The development of a one day preceptorship workshop for registered nurses in the emergency department

Abstract

Background: Every year health care organizations conduct orientation sessions for nurses who are entering or transitioning into a new or unfamiliar area of practice. The Emergency Department (ED) is an area where there is a high turnover rate of nurses. Research has shown that preceptorship programs can decrease costs associated with high nurse turnover rates and ongoing nursing orientations, improve patient health care outcomes, support nurse’s transition into the new areas of practice, and foster the retention of highly qualified nurses in the ED. The Scarborough Hospital (TSH) ED provides emergency services to 110,000 numbers of people annually and would benefit from the implementation of a structured preceptorship program. Purpose: The purpose of this practicum is to develop a one-day preceptorship program that would prepare nurses to be effective preceptors in the emergency room at TSH. Methods: A literature review and consultations with key stakeholders guided the development of the preceptor workshop. Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory (1984), Knowles Theory of Andragogy (1984) and Morrison, Ross, Kalman, and Kemp’s (2013) Model of Instructional Design were used to guide the development of the preceptorship workshop. Results: ED preceptors need a structured preceptorship workshop that addressed their learning needs. A one- day preceptorship workshop comprised of six key sessions was developed that included an overview of preceptorship, teaching and learning strategies, conflict resolution techniques, methods to provide effective feedback, how to develop critical thinking and foster socialization to the ED. The advanced nursing competencies: clinical practice, research, leadership, consultation and collaboration were achieved throughout the process.