title: Preceptors' reflections on their educational role before and after a preceptor preparation course: A prospective qualitative study.
abstract: During clinical practice, preceptors play an important educational role in helping nursing students become secure and effective practitioners. For this educational role they need adequate preparation. The aim of the present prospective study was to describe preceptors' experiences of their educational role before and after attending a university preceptor preparation course. This 7.5-credit, Master's level course is offered on a part-time basis and covers one semester. The theoretical approach was self-directed and reflective learning. Twentyseven preceptors participated in group interviews before and after the course, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The findings revealed a shift in preceptors' perceptions. Their view of the educational role changed from being characterized by individual experiences and notions to being guided by personal and formal demands. Before the course, the lack of sufficient preconditions for preceptorship predominated, whereas after the course participants described ways of creating such preconditions. Before the course, the supervisory process was described as teaching, whereas after the course it was described as a learning process for students. Using reflective learning in a preceptor preparation course can develop and strengthen preceptors' view of their educational role and help them manage and create the preconditions for preceptorship.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: gls@hig.se.
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mårtensson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden; Stord/Haugesund University College, Department of Health Sciences, Haugesund, Norway.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Löfmark
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna-Greta
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Mamhidir
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bernice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Skytt
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Educational role; Preceptor; Preceptor preparation course