title: Preceptorships are essential.
abstract: It was interesting to read your story about preceptorships (news, 29 March). No other profession, especially graduate professions, expects their graduates to be fully functioning on graduation. Most big companies provide bespoke schemes that ease the graduate into the organisation. The reticence is appalling and mainly from those who harp back to the good old days of their training without removing their rose-tinted glasses. People forget that the title staff nurse was originally associated with a continued fourth year after qualifying. If you didn't do it you don't get your hospital badge. The compulsory year only disappeared to ensure a more disposable workforce.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beesley