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The clinical preceptor acts as the clinical expert helping students’ experience real world nursing.  Specific areas to be addressed is time management skills, delegation, communication, and quality improvement.

The role of the preceptor for Undergraduate BSN students is to:

• Meet with the student to develop a professional relationship and schedule.
• Communicate with student’s Clinical Faculty.
• Orient the student to agency policies, procedure, and physical environment.
• Introduces student to the unit nursing staff and health team members.
• Discusses unit philosophies, expectations, policies, and informal unit organization with the student.
• Provides learning opportunities which meet the course objectives and student’s learning goals in collaboration with faculty.
• Provides direct supervision for all medication administration.  Preceptor shall determine if and when a particular medication should be given by student.
• Facilitates and supervises student experience in accord with course objectives.
• At start of each clinical day, discusses with the student goals for the day, nursing care activities, and evaluation of nursing student’s learning needs for the day.
• Prepare daily client assignments in accordance with the individual student’s learning goals and ability.
• Serves as resource person for the student.
• Serves as a positive role model for the student in area of clinical expertise, knowledge, and professional attitudes.
• Guide student to complete agency preparation for clinical practice such as computer program or medication test if required.
• Shares perceptions of on-going progress of student’s clinical performance with the student and faculty.
• Notify the student if report off or cancellation of a shift has occurred.
• Verify Clinical Hours log.
• Complete Student Evaluation at midterm and completion of course.
• Contacts the faculty to inform, clarify, and/or mediate any problems/issues, such as tardiness, failure to fulfill contracted days, appearance, lack of professional conduct, etc. as soon as possible after issues occur.

The faculty recognize the preceptor as the clinical expert. The role of faculty is to support the preceptor with the educational plan for each individual student. All students are assigned a preceptor along with a faculty member for support and guidance for all educational needs. We greatly value the preceptor input in student progress, but would not expect the preceptor to make final educational decision regarding course passing.

• Makes self-available to preceptors and students for consultation and/or problem solving.
• Collaborates with student and preceptor as needed to facilitate the student’s attainment of course and individual objectives.
• Collaborates with student and preceptor to facilitate development of their professional relationship.
• Evaluates student’s paperwork and scholarly presentations.
• Consults with preceptors on a regular basis about the clinical performance of each student.
• Assists student and preceptor in developing student’s professional nursing role.
• Acts as liaison between Â鶹´«Ã½ College of Nursing and designated facility.

The students’ first priority is their education, so students’ will mold their schedule to match that of their preceptor. Students are aware that many preceptors work nights or swing shifts and are expected to schedule themselves accordingly for this important final step in their education.

At the completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Demonstrates effective and appropriate communication skills.
• Applies the nursing process to clinical situations.
• Provides complete and accurate documentation of care.
• Demonstrates competency in clinical skills.
• Demonstrates time management and organizational skills.
• Administers medications in a safe and competent manner.
• Functions within the health care setting as a team member.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills in clinical decision-making.
• Assumes accountability and responsibility for nursing care provided.
• Participates in activities that promote the development and practice of nursing.
• Assumes responsibility for learning.
• Maintains professional behavior and appearance (includes attendance/tardiness).