Document Type

DNP Project

Department

School of Nursing

Date of Degree

Spring 2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Primary Advisor

Linda Cassar, DNP, RN, RNC-OB, CNE

Keywords

labor and delivery, program evaluation, preceptorship

Abstract

Background

A confident and well-prepared preceptor is essential for fostering critical thinking, promoting clinical competence, and ensuring a smooth transition to practice for new nurses. However, a shortage of experienced Labor and Delivery (L&D) preceptors has resulted in less experienced nurses assuming these roles without adequate preparation. This lack of preparedness decreases preceptor confidence and teaching consistency, impacting new nurse transitions and patient outcomes. Structured preceptor development is essential to address this gap.

Objectives

This Program Development/Program Evaluation project aimed to improve L&D nurse preceptor confidence by implementing a Preceptor Toolkit. The objectives were to improve preceptor confidence across all experience levels, with a focus on preceptors with less than five years of experience, and to evaluate the toolkit’s adaptability, usability, and impact.

Methods

A pretest-posttest design was conducted across four L&D units in a southeast hospital system. Workshops introduced the toolkit, and preceptor confidence was assessed before and after using a modified Abbott Northwestern Hospital Preceptor Survey. Subgroup analysis examined preceptors with less than five years of precepting experience. A self-developed, post-implementation survey evaluated the toolkit’s adaptability, usability, and impact.

Results

Twenty-five preceptors participated, with 60% having less than five years of precepting experience. Paired t-tests showed statistically significant improvements in preceptor confidence (p < .05) across all experience levels, with the greatest gains observed among less experienced preceptors. Post- implementation feedback from five preceptors rated usability and impact highly (mean=4.2), while adaptability scored 3.6 on a 5-point scale.

Conclusion

The Preceptor Toolkit effectively improved preceptor confidence, particularly among those with less than five years of precepting experience. Continued investment in structured, evidence-based preceptor development is crucial for building a confident and competent preceptor workforce. Future research should explore the long-term effects of structured preceptor support on nurse retention, job satisfaction, and patient outcomes to further refine and sustain preceptorship models.

Open Access

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