1 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
COLLEGE OF NURSING
PRECEPTOR GUIDE FOR
2 Welcome
Thank you for being a preceptor and contributing to the clinical education of University of South Florida College of Nursing students. We greatly appreciate the time and energy you spend as well as the expertise you provide our students, and recognize that you make a significant difference in preparing outstanding clinical nurse leaders. We have prepared this document to use as a reference guide for your role, as well as the roles of the faculty and student. It also serves as the basis for a signed agreement between you, the College of Nursing, and the student.
Master’s Program Clinical Nurse Leader Concentration Preceptor Orientation
The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) concentration of the Master’s Program consists of 41 hours of study; 24 hours are core theory and science; 12 hours are CNL courses (on-line), and 5 hours are clinical residency. The residency experiences are partially embedded in three 1-credit courses, where the student completes 100 clinical hours over the course of three sequential semesters. In the spring semester, students complete a unit assessment and negotiate their “CNL Project” with their unit manager or designee (NGR 6770c). In the second semester (summer), the student plans the project and begins implementation (NGR 6872c). In the final semester, the student completes the project and prepares the results for poster presentation (NGR 6777c). The student also completes a 300 hour clinical immersion in the CNL role during the final semester (NGR 6773L). Each residency experience varies according to the student’s site of placement, the individual learning needs, and objectives based on the residency contract. The College faculty member will provide guidelines for the experience students need for their clinical residency and CNL project (if applicable). These guidelines usually include the course syllabus, residency contract, and criteria for evaluation. College faculty will also provide an office telephone number, email address, and evaluation consultations. You can expect the CON faculty to conduct at least one “site visit” to meet with you and the student.
Preceptor Requirements
Preceptors shall be Clinical Nurse Leaders, staff development educators, or nursing leaders with a minimum Master’s degree. Occasionally non-nurses may be appropriate to serve as a preceptor, as long as they possess a strong understanding of the CNL role.
Preceptors shall:
• Meet with the student to discuss the residency experience.
• Review the course objectives and the student’s personal goals for the residency and assist student in modifying any unrealistic goals.
• Collaborate with the student to create a residency experience that aligns with the organization’s mission and is supportive of the student’s goals for the residency. • Submit a current CV to the student to share with CON faculty.
• Serve as a role model in the educational process. • Contact the faculty member for any concerns.
• Complete the final residency evaluation of the student’s performance and return it to course faculty at the end of the residency.
3 College Faculty Requirements
The College faculty will:
• Facilitate student placement with director of education/designee.
• Maintain contact with preceptor regarding student performance and progress in the course.
• Approve residency activities, such as the CNL project.
• Evaluate student residency activities, such as the journal, portfolio, and data analysis.
• Review and comment on the student’s reflective journaling via Blackboard. • Consider a written evaluation of the student by the preceptor in awarding a grade
for the course. Student Requirements:
The CNL student will:
• Represent the nursing profession and USF College of Nursing in a professional manner at all times.
• Wear USF identification when in the clinical residency site.
• Dress in a professional manner consistent with clinical facility guidelines • Maintain appropriate confidentiality regarding organizational proprietary
information outside the realm of the residency.
• Complete any required health/background checks requirements as per agency policy.
• Discuss course objectives and goals for the residency with the preceptor prior to beginning the clinical residency.
• Negotiate details of course project with the preceptor and submit to course faculty for approval.
• Work in a mentored relationship with the preceptor with regard to achieving course objectives and student goals for the residency.
• Maintain open communication with the preceptor and faculty. • Assume accountability for own learning activities.
• Demonstrate accountability for own nursing actions while in the clinical residency setting.
• Contact faculty by telephone or email with concerns and for any unexpected clinical outcomes.
• Respect the confidential nature of all information obtained during clinical residency experiences.
• Develop expanded knowledge and skills in the defined area of the nursing residency.
• Use problem solving and critical thinking to adapt scientific knowledge to the clinical residency area.
• Complete self-evaluation.
• Adhere to agency policies and procedures.
• Develop and maintain collaborative professional relationships with clients, preceptor, agency personnel, and other health care professionals.
4 • Complete residency course requirements.
• Participate in the evaluation of the course.
