title: Moving to an all graduate profession: preparing preceptors for their role.
abstract: The world of Irish Nurse education has changed significantly over the last number of years, moving from certificate to diplomat status, from hospital-based training to integration within the higher education sector. The Irish Government has now committed pound 223,470,000 for the implementation of a four year pre-registration nursing degree programme. Consequently, from 2002 onwards all Irish pre-registration nurse education will be at graduate level. In recognition of the importance of student learning during practice placement the recommended that nursing students be supported by a named preceptor. This recommendation has significant resource implications in terms of current staff demands, staff preparation and ongoing support for the preceptor role. This paper will focus on a review of the literature on student support mechanisms during practice placements with particular emphasis on the concept of preceptor and preceptorship.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. mccartmp@tcd.ie
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCarty
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Higgins
mesh_terms: D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D007494:Ireland; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000458:organization & administration*