title: Being a preceptor-a Nordic qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Positive preceptor experiences enhance learning and even affect the decisions of students to remain in nursing. In light of this, nurse managers have a responsibility, besides maintaining staff competence, to assess whether preceptors live up to their professional obligations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this Nordic qualitative study was to gain a deeper understanding of the perceived experiences of preceptorship used to support undergraduate student nurses during their clinical education.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was collected through narrative interviews with 31 preceptors in Finland and Sweden before being analysed using a hermeneutical approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preceptorship is all about teaching in a supportive environment with ethical dimensions uniting theory and praxis. A caring relationship is essential and the basis for student learning and development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preceptors emphasise a caring relationship as the foundation for student learning. Moreover, preceptorship is an ethical issue, a responsibility that should be recognised by all stakeholders. The findings suggest that preceptorship should be examined from a new perspective. The ethical dimension must be recognised and linked to the further education of preceptors. Nurse managers are in a key position to lead for change.
authors.affiliation: Novia University of Applied Sciences, Vaasa, Finland; Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Norway. Electronic address: yvonne.hilli@novia.fi.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hilli
authors.affiliation: VAMK, University of Applied Sciences, Vaasa, Finland.
authors.forename: Hanna-Leena
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Melender
authors.affiliation: VAMK, University of Applied Sciences, Vaasa, Finland.
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salmu
authors.affiliation: Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jonsén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000941:ethics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013548:Sweden
keywords: Clinical education; Hermeneutics; Interview; Learning; Preceptorship; Student nurse