A Comparison of Preceptor and Educator Valuing of Nursing Student Clinical Performance Criteria

Although setting of nursing practice was a significant factor in the valuing, experience and educational preparation of the preceptors were not, and significant differences were demonstrated on individual items relating to application of theory to practice and nursing care planning.

Abstract

This comparative study investigated similarities and differences between nurse preceptors and nurse educators in their valuing of selected clinical competence criteria in evaluation of the clinical performance of baccalaureate nursing students. An assumption basic to the study was that if performance criteria were valued differently, student evaluations could differ. Analysis by multiple t tests and discriminant analysis demonstrated that preceptors and educators are more similar than different in their valuing of the selected performance criteria. Significant differences were demonstrated on individual items relating to application of theory to practice and nursing care planning. Although setting of nursing practice was a significant factor in the valuing, experience and educational preparation of the preceptors were not.