An evaluation of the preceptor method of instruction in an obstetrical nursing specialty

Nursing has become increasingly specialized over time. Post-graduate education is now widely required for employment in most acute areas of nursing, including obstetrics. With the potential for the integration of an autonomous profession of midwives, courses preparing obstetrical nurses may be deleted or greatly changed in the future. It becomes of some interest to examine how such nurses are presently functioning. p* Currently, in British Columbia, the British Columbia Institute of Technology offers the Obstetrical Nursing Specialty which would be modified or deleted if midwifery were to become common. The purpose of this study is to examine Ue role of the preceptor as a vehicle for instruction in the clinical portion of this program. Data are obtained from a case study group of four preceptors working in various locations in British Columbia. Research questions for this study include: Are preceptors adequately qualified or prepared? What is the balance between the preceptors' responsibility to the hospital and their attention to the student? Do preceptors exhibit the various roles attributed to them in the literature i.e. facilitating appropriate learning experiences, role modelling, question-asking, supervising, and providing feedback? Do preceptors feel the preceptorship prepares students to assume employment following it? The research questions are addressed through observing the program in action, interviewing preceptors about their experience and gathering related data in the form of preceptor and clinical course evaluations by students and student evaluations by preceptors. iii Research findings indicated that preceptors have difficulty with some of the role expectations related to teaching, in particular the role of evaluator. Preceptors received no formal preparation and were largely unclear in their ability to provide a clear definition of their role and understanding of their responsibilities. No formal process was identified for either selection of preceptors or preceptor performance evaluation by the British Columbia Institute of Technology other than through optional preceptee feedback. The reliance on preceptors in the Obstetrical Nursing Specialty raises concerns around A accountability for student supervision and evaluation. Results of this study confirm that clinical expertise does not translate automatically into preceptor expertise, and therefore, the British Columbia Institute of Technology program developers should re-examine their use of preceptors . , as the vehicle for instruction. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my family and friends for tirelessly offering their support throughout my studies. I especially thank my Director and colleagues at Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver, who put up with my shortcomings and encouraged me to attain my goal. i* I appreciated the ongoing help and support of Reina Van Lagen, Program Head, Obstetrical Nursing Specialty at B.C.I.T. , and her colleague Deidre Canty, both of whom facilitated my research in so many ways. I am indebted to Dawn Stangl who typed and made revisions to each chapter. Her generosity of time and computer expertise made this work possible. I also wish to thank Sharon Lyons, Lions Gate Hospital Librarian, for her assistance in my literature search. Most especially, I wish to thank my Supervisory Committee and the four preceptors in the case study group who gave so willingly of their time and expertise. Table of