Preceptorship and the Nurse Practitioner Student: Navigating the Liminal Space

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the process occurring in preceptorship to prepare nurse practitioner students for their future role in professional practice. The researchers examined this process through the eyes of the preceptors, nurse practitioner students, and faculty. Method: A grounded theory method was used to explore the process involved in preceptorship to prepare nurse practitioner students in the clinical setting. Results: The process of navigating the liminal space emerged from the data to explain what actually was occurring throughout the nurse practitioner student preceptorship. This process was reflected on three levels: (a) positioning in preceptorship, (b) repositioning on the threshold of nurse practitioner, and (c) embracing the new nurse practitioner role. Conclusion: As the data emerged, the researchers uncovered a multidimensional process that was occurring in preceptorship. This process was identified as navigating the liminal space.