Background The hospice ran a Preceptorship programme for its five Nursing Associates on completion of their Nursing Associate Apprenticeship. Preceptorship is a structured programme to integrate newly qualified registrants into a workforce.

Aims Review the first preceptorship programme.

Method Programme lecturer devised a survey using Microsoft Forms, this was completed by the Nursing Associates. Common themes identified by the preceptors and programme lead and compared against standards.

Results

1. A common idea of what preceptorship had achieved. Preceptors gave a similar description of their achievements on completing the programme, this reflected the Nursing & Midwifery Council aims for preceptorship.

   “The course provided guidance, support and development, transitioning us from students to professionals.”

2. Preceptorship helped them gain the knowledge and skills to work as an effective Nursing Associate in a specialist palliative care environment. Course design followed consultation with nurse leaders, to meet the knowledge and skills required to practise effectively within a specialist palliative care setting and to achieve their competencies (NMC. Principles of preceptorship. [Internet] 2022); holistic assessment, palliative emergencies (NICE. Metastatic spinal cord compression in adults: risk assessment, diagnosis and management. [CG75], 2008), clinical supervision, medication, revalidation, quality and governance.

   “I have to recognise emergencies like Spinal Cord Compression, to enable appropriate care…. to prevent irreversible neurological damage.”

   “Understanding of the medications used in palliative care and how to calculate the different drugs.”

   “Each training day I came away with something new, e.g. getting ready for revalidation”.

3. The programme provided safe space to learn and share together. The design allowed preceptors to learn with and from others. The variety of activities both face-to-face and virtually and regular clinical supervision, gave NAs important tools for their career in nursing (NMC, 2022).

   “I enjoyed the Blended learning approach, discussing issues in practice and supporting each other.”

Conclusion When the results of the survey were compared with the NMC framework for preceptorship, student feedback indicated that the course had met the key requirements set out by the NMC.