title: The use of video conferencing to develop a community of practice for preceptors located in rural and non traditional placement settings: an evaluation study.
abstract: Support for nursing students in rural and non-traditional health environments within Tasmania is predominately undertaken by preceptors. It is recognised that preceptors who work within these environments, require support in their role and opportunities to communicate with academic staff within universities. Multiple methods of information distribution support and networking opportunities provide preceptors with flexible options to keep them abreast of the student learning process. This paper presents survey findings from preceptors in rural and non-traditional professional experience placement environments taken from a pilot project regarding the implementation of video conferencing forums for education and peer networking in Tasmania. The purpose of the evaluation was to establish whether video conferencing met the requirements of preceptors' understanding of learning and teaching requirements during students' professional experience placement. The findings reveal preceptors' workload pressures and the need for organisational support were key barriers that prevented preceptor participation.
authors.affiliation: Tasmanian Health Organisation - North, Australia; School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Tasmania, Australia. Electronic address: helen.zournazis@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Helen E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Zournazis
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Tasmania, Australia. Electronic address: Annette.Marlow@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Annette H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Marlow
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D010379:Peer Group; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D064694:Rural Nursing / Q000193:education*; D013648:Tasmania; D049269:Videoconferencing
keywords: Peer networking; Preceptor; Rural; Video conferencing