Abstract
M.Cur.
The Ministry of Health integrated preceptorship in the new curriculum. The nurse
preceptors were now responsible for students in the clinical area. This
opportunity to add a new dimension to the nursing role was met with a mixture of
feelings, such as resistance, lack of interest and trepidation. This mixture of
feelings can affect the psychiatric nurse preceptor's mental health.
Research recognizes that psychiatric nurses are exposed to high levels of work
stress. Now with the additional role of preceptorship that is widely acknowledged
to be complex, the likelihood of the psychiatric nurse preceptors being unhappy
and stressed is increased because of the demanding work.
Observing that the preceptors were disgruntled, the researcher explored this by
studying the experiences of the psychiatric nurses as preceptors.
The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experience of
psychiatric nurses' precepting third year registered nursing students. Another
purpose was to set guidelines to the psychiatric nurses who are precepting to
assist them in mobilizing their resources to facilitate the restoration of their
mental health. An exploratory, descriptive, contextual and qualitative design was undertaken to
find out the psychiatric nurses' experience when precepting registered nursing
students. A purposive sample was used and the psychiatric nurse preceptors
had to satisfy certain specific criteria pertaining to being preceptors.
Permission was obtained from the gatekeepers (that is the Ministry of Health
[Botswana]), Office of the President and Hospital matrons. A pilot phenomenological interview was conducted with a psychiatric nurse preceptor
who met the selection criteria.
A phenomenological method was followed for exploring and describing the
experience of the preceptors. Six preceptors were purposively selected. The
interviews were recorded on audiotape and transcribed.. Field notes concerning
impressions, perceptions and observations of the researcher were annotated
directly after each interview and served to supplement the transcriptions.
Steps were taken to ensure trustworthiness. Tesch's method of data analysis
was followed to analyze the data. The results of the study show that the preceptors experienced unhappiness of
the work area. This was attributed mainly to lack of knowledge and
understanding of preceptorship. These preceptors experienced feelings of
helplessness, guilt and uncertainty. It is clear that the psychiatric nurse
preceptors' pattern of interaction between the internal and external environments
is negatively influenced by lack of training and orientation, by difficulties
encountered and work overload. However, they are positively influenced as they
found preceptorship to be challenging and interesting.
Guidelines for supportive action by the psychiatric nurses, who are preceptors,
have been described. Recommendations were discussed according to the
nursing education, nursing practice and nursing research. Lastly the limitations
and conclusions of the study were done.