Management Project; Preceptor Program

First - don't panic. All you're doing is putting down on paper what you do at your facility and how to teach a new nurse to do the same thing to a reasonable standard.

I don't know if there are specific competencies or objectives that need to be addressed - ie compliance with any state or national standards but certainly you'll have local and organisational procedures and practices.

Also, if it's for new hires - it depends on if the organisation has any other induction or orientation programs. I'll add those in here in case they haven't.

These are some of my top-of-my-head ideas for precepting....

The main body of your project should be to identify the main components of the job -

- identify the patient group you work with and common clinical presentations

- list the common interventions and treatments - these are your base competencies (admission & discharge included)

- provide theoretical grounding in the main aspects of the role (evidence base)

- practice sessions for the clinical procedures

- use other disciplines to teach around their roles

Then identify teaching methods -

- break the process down into smaller time frames so you can fit things in; demonstrate some progression of competence

- competent instructors (someone is always keen to show them how they do stuff or share their great knowledge!)

- identify opportunities for learning - regular events or frequent interventions are easy picking

- decide if off-line learning is an option; ie taking the new hires off the floor for formal teaching

- sometimes you can get guest speakers in but these cost so administration are often against this if they can source in-house

Give good induction to the organisation -

- Orientation at an early stage - a who's who and what's what of the company/orgnisation

- Cover any mandatory training in the first 6 weeks

- Provide info on HR; grievance procedure; unions; staff support/EAS

Add in some 'personal touches' to make their experience enjoyable but objective -

- get decent preceptors and train them up well - specify their focus is on the good experience of the preceptee (that's how to retain new staff)

- give the new hires some breathing space; if you can give them some supernumerary time early on they can ease into the role

- roster them well and with competent supervisors; 60-80% of their time should be with their preceptors for the first few months and the preceptor should 'lead' them into the advanced - beginner role

- provide some opportunities to taste 'the good life' - a couple of study courses away from work always help - can be costly but can increase experience satisfaction and increase retention (hold them in the latter ¾ of their time tho!)

As for your project presentation/in-service -

It doesn't sound like you need to 'sell' the idea as your boss has asked you get it ready.

However, you can still make a business case type presentation - ie show them how your preceptorship will lead to value for money, service quality improvement and better team functioning.

Use stats on 'retention' and talk of costs of badly training a new hire who then goes somewhere else;

Talk about "magnet status" hospitals.

Just a few ideas - hope they help