Author Q&A: The Nurse Preceptor Toolkit

Q: What is unique about this book?

A: “How to precept” is not taught in the academic setting, yet nurses and others are expected to pay-it-forward to precept students and those orienting to new settings. The Nurse Preceptor Toolkit was developed with a comprehensive and pragmatic lens for use when precepting students in undergraduate and graduate clinical education as well as those orienting to a new clinical site. Although focused on preceptors in nursing settings, this book has pearls of wisdom that can be used as a resource for preceptors working with students and new orientees in any healthcare setting. With nurses and others broadening their roles in the everchanging healthcare workforce and faculty needing to be creative in identifying relevant clinical experiences, we have included tips by experts working in a variety of specialty settings: school health, global health, acute care, forensics, leadership, and more. We also uniquely provide guidance on mentoring students working on scholarly projects.

Q: How is this book different from books already addressing the same subject?

A: In addition to proving preceptors with guidance for precepting in a variety of settings, we are pleased to provide practical tools ready to use in healthcare settings for both new and seasoned preceptors. Concrete examples addressing real-life situations and competencies in the clinical setting, which meet up-to-date competency-based educational needs are provided. Real precepting scenarios written by actual preceptors that represent application of chapter content are featured. Case studies and pop-up boxes provide a review of key points to illustrate solutions to precepting issues Some might ask, how does a clinician balance effective precepting while providing safe, effective, and efficient patient care? Our book provides guidance and resources to create balance and mitigate challenges. Overall, this book provides a full comprehensive toolkit to facilitate a successful precepting experience.

Q: Who would primarily benefit from reading this book? Who else might be interested in the content?

A: While this book is written for nurses and advanced practice nurses, it can easily be adapted for use in other health care professions. Whether in primary, acute, or specialty care, or in diverse clinical settings, nurses are called upon to precept students and onboard new colleagues. This book provides nuts-and-bolts information to help the professional who is newer to educating in the clinical setting. More seasoned preceptors can also gain new, valuable knowledge and a fresh perspective to enhance their abilities to connect with and grow a new generation of health professionals.

Q: What are some of the best features of this book?

A: While the book is grounded in evidence on best precepting practices, it offers a user-friendly approach to ease the precepting process. Appendices provide ready-to-use tools for a successful precepting experience. Pop out boxes present summarized tips and pearls of wisdom. Real-life exemplars and case studies are relevant for today’s precepting culture. Content is grounded in evidence and/or theoretically based in a reader friendly manner.

Q: What are the top 3 things you would like readers to take away from the book?

A: Precepting is a process: you are not expected to do it perfectly, but you can grow into the role more comfortably with time and with the right tools. This book is a companion to university and institution-specific information to facilitate preceptor-student-faculty interactions and foster a successful precepting experience. Nurses can become effective, satisfied preceptors while balancing work responsibilities.