At the end of the summer, I was invited to share the history and progress of the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program as part of a regional panel at the Midwest Clinical Instruction Regional Network Summit. Our panel consisted of representatives from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, and we had the opportunity to share the important work happening in each of our states. The day's topic was "Experts Advancing Preceptor Proficiency." The day was filled with some of the area's most influential and knowledgeable nurses. I felt honored to be a part of it, and the powerhouse lineup of speakers provided many valuable insights that I wanted to share with all of you.
The day I started with Dr. Nelda Godfrey speaking to us about the importance of professional identity in nursing (PIN) and the impact PIN has on the development of career satisfaction and retention for preceptors and new nurses alike. While this is a newer concept in the nursing profession, Dr. Godfrey believes that this may be "the bridge between academia and practice," and quite honestly, after reflecting on her discussion and past articles I have read on this topic, I have to say I agree. We began to touch on this topic in our most recent curriculum redesign, but I was so excited after this summit to share more about this work with the team; we are already brainstorming how to integrate this concept further into our residency and preceptor curriculum.
Dr. Beth Ulrich's Presentation on The Evolution of Mastering Precepting emphasized the critical role of preceptors in nursing education. She introduced the Ulrich Model, highlighting how effective precepting bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Ulrich stressed the importance of supporting preceptors through structured programs to enhance their skills in the role, and as she so eloquently stated, doing so "is the single most important thing you can do to ensure the success of the next generation of nurses."
Dr. Mary Harper, who believes "professional development is both a recruitment and retention strategy," explored the ANPD Preceptor Competency Consensus Study, which aimed to establish core competencies for preceptors in nursing. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, including an eDelphi survey with expert panels, the study identified eight key attributes of effective preceptors, 6 Core Competencies, and 66 essential competencies to guide preceptor professional development activities and validate competence. The findings emphasize the importance of ongoing professional development and evidence-based practices in preceptor training and assessment and underscore that precepting is a specialized role with a unique set of competencies needed to do the job well.
In addition to the regional panel in which I shared about the last ten years of work with the Iowa Online Nurse Residency, two additional presentations brought great information to the group. Greg Durkin shared his experience developing a robust preceptor program that included everything from a preceptor ‘role’ description, educational workshops, a preceptor selection process, a handoff tool, formalized rewards and recognition, and so much more. Christopher Reeves, on the other hand, got us thinking beyond RNs and focused on the unique challenges faced during the transition to practice of novice Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and the importance of having effective preceptors available and structuring the transition to practice programs to ensure a successful transition into their new role. Wow! As I write this, I can’t believe so much powerful information was shared in a single conference!
Are you wondering where the Iowa Online Nurse Residency fits into this? The core vision for our program is to provide every new graduate nurse, no matter their practice setting, the tools and support necessary to enhance their transition to practice, laying the foundation for a successful career. This includes a comprehensive residency program that focuses on the topics research indicates new graduates need more time mastering upon entry to practice, but it also includes ensuring that they are learning the day-to-day roles and responsibilities that the preceptor teaches in the unique work environment. These professional development activities go hand-in-hand, and an organization must have both to provide the support needed for success. A year-long nurse residency program and an orientation supported by a preceptor committed to the profession and equipped with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to flourish in the preceptor role.
While many think of nurse residency as only about what happens in the classroom, we focus on the transition to practice experience at the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program. That includes both of these components working together to lay a solid foundation for a long and successful career.
Nicole Weathers, MSN, RN, NPD-BC
Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program Director
nicole-weathers@uiowa.edu
Wanting a Program Overview? Need to schedule a meeting? Book time with Nicole
Get all the latest IONRP news. Join our mailing list! Subscribe