The role of the preceptor in selected clinical nursing practice settings in Botswana

Abstract

A non-experimental, explorative, descriptive, quantitative study was undertaken. The purpose was to explore and describe the views of preceptors and preceptees regarding the fulfillment of the role of the preceptor in selected clinical nursing practice settings in the Botswana context.

The study included 72 preceptors and 200 nursing students/preceptees who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

The findings of this study indicated that there were numerous constraints that interfered with the preceptor role in accompaniment of the preceptee. These constraints included the lack of desirable characteristics and time to plan learning opportunities, inadequate use of teaching strategies and inadequate knowledge on preceptee evaluation. Recommendations were stated for improvements in the future role of the preceptor in clinical practice settings Limitations of this study were also highlighted.