Fast Facts for the Nurse Preceptor: Keys to Providing a Successful Preceptorship

This quick-access guide for novice nurse preceptors walks through, step-by-step, how to successfully orient new nurses to the hospital environment. Preceptors are key to staff retention, job satisfaction, improved quality of care, patient safety and transition to practice. For the busy novice nurse preceptor who believes they do not have the time or preparation to be a nurse preceptor, Fast Facts for the Nurse Preceptor, Second Edition explains all the requisites for demonstrating, guiding, and mentoring new nurses through the process of delivering safe, evidence-based, patient-centered care. The second edition builds upon the foundation of the first to address more complicated challenges preceptors face.

While reviewing the basics like shift organization, prioritization, communication, delegation, and conflict resolution, this orientation guide delineates the essential qualities of a competent preceptor and their primary responsibilities. It discusses the knowledge and skills a successful preceptor must impart to new nurses while acclimating to a variety of teaching and learning styles. Chapters discuss how to recognize the warning signs of a struggling preceptee, work through a preceptee’s “transition shock,” and help new nurses to develop critical thinking skills. Abundant case studies highlight common and challenging precepting situations.

New to the Second Edition:

Updated with FIVE completely new chapters:

• Selection, Education, and Retention of the Preceptor
• Preceptee Learning and Preceptor Teaching Styles
• The Challenging Student
• Precepting the Accelerated BSN and Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN)
• The Unsafe Preceptee and How to Avoid “Failure to Fail”

Key Features:

• Helps preceptors to serve as excellent role models, mentors, and teachers for new nurses
• Offers quick-access, step-by-stop guidance with short paragraphs and bulleted information
• Uses case studies to highlight both common and challenging precepting scenarios
• Includes evidence-based content throughout
• Contains competency assessment and evaluation forms

Maggie Ciocco, MS, RN, BC is currently a nursing program advisor. She has over 25 years of experience in nursing education, including as a preceptor, mentor, staff development instructor, orientation coordinator, nursing lab instructor, and clinical instructor.