Lightening the burden for preceptors: consider adding a "Faculty Model" week to orientation.

ABSTRACT

The physical and emotional stress on preceptors creates a conundrum as hospitals expand and/or experience higher rates of nursing staff turnover. When chosen well, preceptors are an excellent way to integrate and teach new nurses. However, being a preceptor can often be an added burden in a busy hospital climate. Creating innovative systems, within new nurse orientation, that respect the preceptor role and provide some relief have much merit in today's bustling hospital environment. The creation of such a system in a large tertiary care hospital in Boston, MA, entitled the Faculty Model Pilot Program, seems to be both supporting the overworked preceptors and providing a comprehensive standardized practice week for newly hired medical/surgical nurses. The pilot program appeared to increase not only their knowledge of the hospital itself but also the standards of patient care throughout the hospital. This added week seemed to provide a good understanding of general nursing practice prior to the acquisition of the unit-based, specific knowledge; thus, lightening the burden for unit preceptors.