RN Preceptor Learning Needs Assessment

One institution's registered nurse preceptor training curriculum was revised to include preceptors' input to ensure their learning needs were being met. A descriptive study design was used to answer the following research questions: (a) what knowledge, skills, and attitudes do nurses believe they need to have to be a preceptor; (b) when, in the course of their development, do preceptors believe they need this information; and (c) in what manner(s) do preceptors prefer to learn this information? Thirteen topics that preceptors believed were important were identified. The results of this study were used to successfully revise the preceptor training curriculum.