Preparing preceptors through online education.

Preceptor education is vital to the success of healthcare institutions. Preceptors' roles are complex and require up-to-the-minute programs reflecting crucial mentoring responsibilities for orientees in multifaceted working environments. Finding the time to properly educate preceptors while maintaining quality bedside care is a challenge for staff development educators during the nursing shortage. Offering a preceptor education program online can assist preceptors in the adoption of role changes in a timely manner. The outcome can provide excellent, competent, caring preceptors. In this article, the course content and intended outcomes of online preceptor preparation programs are discussed. The role of the staff development educator in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating online preceptor programs is also discussed.