CNL (NGR 6773L CNL Residency) Forms List:
Appendix A: Clinical Nurse Leader Residency Contract Appendix B: Clinical Nurse Leader Residency Agreement
Appendix C: Clinical Nurse Leader Residency Clinical Residency Evaluation Appendix D: Evaluation of Preceptor
Appendix E: Clinical Nurse Leader Residency Needs Assessment
Copies of all the above forms are located in the Appendices as well as the Blackboard website for NGR 6773L, under Forms.
5 Appendix E:
University of South Florida
College of Nursing
NGR 6773L Clinical Nurse Leader Residency
Student Learning Objectives
Name________________________UID:________________Sem:___________
Develop a minimum of 3 goals and appropriate learning experiences to meet the goals.
Goal 1
Student Activity
Goal II
Student Activity:
Goal III
Student Activity:
Additional Student Generated Objective/s:
_____________________
____________________________
Preceptor
Date
Student
Date
____________________
6 Appendix B
University of South Florida College of Nursing
NGR 6773L Clinical Nurse Leader Residency CNL Clinical Residency Agreement
Student:__________________________UID:_____________ Date:______________
Unit:______________________ Preceptor:__________________________________
Clinical residency dates: ___________________________________
The purpose of this residency is to provide the Clinical Nurse Leader student with the
opportunity to function in the CNL role in a precepted experience in a clinical setting.
The Residency involves a minimum of 300 documented hours in which the student will
focus on implementing the CNL role in the selected clinical environment. During the
residency, the student will not fill gaps in staffing patterns. The residency will be guided
by the CNL Competencies as defined in the White Paper on the Education and Role of
the Clinical Nurse Leader (AACN, 2007), and the attached CNL Evaluation Form.
________________________________ _______________
VP or Designee Signature Date
________________________________ _______________
Director/Manager Signature Date
________________________________ ________________
Preceptor Signature Date
________________________________ ________________
CON Faculty Signature Date
________________________________ _______________
7 Appendix C:
University of South Florida College of Nursing NGR 6773L CNL Residency Preceptor Evaluation of Student
8 Appendix A:
University of South Florida College of Nursing NGR 6770L, CNL Residency Preceptor Evaluation By Student
Date: Preceptor:
Student/UID: Site:
MS Course #: NGR 6773L Completed by:
Please select ratings according to the following scale:
5 = Always 4 = Frequently 3 = Occasionally 2 = Rarely 1 = Never 0 = N/A
Quality 5 4 3 2 1 0 Comments
1) Availability to student
2) Demonstrates understanding of CNL role
3) Utilizes student’s strengths and knowledge
4) Serves as a good role model 5) Demonstrates effective rapport
with student
6) Encourages student to assume increasing responsibility during semester
7) Assists student in identifying goals and needs for experience 8) Provides immediate and
adequate feedback
9) Offers constructive comments related to CNL practice 10) Encourages questions 11) Discusses alternative
strategies
12) Communicates clinical and didactic knowledge well
13) Utilizes other members of the facility
9 PRECEPTOR EVALUATION (continued)
Quality 5 4 3 2 1 0 Comments
14) Suggests and provides additional learning experiences 15) Provides alternative experiences when appropriate 16) Encourages critical thinking. 17) Communicates with University faculty member 18) Recommend this preceptor
for future students Additional Comments:
10 Appendix D:
University of South Florida College of Nursing NUR 6773L CNL Residency Learning Needs Assessment
The student will complete this Needs Assessment prior to the start of the Residency. This document will assist you and the student in setting Clinical Residency goals.
Name: ____________________________UID:___________Date:_________Semester: _____ 1. Have you had experience with the following activities?
Respond Yes or No in Column 1, then use the scale provided to describe your comfort level in Column 2 (1 = low to 5 = high), and your priority in Column 3 (1 = lowest to 5 = highest). Use Column 4 for comments.
1 2 3 4
Activities of CNL Practice Yes or No Comfort Level Priority Level Comments Clinical leadership.
Measuring client care outcomes. Preparing practice guidelines
Routinely reading professional practice journals.
Coordinating care for a group of patients. Leading nurses and other members of the multidisciplinary teams in practice settings.
Assessing readiness for discharge Assessing contextual problems for individuals and systems.
Using information systems and standardized languages.
Fiscal stewardship. Social justice.
Incorporating varied technology to evaluate patient care.
11 2. Briefly describe your previous practice experiences.
3. List those activities focused on leading teams / using evidence that you are comfortable with.
4. List those activities in which you need additional knowledge/skills.