The importance, challenges, and proposed solutions for preceptors to educate the nursing workforce
Garrett K. Chan, Natalie Baker, Cindy Cooke, Mollie Cummins, M. Lindell Joseph, Mikki Meadows‐Oliver, Betty Rambur
Abstract
Preceptors are essential in the clinical education of prelicensure registered nursing and advanced practice registered nursing students. However, there is a growing scarcity of preceptors available to provide clinical education. Additionally, preceptors have not uniformly received professional development in the practice of teaching that is essential in delivering high quality clinical education, and clinical education in nursing is an unfunded mandate. This article reviews the current state of preceptors, the importance and challenges of preceptors in clinical education, the lack of funding for clinical education by preceptors, and proposed solutions. • There’s a dearth of qualified preceptors and clinical placements that contribute to under-preparation of nursing students. • The practice of teaching is different than the practice of nursing,; preceptors aren’t educated in neuroscience strategies. • Precepting nurses is an unfunded mandate unlike graduate medical education, funded primarily through Medicare & Medicaid.