Preceptor selection, orientation, and evaluation in baccalaureate nursing education.

The benefits obtained from properly managed clinical preceptorships cannot be underestimated. Nursing students benefit from clinical preceptors who exemplify the application of theoretical knowledge in actual clinical settings. Preceptorships, and the use of preceptors, remain a viable and important adjunct for faculty in US schools of nursing. This article reports on a portion of a study of undergraduate baccalaureate nursing programs and the use, selection, and evaluation of clinical preceptors. The results suggest that the design of most preceptorship programs does not consistently secure the use of qualified clinical preceptors. Today's clinical preceptors need to be more carefully selected, oriented, and evaluated to ensure quality education of nursing students. Benefits can be realized not only in nursing education, but also in nursing practice, patient care, and nursing administration. More research needs to be done in the area of clinical preceptorships and more specifically, selection and evaluation methods.