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By: Sara Angelilli, DNP, RN, CNOR, NPD-BC
Published: 2/8/2024
It is important for preceptors to develop strong communication skills that facilitate novice nurse development. One critical communication skill is the tactful delivery of feedback. Feedback is essential for the novice nurse so they can identify what they are doing right, where performance gaps exist, and how they can improve future performance.
Providing feedback may be one of the most nerve-wracking activities preceptors are required to perform. They may be anxious about giving feedback because of the fear of making the novice nurse feel bad or not knowing how the novice nurse will respond. They can reframe the anxiety by reminding themselves that they have the best interest of the novice nurse in mind and that their feedback will help the novice nurse gain context that celebrates wins and reflects on gaps to further develop skills and behaviors to support safe nursing practice. When starting the feedback conversation, it can be helpful to verbalize the intent of helping the nurse to set expectations.
Preceptors may want to consider using a script to help them plan for a successful feedback conversation. Two methods that can be used to frame the conversation include the DESC model and STAR/AR model. Sidebar 1 provides additional tips for giving feedback.
The DESC model of feedback stands for description, effect, solution, and conclusion. The first step is to objectively describe what you observed using concrete examples. Next, you will state the effect of the observed tasks or behaviors to link the actions with expected outcomes, reinforcing what was done well or identifying a gap. During the third step, you can ask the novice nurse to reflect and describe a solution that would reinforce expected tasks and behaviors or formulate a plan to improve future performance. Finally, in the conclusion, you can check for agreement and commitment about the development plan. Download a conversation planner and example script using the DESC model of feedback.
The STAR/AR model of feedback stands for situation or task, action, result, alternative action, alternative result. 1 First, you will objectively describe the situation or task that was observed. Next, you will describe how the novice nurse completed skills or demonstrated behaviors. Then, you will link the action to the result achieved. If there was a performance gap, you can use the additional steps to collaborate with the novice nurse to determine how an alternative action would lead to an alternative result. Download a conversation planner and example script using the STAR/AR model of feedback.
It takes practice to deliver feedback well. There are two ways that a trusted peer can support your skills practice: (1) you can practice delivering feedback to a peer so that you can get used to following the script using your own words and (2) you can ask a peer to observe while you give feedback followed by a debriefing conversation. The downloadable planning tools provided above can be used to write out feedback conversations for practice or to organize your thoughts before the conversation.
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