Preceptorships????

Altra, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2005

I hate to be the only one who doesn't know what it is....so can someone explain what it is? What do you do? How long it lasts? I do know it is the final semester of nursing school....after finals? Are preceptorships done while you are still taking other classes?
I have not got any information on this yet....and I would like to know what I can look forward to...but I guess our instructors plan to tell us when the time comes.
But someone please give me a little brief info on what it's all about...grading...or what class this falls under.
Sorry to clutter so may questions, but that's how my mind was working as I typed this...
...Thanks

A "preceptorship" is just another word for clinical experience under the supervision of one or more preceptors, or mentors. You said it's during your last semester -- mine was also. For me, it was the clinical component of my final class.

Your school will tell you exactly how it will work, but it's generally more concentrated than clinicals you've experienced so far. For example - if your clinicals are 1-2 days/week in your other nursing classes, this may be a period of time where you have strictly your preceptorship, 30-40 hrs./week (or more) and no classes. In my case, it was 135 hours in a 3-1/2 week period in which we had no classroom activities. You'd be surprised how much more comfortable you feel after several days of "real world" experience - the entire 8 or 12 hr. shift, several days per week (just like working a typical RN schedule). You'll probably be paired with one or more preceptors and work their schedule with them.

How much responsibility you assume will depend on your school - I was fortunate to be able to assume total responsibility for our assigned pts. under the supervision of my preceptor - total care of 4 pts., admissions, discharges, communicating with case mgrs., families & other depts. ... the works. The only things that were still limited were my phone contact with docs, since as a student I still couldn't take a verbal order, and certain procedures like hanging blood or witnessing a consent, which only a licensed RN can do.

You asked about grading - in my case we had to fill out a self-eval and have our preceptor complete an eval of our performance once a week during that period. Our clinicals are always graded pass/fail - yours may be different.

Hope this helps somewhat - I hope you have a great experience as I did. :)

JustAnuthaGirl · Jun 27, 2005

A "preceptorship" is just another word for clinical experience under the supervision of one or more preceptors, or mentors. You said it's during your last semester -- mine was also. For me, it was the clinical component of my final class.
Your school will tell you exactly how it will work, but it's generally more concentrated than clinicals you've experienced so far. For example - if your clinicals are 1-2 days/week in your other nursing classes, this may be a period of time where you have strictly your preceptorship, 30-40 hrs./week (or more) and no classes. In my case, it was 135 hours in a 3-1/2 week period in which we had no classroom activities. You'd be surprised how much more comfortable you feel after several days of "real world" experience - the entire 8 or 12 hr. shift, several days per week (just like working a typical RN schedule). You'll probably be paired with one or more preceptors and work their schedule with them.
How much responsibility you assume will depend on your school - I was fortunate to be able to assume total responsibility for our assigned pts. under the supervision of my preceptor - admissions, discharges, communicating with case mgrs., families & other depts. ... the works. The only thing that was still limited was my phone contact with docs, since as a student I still couldn't take a verbal order, and things like hanging blood, which only a licensed RN can do.
You asked about grading - in my case we had to fill out a self-eval and have our preceptor complete an eval of our performance once a week during that period. Our clinicals are always graded pass/fail - your may be different.
Hope this helps somewhat - I hope you have a great experience as I did. :)

Yes, it helped. I have a better idea of what it will be like...Thanks.