title: Closing the practice gap: preparing staff nurses for the preceptor role.
abstract: Today's practicing nurse faces many challenges and opportunities, and as a result, new graduate readiness for practice has increasing importance. Research completed by the Nursing Executive Center, the Advisory Board's research membership serving nursing administrators, acknowledged a considerable disparity between graduate nurse competencies and the expectation of employing healthcare systems. A pilot project designed to guide preceptors in the role of educator fostered the development of new nurse competencies that helped facilitate transition to professional practice.
authors.affiliation: Patricia A. Sharpnack, DNP, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, ANEF, is Dean, and Strawbridge Professor, Ursuline College-The Breen School of Nursing, Pepper Pike, Ohio. Hope M. Moon, RN, MSN, CNS, is Dean, Allied Health and Nursing Professor, Lorain County Community College, Elyria, Ohio. Pam Waite, MSN, RN-BC, MHSA, is Director, Healthcare Workforce/NEONI Operations, The Center for Health Affairs/NEONI, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sharpnack
authors.forename: Hope M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Waite
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D009820:Ohio; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011231:Preceptorship