BSN Preceptor Handbook

Introduction

A clinical preceptorship is a supervised clinical experience that allows students to apply knowledge and skills in a clinical practice setting. Each student enters a clinical precepted experience with a varied amount of knowledge, clinical experience and technical competence depending on past experience and education. Clinical learning opportunities that enhance the student's individual learning needs are determined with input from the student, the faculty and the preceptor. The purpose of the Preceptor Guidelines is to provide UTH SON undergraduate preceptors with information to optimize student learning.

Cizik School of Nursing Mission

Improve the health and well-being of our diverse community by preparing tomorrow’s leaders to drive innovation and excellence in nursing education, practice, and scientific discovery. 

Cizik School of Nursing Values

• • Integrity
  • Innovation
  • Collaboration
  • Respect
  • Excellence

Cizik School of Nursing Vision

“To lead the advancement of health and high-quality health care for all.” 

Philosophy

Our philosophy reflects the beliefs of the faculty and supports the mission of the School. Faculty members contribute to the University’s mission of education, research, and practice which includes care of individuals, groups and communities. The faculty believes that people, health, and nursing are interrelated and exist in a dynamic global environment.

People are viewed as holistic beings with inherent dignity and worth who participate in decisions that affect their health across the lifespan. Health decisions are influenced by values, beliefs, and perceptions, as well as ethical, legal, cultural, spiritual, social, political and economic forces.

Health is viewed as a dynamic continuum of wellness and illness in individuals, groups and communities. Health care is an interdisciplinary effort focused on health promotion, disease prevention, illness-care, rehabilitation and palliative activities through partnerships between patients and health care providers.

Nursing as a health profession contributes to the management of health issues of individuals, groups and communities in diverse environmental settings. Nurses are prepared as members of an interdisciplinary team to work with others to deliver safe client-centered care emphasizing evidence-based practice, quality improvement approaches and emerging technology.

Education for nurses supports learning as a lifelong process. Undergraduate education prepares entry level generalists to provide safe and quality care to diverse client populations in a variety of settings. Graduate education at the master’s level prepares specialists in advanced clinical practice roles. Doctoral education prepares clinical practice and research scholars who function at the highest level of professional practice and contribute to the body of scientific knowledge. Continuing education promotes learning experiences for nurses to update and advance knowledge and skills, thus fostering professional development and improvement of health care.

Research supports and advances nursing science, the evolving body of knowledge that serves as the basis of the profession. The School of Nursing fosters an environment that promotes research that includes, but is not limited to, biobehavioral, clinical and translational research.

Practice is viewed as the dynamic interaction between the profession of nursing and communities relative to the health care needs of its constituents. Community based-practice and service contribute to health promotion, disease prevention, and the well-being of individuals, groups and communities.

Undergraduate Faculty Responsibilities

1. Prior to the initiation of clinical preceptorship, the faculty will:

   1. ENSURE that a current contract/affiliation agreement exists between the clinical agency and the School of Nursing.
      
      
   2. REQUEST clinical placements for students prior to established deadlines.
      
      
   3. WORK with agency coordinator to ensure that sufficient qualified preceptors are available for students.
      
      
   4. INFORM clinical agency of names of the students and supervising instructors, including instructor’s contact information.
      
      
   5. POST the course syllabi and learning objectives.
      
      
   6. ORIENT the students to electronic submission of the clinical preceptor/student schedule.
      
      
   7. ASSURE student compliance with standards on immunization, screening, OSHA, HIPPA, CPR, and current liability insurance.
      
      
   8. ORIENT the preceptor to the program (to include clinical objectives, student expectations, and methods of student and preceptor evaluation for research purposes).

2. During the clinical preceptorship the faculty will:

   1. PROVIDE regular on-site clinical visits.
      
      
   2. BE AVAILABLE via telephone, pager or e-mail for consultation as requested by the student, preceptor or clinical agency.
      
      
   3. CONDUCT regular post conferences with students.
      
      
   4. WORK COOPERATIVELY with the preceptor and the agency to determine student learning needs and appropriate assignments.
      
      
   5. EVALUATE the student’s performance in the clinical setting with feedback from the preceptor regarding student performance, using appropriate agency and project forms.

3. Upon completion of clinical preceptorship the faculty will:

   1. PROVIDE RECOGNITION to individual preceptors who provided clinical experiences for the student(s) that semester.
      
      
   2. PROVIDE GENERAL FEEDBACK to the agency regarding student progression issues.
      
      

Agency Responsibilities

The clinical agency (hospital or clinic) administrative/educational/personnel responsibility is to:

1. RECRUIT and recommend preceptors.
   
   
2. PROVIDE policies, procedures, and/or practice protocols specific to the setting and role.
   
   
3. ASSURE adequate resources for educational instruction, online access, and equipment security.
   
   
4. ALLOW student nurses to perform the activities appropriate to their clinical roles, under the supervision of their assigned preceptor.
   
