District nurses experiences of precepting district nurse students at the postgraduate level. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jarnulf, Therese; Skytt, Bernice; Mårtensson, Gunilla; Engström, Maria
• Is Part Of: Nurse education in practice. Volume 37(2019)
• Page Start: 75
• Page End: 80
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: Postgraduate level -- Clinical practice education -- District nurses -- Preceptor; Nursing -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Education, Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Study and teaching; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610.73071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2019.05.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-5953

Abstract

Abstract: District nurses are preceptors of district nurse students at the postgraduate level. These district nurse students are already registered nurses who have graduated and are now studying to become district nurses; this training is at the postgraduate level. As preceptors at the postgraduate level, district nurses play an important role in helping these students to achieve the learning outcomes of the clinical practice part of their education. However, there is a lack of studies on precepting at this level. Thus, the aim was to describe district nurses' experiences of precepting district nurse students at the postgraduate level. The study was descriptive in design and used a qualitative approach. Purposive sampling was used and nine district nurses from seven primary health care units in Sweden were interviewed. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. An overall theme "Fluctuating between transferring knowledge and striving for reflective learning" and two subthemes emerged. The preceptors' views on precepting and performance varied depending on the situation. The conclusions is that given the current learning outcomes for clinical practice education at the postgraduate level, district nurses need to be more influenced by preception focused on reflective learning. Highlights: Research of district nurses' (DNs) preceptorship at the advanced level are sparse. DNs fluctuated between transferring knowledge and striving for reflective learning. Preceptors at the advanced level need to focus more on reflective learning. Preceptors at the advanced level need to be more aware of how they precept and why.