McMaster BScN Preceptorship Program
- Preceptorship is a teaching-learning approach utilized in professional practice courses at the senior level, a time when learners are making the transition from the senior student role to that of a professional nurse.
- The BScN Program utilizes a Preceptorship Framework for teaching-learning in both Level IV professional practice courses.
- The conceptual foundation of this framework was developed by McMaster BScN Preceptorship Committee, 2015.
- Preceptorship is viewed within the context of professional nursing & 5 major domains: practice, education, research, administration & policy.
- Preceptorship is facilitated by the teaching-learning triad (student, preceptor & faculty tutor) & experiential learning is central to this educational collaboration
BScN Program Preceptorship Framework
Preceptorship and Professional Nursing
Within the preceptorship framework, several key concepts describe the role of professional nursing. These concepts are important for successful completion of senior practice courses:
- Competence & caring are fundamental expectations of professional practice experiences; students learn to perform the complex professional nursing role in ways that exemplify both competence and caring;
- Effective communication is foundational to the development & maintenance of the preceptorship triad, and it is also vital to the delivery of safe nursing care and enhanced teamwork;
- Conscience or ethical practice is critical to practice by all health professionals;
- Comportment refers to professional behaviours to which students are socialized (e.g., appropriate workplace attire, interaction with patients, families, and intra/inter-professional team);
- Commitment to the experience is made by all triad members: students commit to their educational development, striving to achieve entry-to-practice competencies; preceptors commit to acting as role models; and clinical teachers or faculty tutors commit to providing educational support and guidance to both preceptors and students during the preceptorship experience;
- Collaboration occurs both formally & informally; clinical agencies formally agree to collaborate in students’ professional practice learning & each triad informally agrees to form a partnership that meets the goals of the professional practice courses;
- As learners, each member of the triad assists one another in developing confidence in their respective educational roles;
- Preceptors make a critical educational contribution to the future health & health care of our citizens by shaping the profession, one nurse at a time.
Strengthening your role as a Preceptor
The McMaster BScN program hosts Introductory Preceptorship Workshops aimed at enhancing the role of the Preceptor.
If you are new to the Preceptor role or simply wish to strengthen your learning and contribute to a community of practice discussion, contact Mediha Kadic (kadic@mcmaster.ca)