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Tips from TSE: Perks for your nursing preceptors

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, August 28, 2008

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The importance of preceptors is widely recognized. A recent Nursing Economic$ study noted that when it comes to preceptorships, "many healthcare institutions have found this role effective in improving orientation of new nursing staff, and an important support to retention of nursing personnel." However, once the importance of preceptor recognition is identified, what's the next step in choosing rewards?

"To become a [preceptor], you have to have desire," says Monika E. Dutton, MSN, RN, NE-BC, project director for the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® at Roper St. Francis Healthcare in Charleston, SC. "But it's important to reward and recognize their contributions."

Preceptor rewards Dutton has found to be effective include:

• Holding an exclusive celebration. As part of a bigger hospital commemoration during Nurses Week, Dutton says successful preceptors take part in an annual celebratory reception. "It gives special recognition," she says. "It can be made as big or small as is fitting, depending on cost and available resources."
• Presenting preferred scheduling. Offering preceptors priority when choosing shift slots may serve as an effective incentive and reward for doing well.
• Distributing monetary compensation. Dutton says she has found offering a monetary reward after the completion of a session to be a "way of ensuring [preceptors] following through with all the steps and meet the criteria."

Editor's note: This excerpt was taken from the August issue of The Staff Educator. Discover all the benefits of subscribing to The Staff Educator!

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