‘Preceptorship should not just be about guiding new nurses through their first months’ (11 March 2025)

Summary

Preceptorship is the process of pairing newly qualified nurses with experienced mentors who provide one-on-one guidance. Deborah Amu, a third-year, conducted an informal qualitative analysis during her clinical placement. She engaged with newly qualified nurses (NQN) in her trust, asking about their experiences and the level of support they received.

Many NQNs shared that while preceptorship is intended to provide a supportive learning environment, it also comes with unexpected challenges. One recurring issue was resistance from colleagues, particularly when new graduates implemented updated nursing practices.

Instead of fostering a culture of learning, some colleagues questioned their competence, making them feel as though they had to work twice as hard to prove themselves. While ensuring accuracy and maintaining high standards is crucial in nursing, the way competence is assessed should be more constructive, offering guidance rather than criticism.

Research has highlighted that while preceptorship programmes enhance patient safety and help NQNs adjust to the demands of the profession, they can also place a significant burden on the preceptors themselves.

Many experienced nurses struggle to balance mentorship with their existing workload, leading to stress that can inadvertently affect their teaching approach and, ultimately, the NQN’s learning experience.