This week, we will be discussing precepting and mentoring. Most of us have had a preceptor at some point in our nursing careers, and many of us have acted as preceptors. Sometimes, a facility has a structured process for precepting new employees, and sometimes the preceptor has to wing it. We all know there are good preceptors and not so good ones. So this week, we will discuss from our readings, our research, and our experiences, what makes a good preceptor or mentor. Remember that each of you will create your discussion post from the perspective of either the preceptor or the preceptee, depending upon which group you were assigned in Week 2.
I will be grading your Change Project Proposal papers this week and will have them returned to you as soon as I can get them done. You will receive feedback on your chosen project, with possible suggestions.
I will also be grading the discussion participation from last week and will have those grades uploaded for you as I get them done. Thank you all for such an outstanding discussion this past week as we role played handling a difficult employee. The interaction was a great learning experience, as well as entertaining!
The Confirmation of Hours forms are coming in. As I get them processed, I will email your preceptor the links to do your evaluation. I will also send you an email letting you know that I have received your form from your preceptor. If you have not received an email of this type, I do not have forms for you yet. There are several in my email inbox right now waiting to be processed, sut I will get them done today. It might take a reminder to the preceptor to get the form sent if you have completed your practicum hours and have not received an email from me yet. This confirmation of the completed practicum hours is a requirement to pass the class and a part of the contract that you and your preceptor signed well before the class began.
Also, remember that you will not receive a passing grade for this course until your preceptor has done an satisfactory evaluation for your practicum experience. This is a requirement of the program and every practicum course. As of today, only eight evaluations have been completed, and I have notified those students that the evaluations have been completed. Some were completed over the weekend, and I will let those students know today that theirs have been completed. It will behoove you to politely ascertain that your preceptor has completed the required evaluation if you have completed your hours and you do not hear from me today. As per the statement in the course syllabus, this satisfactory evaluation of your practicum performance is a requirement to pass this course. It states in the syllabus that the evaluation must be completed by the last day of class for the students to pass the course. This is standard policy for every practicum course. Of course, waiting to the very last week to remind your preceptor makes a very anxious time until you know it has been done.
