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Project Proposal
Project title
Undergraduate Nurse Preceptorship Education Project
Purpose of the proposal
The purpose of the proposal is to gain agreement on the parameters of the

project to be undertaken within Partners in Health (PiH) by the University of Tasmania

Faculty of Health Science (FHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS).

Background to the proposal

An array of models has been used to facilitate undergraduate nurse education by the
Tasmanian School of Nursing (TSoN) for students’ clinical placements within the
DHHS.

The TSoN has employed a number of strategies, which are both program and

research-based. Programs in the 1990’s have primarily used a preceptorship

(supervision) model where students worked with Registered Nurse (RN)
preceptors one to one. In addition the TSoN seconded experienced RNs to
support both students and preceptors. The strategy to second clinical teachers
was designed to further develop the focus of teaching and learning within the

clinical workplace and thereby enhance the learning opportunities of the

students and improve graduate outcomes.
This model was facilitated through academic support with the clinical

education process. This labour intensive model evolved in order to achieve

the required cultural shift that would prepare RNs for the clinical education of
undergraduate students. Academics were situated in practice in respective

clinical divisions across the state.

Later programmes were organised and run by the TSoN to provide the additional
knowledge and skills that DHHS nurses required to supervise students on clinical
placements without the on-site assistance of TSoN

academics.
While the TSoN has had an ongoing and intensive engagement in the
preparation of preceptors, more recently other organisations including DHHS

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have developed and run preceptorship courses. These more recent courses
have been developed for preceptors who supervise or precept not only
undergraduate nurses, but also new graduate, postgraduate, re-entry and
overseas-qualified nurses.

The number of programs running concurrently is problematic because many have

overlapping content and there is not a full understanding of the roles of each of the
programmes. Course content and learning objectives are not

consistent across the state.

Rationale for the project
The recent introduction of the Preceptors Allowance, negotiated under the
Nurses (Tasmanian Public Sector) Enterprise Agreement 2001, has highlighted
the need for a consistent level of education for preceptors and management
systems for preceptors.

There are various systems to assist preceptors to maintain their competence however the
management of preceptors within the DHHS, the FHS and the TSoN is not standardised or
collaborative.

Furthermore, a key recommendation arising out of the recent accreditation of

TSoN by the Nursing Board of Tasmania was that there be a formal
evaluation of the preceptor and clinical teaching programs to make quality
improvements based on the findings.
Project objectives
The project falls across the first two of the three PiH general objectives for
2001-2002
•
To secure the FHS programmes in education and research and to
provide foundations for growth in the FHS programmes.
•
To increase the pool of qualified and skilled health workers.
•
To strengthen the Partner's abilities to influence external decision-
makers
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Project target outcomes
1. Consistency of content for participants undertaking a preceptorship
programme.
2.Consistency of learning objectives for participants undertaking a
preceptorship programme.
3.Commencement of a partnership between the DHHS, the TSoN and
private and aged care sectors in the provision of preceptorship education
and managemen t.

The measurement of these target outcomes is the responsibility of the project business
owner, the Education and Workforce Planning Standing Committee at the end of the
project.

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Project outputs
The four project outputs are to be produced by 30 June 2002.
Output one

A database that describes all the nurse preceptorship education programmes in Tasmania,
including their role, accrediting body, a brief description of their content, learning
objectives and contacts.

Output two
Documentation of findings from literature reviews conducted by DHHS and
TSoN on preceptorship.
Output three
A document, which
•
establishes common terminology
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establishes the issues associated with preceptorship training and
management in the workplace from DHHS and FHS perspectives
(based on input from the Project Team, the evaluation of
programmes that have been run and research undertaken by the
TSoN and existing literature reviews of preceptorship literature)
•
recommends principles to be adopted in the development of
education programmes for all groups of preceptors
•
recommends an undergraduate nurse preceptorship education
programme , wh ich
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is readily accessible to registered nurses across Tasmania

−

is responsive to the existing and changing needs of

preceptors and preceptees working in an array of clinical
settings
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has a core generic component to which specialised modules can be added for preceptors
working with different groups of preceptees
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could be trialled commencing 1 July 2002

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recommends sources of funding for the trialling of the
undergraduate preceptorship education program
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recommends a framework to manage preceptors.
Output Four

Four evaluation tools that can be administered at 1 October 2002 to collect baseline data
and again six months after the introduction of the standard undergraduate nurse preceptor
education programme. The tools are to

measure the changes experienced by the three major groups of stakeholders:

preceptors, undergraduate students and organisations presently providing preceptor

education programmes (the DHHS, the TSoN, the Nursing Board of Tasmania etc). The
tools are to measure

