilitates the assimilation and amalgamation of newly hired nurses into their role. Guided by the preceptor conceptual framework, the purpose of this project was to develop and plan a preceptor-training program, which targeted the field sites specific needs. Preceptor and preceptee roles were defined and training modules were created on topics such as communication, adult learning, diversity, time management, assessment, critical thinking, and problem solving. One master binder was created that contained the content required to teach each module of the preceptor-training program. The field site will use this information in conjunction with different delivery methods to implement and evaluate the program. The evaluation plan is to perform formative evaluation after each module is presented and summative evaluation at the conclusion of the allotted training days, using a Likert scale questionnaire. Establishing an instructive program for preceptor training may assist and support preceptors in their role; this program may also affect the preceptee's job satisfaction and ultimately, retention. Safe, efficient, quality care is the cornerstone of the social change implications in practice. Preceptors may feel better about the precepting process and patients may benefit from improved care.
Recommended Citation
Squillaci, Laurie Lynn, "Preceptor Training and Nurse Retention" (2015). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 303.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/303