   

Preceptor Roles and Responsibilities

Preceptors serve as clinical instructors for students. RNs volunteering to serve as clinical preceptors are expected to possess certain qualifications. These are as follows:

1. Preceptor Qualifications

1. 1. Current Texas RN licensure
      
      
   2. minimum of one year RN practice
      
      
   3. BLS certification or successful completion on hospital’s validation/competency testing
      
      
   4. A supervisor recommendation
      

II. Preceptor General Responsibilities

To be a preceptor, RNs agree to the following:

1. 1. Supervise one student at a time per clinical rotation, and up to 2 students per semester.
      
      
   2. Assist student with time management and patient care.
      
      
   3. Contribute to the evaluation of the student’s clinical skills.
      
      
   4. Communicate needs, difficulties, and student issues with school’s instructor.
      
      
   5. Demonstrate a philosophy of healthcare congruent with that of participating school.
      
      
   6. Role model humanistic, holistic nursing care practice, critical thinking behaviors and use of evidence-based nursing practice.
      
      

III. Preceptor Responsibilities to Student

To prepare students for their clinical experience, the preceptor is to:

1. 1. Communicate specific guidelines to be used in preceptor/student interactions.
      
      
   2. Review policies, procedures, and practice management protocols specific to the setting.
      
      
   3. Review expectations for documentation.
      
      
   4. Review student previous learning experiences and current clinical objectives.
      
      
   5. Discuss overall plan for progression of current clinical objectives.
      
      
   6. Involve student in assessment, validation, and decision making about learning strategies to be employed.
      
      
   7. Review clinical agency’ educational and licensure documentation, parking, dress code, and other pertinent policies.
      
      
   8. Negotiate a clinical schedule with the student.

IV. Clinical Supervision

1.  Preceptor responsibilities during clinical supervision are:

1. 1. Directly supervise the student in the performance of patient care.
      
      
   2. Ensure patient care provided by the student is consistent with standards set forth in agency policies, procedures and practice protocols.
      
      
   3. Direct the progression of student’s assignment based on readiness evaluation of knowledge and skill competencies.
      
      
   4. Review the student’s documentation and give constructive feedback for improvement.
      
      
   5. Schedule regular student meetings to discuss specific learning objectives and experiences.
      
      
   6. Immediately inform schools' faculty of concerns related to unsafe clinical practice or of student difficulties in meeting requirements of the clinical experience (see policy U4400 Professional Behavior). A link to the school and program policies is provided in the Reference section.
      
      

General Student Objectives

Upon completion of each clinical, the students will be able to:

1. DEVELOP effective application of basic nursing concepts through care of patients.
   
   
2. PERFORM nursing interventions under the direct supervision of an assigned preceptor.

1. PRACTICE effective therapeutic communication techniques.

1. CARE for patients using critical thinking in applying nursing interventions and monitoring outcomes.
   
   

Undergraduate BSN Student Responsibilities

The student is responsible for being self-directed in identifying initial and ongoing learning needs; for seeking learning opportunities to meet identified needs and for being accountable for her/his performance in the selected role.

Student Responsibilities

1. Be checked off on knowledge pre-requisites prior to the actual clinical experience.
   
   
2. Discuss specific clinical objectives and negotiate a clinical schedule with the preceptor.
   
   
3. Provide the clinical agency with the necessary information/documentation as requested.
   
   
4. Perform within the educational preparation standards set forth by the Nursing Program and The Board of Nurse Examiners for The State of Texas regarding the practice of nursing.
   
   
5. Demonstrate professional behavior.
   
   
6. Maintain open communications with the preceptor and faculty.
   
   
7. Be accountable for her/his own actions while in the clinical setting.
   
   
8. Respect the confidential nature of all information obtained during clinical experience preceptorship.
   
   
9. Arrange for preceptors or designee’s supervision when performing advanced procedures.
   
   
10. Contact faculty by telephone, pager, or e-mail if assistance is needed.
    
    
11. Maintain a log of clinical skills, activities, clients, teaching-learning activities and educational experiences attended throughout the duration of the preceptorship.
    
    
12. Demonstrate progressive independence and competency in the specified role as dictated by current placement within the nursing program curriculum and preceptorship clinical experiences.
    
    
13. Actively seek input into the evaluation process and participate in self-evaluation of strengths and identify areas for professional growth with faculty member and preceptor(s). Complete clinical preceptor evaluations.

References

Texas Board of Nurse Examiners (2034). https://www.bon.texas.gov/pdfs/law_rules_pdfs/rules_regulations_pdfs/December%202024%20Rules%20and%20Regulations.pdf

School Policies

Nursing Program Policies