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changes in RN’s confidence and competence in working as
preceptors;
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the degree to which preceptors continue to undertake the role after
they have completed the program;
•
undergraduate students' satisfaction with the clinical confidence and
competence of RNs to undertake the preceptor role;
•
the satisfaction of the organisations presently providing
undergraduate clinical education placements for student nurses with
the precep tor prog ramme

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Scope
At present, preceptors participate in variable educational programs to prepare
them to act as preceptors to a wide variety of student nurses and registered
nurses. This project is to focus only on the education of preceptors for

undergraduate nurses. This is an endeavour to minimise the risks associated with a larger
project, which would aim to develop and evaluate an education programme for
preceptors of all groups of nurses.

There will be a Phase Two project proposed to evaluate the introduction of the
undergraduate course developed in Phase One. The Phase Two project will possibly be
undertaken later in 2002.
There will be a Phase Three project proposed to develop education programs
for preceptors of new graduate, postgraduate and re-entry nurses, possibly
later in 2002

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Related TSON and UDRH Projects
Residential Aged Care Preceptor Project (TSoN)
This study utilises a fourth generation evaluation model to develop
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the role of the registered nurse preceptor for the benefit of student
learning
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strategies and processes which undergraduate nursing students can
employ to facilitate the quality of their learning in aged care settings
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a model which will inform the expansion of undergraduate nursing
education in the residential aged care sector
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collaborative links between the Tasmanian School of Nursing and
the Tasmanian aged care sector
The participants are 30 second year undergraduate student nurses and 14
registered nurses employed in two aged care facilities. The project is due for
completion in March 2002.
Development Program For Rural and Remote Midwives/ Module 3 -
Midwifery Practice Preceptor Project (TSoN and UDRH)
This study utilises a fourth generation evaluation action research model
with the aim to develop
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the role of midwives in hospitals who will act as preceptors to midwives engaged in a
'Development Program for Rural and Remote Midwives'

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strategies and processes which the midwives engaged in the
'Development Program' can utilise to facilitate the quality of their
learning
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questionnaires to evaluate
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changes in midwife preceptor’s knowledge, understanding

and practice as preceptors
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the midwife preceptee’s assessment of teaching and learning

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a preliminary series of principles to guide the clinical education of
midwives in Tasmania
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collaborative links between the Tasmanian School of Nursing and
the midwifery community in Tasmania.
The participants are 20 refreshing midwives and 18 registered midwives and
the project is due for completion in April 2002.
Rural Poppies Project (UDRH)

This was a project designed to support nurses, doctors and pharmacists who have
undergraduate student preceptoring responsibilities in rural and remote health care
settings.
Assumptions
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That the current arrangements for undergraduate nurse supervision
for clinical practice will continue.

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That both the DHHS and the TSoN have a strong commitment to the improvement in the
clinical education of undergraduate students and the level of support provided to their
preceptors.

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That Project Team members will be able to collect and provide the
information required to produce the project outputs within the project
time frame.
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That agreement can be achieved within and between the Agencies, the
TSoN and with the Nursing Board of Tasmania.
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That there will be resources allocated to undertake a stakeholder
evaluation of the introduction of the standard nurse preceptor
education programme (Phase Two) in the later half of 2002.
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That there will be a project to develop education programmes for
preceptors of new graduate, postgraduate and re-entry nurses (Phase
Three).
Constraints
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The time Project Team members can contribute to the project.
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Limited resources outside current TSoN and DHHS operating budgets.
Key Stakeholders
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Dean, FHS
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Head and staff of the TSoN, FHS
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Secretary and Divisional Directors, DHHS
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DHHS Senior Nursing Advisor
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Undergraduate nurses
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Nursing Board of Tasmania
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Private and aged care sectors
Risks•
That staff currently running preceptorship programmes will be
excluded.
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That the outputs will not suit the requirements of all stakeholders.
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That members of the Project Team will be unable to fully represent
and communicate with the groups of stakeholders they are to
represent.
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That project team members will be unable to adequately progress
the project within existing resources.
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That membership of the Project Team may change.
Primary Officer
Dr Jack Sparrow, Chair, Partners in Health Education and Workforce
Planning Standing Committee
Project Sponsor
Partners in Health Education and Workforce Planning Standing Committee

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Estimated Expenditure
The members of the Project Team would undertake some of the project tasks
within their routine work. The PiH Project Officer would provide
administration support to the Project Team.
However, additional resources will be required for the evaluation of the

undergraduate preceptor education program (Phase Two) developed by the Project Team
and the development of education programmes for preceptors of new graduate,
postgraduate and re-entry nurses (Phase Three).