From Grant Proposal to Pilot Phase: The Development Journey of the Clinical Faculty and Preceptor Academy

Elizabeth Senczakowicz; Mindy Honey; Sheridan Barnhart; Rebecca Stoudt; Jilian Bohn; Jennifer (Horn) Gimbel; Thea Phim; Amy Ricords; Mekenzie Williams

Authors

Elizabeth Senczakowicz, MSN, RN, CNE, CNOR Geisinger School of Nursing
Mindy Honey, MSN, RN Geisinger College of Health Sciences, Nursing Student Education
Sheridan Barnhart Geisinger College of Health Sciences, Nursing Student Education
Rebecca Stoudt, DNP, PhD, CRNA Geisinger College of Health Sciences
Jilian Bohn, MPH Pennsylvania Nursing Workforce Coalition
Jennifer (Horn) Gimbel, MBA Pennsylvania Nursing Workforce Coalition
Thea Phim, MPA National Nurse Led Care Consortium
Amy Ricords, MEd, BSN, RN, NPD-BC Pennsylvania Nursing Workforce Coalition
Mekenzie Williams, RN, BSN, ACC National Nurse-Led Care Consortium

Keywords:

Preceptor Training, Clinica Instructor Training, Web-based Education Program

Abstract

The ongoing national and global nursing faculty shortage impacts all aspects of nursing education, with deficits in the availability of clinical faculty leading to reduced capacity of programs to admit and educate future nurses. A large health system in the northeast United States partnered with their state’s nursing workforce center to develop a comprehensive, web-based program focused on developing skilled preceptors and clinical instructors to address the clinical education gaps nursing schools face. This article reports on the development journey of the program, including an explanation of the program’s curriculum planning and creation, implementation of the program pilot, and a financial incentive study. Initial outcomes, evaluation data, and lessons learned throughout the development and pilot program process are also presented.