There are some logistical arrangements that will occur prior to the preceptorship placement. This is an overview of what preceptors can expect:
An important part of the preceptorship experience is understanding the roles of each participant and their associated responsibilities.
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Preceptor
Student
Faculty Liaison
Instructor of Record
As nurses, we respect and abide by the principles of privacy and confidentiality required by our profession on a daily basis. As with any other clinical course, you must exercise wisdom and caution when discussing your clinical experiences; protecting the confidentiality of the clients and the organization at all times. This includes any documentation or personal notes that you have in your possession related to clinical work. Guard the privacy of clients in your care. Be advised that posting anything online that is related to clinical practice is a poor decision. While this concept is a familiar one to us as it applies to our practice in all clinical situations, there are some practices specific to confidentiality when working with students that we have shared with your preceptor. The following information has been communicated to your preceptor. You can speak to your faculty liaison if you have any concerns about confidentiality in your working relationship.
All nursing students sign a UNB Pledge of Confidentiality for their specific nursing program site when they begin the program. In addition to this pledge, students sign confidentiality agreements required by their placement agencies.
The following section will provide you with guidelines for safeguarding the verbal and written communication and information exchanges that are a key part of the preceptorship experience. This can include:
The privacy rights of UNB students are protected under the New Brunswick Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RTIPPA). As such, we recommend the following:
You are expected to prepare for your clinical experiences and are responsible for your own learning. Here are some considerations for enhancing your awareness and personal responsibility.
The following information has been developed by Em M. Pijl, BScN, MEd, PhD, RN © 2005 – University of Lethbridge. Adapted and used with permission of author by Debra Amirault, Dr. Lisa Keeping-Burke and Karen Tamlyn, University of New Brunswick, 2017.
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You will be asked to write a letter of introduction to share with your preceptor. Included in this letter will be:
During the first few days, the preceptor should review the letter with you and set aside time for discussion about what you have shared. It is helpful to revisit this letter and your professional learning goals throughout the experience, as it will help to provide context and guidance for learning.
The below is a general overview of psychomotor skills taught throughout the BNASP. Due to variations in student practice experiences, students may not have had opportunity to develop these skills in practice settings. Therefore, supervision by the preceptor is required to ascertain the student's ability to perform psychomotor skills.
All parties involved in the preceptorship experience are partners in teaching and learning. This section will provide clarification related to the responsibilities and accountabilities assumed as part of the preceptorship experience.
Information from the following two documents has been adapted and included in the section that follows. Preceptors and students are requested to review and be familiar with the content of these publications.
“Guidelines for Supporting Learners in the Workplace” (NANB)
“Managing Legal Risks in Preceptorship” (CNPS)
These documents provide overarching concepts to guide student learning while ensuring client safety within the preceptorship experience.
As outlined in the Guidelines for Supporting Learners in the Workplace (NANB, 2016), “In supporting learners, an RN is responsible and accountable for sharing nursing knowledge and for maintaining safe, competent and ethical patient care in accordance with nursing standards. The RN working with the learner is not accountable for the learner’s actions provided that the RN has fulfilled her/ his responsibilities as outlined by the employer and in the learning agreement, if applicable (e.g. learning plan, appropriate supervision) (p.2). However, in accordance with the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (2008), the primary responsibility for the nursing care received by the patient remains that of the primary nurse to whom the patient has been assigned, (e.g. The RN should ensure that the learner is reporting to her on patient status throughout the shift).” (pg.2)
Client safety is always the priority and the primary responsibility of the RN is to the patient.
The university, the preceptor and the student collaborate to ensure all parties are aware of the learning goals and outcomes for the placement. The student will contribute to the development of their own learning goals of the placement in collaboration with the faculty liaison and, sharing these goals with the preceptor. The preceptor will facilitate the student’s learning with these goals and use course outcomes as the focus.
All parties must determine the level of supervision required, and to use this information to identify the distribution of responsibilities related to client care.
The student must recognize her/his level of knowledge, skill, and experience and communicate with the preceptor accordingly. It is imperative that students identify the need for supervision and to communicate clearly with the preceptor to request it. If a student is not competent to provide a specific type of care, they must not do so, and must communicate this to the preceptor.
The preceptor must be aware of the student’s knowledge, skill, and experience and supervise accordingly. In addition to verbal discussions to provide information about the student’s knowledge and experience, the preceptor will observe the student to determine if the student can perform a particular aspect of care safely.
The faculty liaison will be available as a resource to answer questions about the level of supervision required.
It is your responsibility to be aware of agency policy and/or other regulations (from regulatory bodies and/or provincial legislation) and to provide care in accordance with established regulations, asking for clarification as needed.
Your preceptor will act as a role model by adhering and referring to standards of nursing care and agency policy when providing care.
All parties must communicate effectively and professionally. This creates an environment for learning, fosters professional and respectful relationships, and supports the provision of safe care.
In the situation of unsafe practice by the student, or if a preceptor is concerned about a student’s competence, the preceptor must increase supervision and communicate with the faculty liaison promptly.
The faculty liaison is expected to maintain consistent communication with you and your preceptor and act as a resource throughout the preceptorship experience.
While there are many variances in the learning experience due to clinical settings, agency policy and student competence, it is important to note that students may not do the following, even while supervised:
Please note:
UNB enters into an affiliation agreement with the partnering agency prior to the student being placed.