Become a Great Preceptor: New Course & 10 Tips to Help You Shine

Recruitment and Retention: A Focus on Developing Stronger Perioperative Nursing Preceptors

Perioperative nursing turnover is expensive for hospitals. It impacts your bottom line, staff morale, and patient care. Burnout, colleagues changing careers, and aging nurses retiring in greater numbers compound the problem.

We all know the US healthcare system needs more nurses. But that’s not the only shortage administrators are facing. Preceptors — the experienced nurses who help guide new grads through their first year — they’re getting harder to find, too. The news isn’t all doom and gloom. AORN and health systems, large and small, are working to strengthen the profession.

Make Your Mark: Become a Preceptor

One of those dedicated nurses working to give precepting a boost is Melissa Kneisley, MSN, RN, CNOR. She’s a perioperative education specialist with AORN.

“Precepting is near and dear to me,” she says. “It’s exhausting, but those light bulb moments filled my cup. When you see learners making connections, multitasking, seeing the big picture, and becoming independent. It’s just amazing. Especially when you see those same nurses becoming effective preceptors just a few years later.”

Kneisley recently poured her passion for precepting into the new AORN course Preparing the Preceptor. We’ll tell you more about that in a moment. We want to hear more from Kneisley and have her explain what it takes to be a truly great preceptor.
 

10 Tips to Help You Be a Great Preceptor

Tailor Learning. Meet your learners where they are now. You know where they need to be in 12 months, but start each day with where they are and tailor how you precept appropriately.

Be Patient. We were all new to the OR at one point. Remember that feeling. Think about the first preceptor who helped bring things into focus for you? You’re a teacher. You’ll have to repeat concepts multiple times over several days. One day it will just click for them, and you’ll see the light go on!

Build Trust: Remember, for many, this may be their first time in a real job setting. As they shadow you, they’re counting on you to show them the ropes. Teach them with care and patience.

Feedback: It’s crucial to provide feedback but do it with kindness. If you notice a safety concern, address it immediately, but avoid making them feel embarrassed. Correct any incorrect technique right away. Teach them the ‘why’ behind the correct method. They rely on you to differentiate right from wrong.

Create Connections: Help the new nurse feel at home. Save them a seat during lunch or staff meetings. Encourage them to introduce themselves to others, like the surgeons or residents. Maybe even invite them to a casual outing, like a movie night or bowling.

Self-Care: You also need breaks! If you ever feel you need a day off from mentoring, let your charge RN know. A day for yourself can recharge you for better guidance.

Grow Independence & Ownership: Start fostering their independence early on. Begin with small tasks and then increase their responsibilities gradually. Guide them to take charge of their learning. They shouldn’t rely solely on you for all information. The more proactive they are, the better they’ll adjust and grow in their role.

Daily Check-ins: At the end of each shift, take a moment to discuss the day. Note the positives and areas for improvement.

Monitor Progress: If you don’t see them progressing, discuss it with both the new nurse and the department educator. Never hold off on expressing concerns, especially if it relates to patient safety.

Preparation: Encourage them to review the next day’s surgery schedule and pick the surgeries they’d like to observe. Suggest they read up on the procedures and familiarize themselves with the surgeon’s preferences.

By following this advice, you’ll be setting your newcomer up for success and fostering a supportive environment for everyone.

Qualities Learners Look for in a Preceptor

As preceptors, Kneisley says we’re often viewed as role models. It’s essential to exhibit the actions and behaviors you value. Good preceptors are invested in the success of their learners. They’re often described as kind, empathetic, approachable, levelheaded, and objective. “You have to be able to coach and inspire while also helping to provide safe and efficient care,” says Kneisley.

Learners are looking for support through all new situations. They want to be able to ask questions without fear of judgment or criticism.  Don’t forget, they’re often looking for emotional support, especially when they face challenges or learn to deal with difficult personalities. This support is vital for nurses moving into new roles.

What Preceptors Gain from Their Experiences

Preceptorship is often viewed through outside filters. We see what learners gain from their experience. We know healthcare facilities save money by retaining new nurses and using existing staff for onsite training. But let’s not look past what the preceptor gets from the experience.

Kneisley reminds us that precepting isn’t just teaching. She says precepting allows the nurses doing the teaching to rediscover the very spark that drew them to the profession in the first place. Precepting creates spaces where people connect, learn, grow, and share.

Experienced nurses and learners share more than advice, skills, and experience. They also share moments of vulnerability, smiles and laughs, and lunch breaks. Precepting helps nurses grow in leadership and soft skills. And with each passing year, as days turn to weeks, something incredible happens. Shared experiences and countless conversations, new bonds bloom—sometimes into lifelong friendships.

Special Training Available: Become a Better Preceptor

AORN has a new course for preceptors. You’ll find helpful situational videos, scenario-based case studies, and other tools to help prepare you to serve as a preceptor. We also offer reflection points to promote critical thinking, tips for supporting and recognizing orientees, a daily feedback tool, a preceptor hand-off tool, and more.

The course is included with the Periop 101: A Core Curriculum ^TM onboarding program and is also available for individual and group facility purchase.

Learn More about the new AORN course Preparing the Preceptor

______________________________

“The newly redesigned course outlines how preceptors can better support student, graduate, and experienced nurses through knowledge of adult learning theories, adult learning behaviors and generational learning behaviors.”
 - Morgan Thomas, Learning Experience Designer, Nursing Education, AORN

Additional Resources

AORN’s Preparing the Preceptor course includes “A Guide to Long-Term Success”

The course offers links to:

• Preceptor Self-Assessment
• Preceptor Hand-Off Tool
• Evaluation Tool
• Reflection Tool
• Wellness Resources