title: Preparing preceptors through online education.
abstract: Preceptor education is vital to the success of healthcare institutions. Preceptors' roles are complex and require up-to-the-minute programs reflecting crucial mentoring responsibilities for orientees in multifaceted working environments. Finding the time to properly educate preceptors while maintaining quality bedside care is a challenge for staff development educators during the nursing shortage. Offering a preceptor education program online can assist preceptors in the adoption of role changes in a timely manner. The outcome can provide excellent, competent, caring preceptors. In this article, the course content and intended outcomes of online preceptor preparation programs are discussed. The role of the staff development educator in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating online preceptor programs is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty and Nurse Planner, Center for Teaching and Lifelong Learning, Environments for Health, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. janephil@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Janet M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D003197:Computer Literacy; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors / Q000193:education*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009862:Online Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010934:Planning Techniques; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000458:organization & administration; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013192:Staff Development / Q000458:organization & administration; D017748:Time Management