Nurse Preceptors live at the intersections of education/practice and of the present/future. They are the essential link between what nurses are taught and what they do, and between what nurses know and what they need to know.
Mastering Precepting: A Nurse's Handbook for Success, Beth Tamplet Ulrich and contributors share their experiences, advice, theory, and research findings to better describe the role of precepting and the importance of it. This book is not only a primer for the new preceptor but a resource to consult as needed over a lifetime of precepting.
Experience and good clinical skills do not necessarily result in good precepting. Throughout its 13 chapters, Mastering Precepting looks at the role of preceptor: learning strategies, communication, coaching, technology, behaviors and motivation, and self-care. It focuses on improving the skills of those who serve as preceptors, not only for new graduates but for nurses transitioning from any nursing role into another. A good preceptor can set the foundation for a thriving career while a poor one can have devastating outcomes, not only for the nurse, but for the patient as well.
