A learning partnership: Exploring preceptorship through interviews with registered and novice nurses

Cherene M. Ockerby, Jennifer M. Newton, Wendy M. Cross, Brian C. Jolly

Research output: Contribution to journalOther Journal Articlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Novice nurses encounter numerous factors that impact on their learning in the complex healthcare workplace. Registered nurses often work one-on-one with novices as preceptors to facilitate the development of novices’ clinical skills and socialisation into the profession. This paper explores the concept of preceptorship from novice nurses’ and preceptors’ perspective, drawing upon data from a project between a large healthcare organisation and a university in Melbourne, Australia. The study, framed in ethnomethodology, included fieldwork observation, interviews and student surveys; this paper focuses on data collected over a series of individual interviews with nursing students (n = 28) and preceptors (n = 25). Thematic analysis yielded six key themes: workplace socialisation, empathy, individuality, willingness to engage, changing support and a realisation [by novices about the preceptor role]. Findings highlight the complexity of workplace learning that is influenced by the idiosyncrasies of the individuals involved and the social milieu in which the learning takes place.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)369-385
Number of pages17
JournalMentoring and Tutoring: Partnership in Learning
Volume17
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2009
Externally publishedYes

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