Nurses Interns' Perception On The Preceptors Role In Enhancing The Interns' Clinical Competence And Transition To Become Competent Staff Nurses In Health Care Settings In The Sultanate Of Oman

Abstract

Background: The internship period is considered the mechanism that facilitates easy transition into the role of
beginning-level staff nurse in an acute-care setting. During this transitional period, it is not only the learning and
refinement of technical skills that interns must master, but also includes maturation into the role of being a
professionally licensed individual and the inherent responsibilities that accompany licensure (Duchsher, 2001).
According to Beecroft, Kunzman, and Krozek (2001). It is through the transition process that the interns acquire the
value, attitudes, and goals fundamental to the nursing profession and a sense of occupational identity.

Objectives: To assess the perception of new nursing graduates regarding the preceptor's influence in enhancing
their clinical performance, competence and facilitate graduates' transition.

Methodology: A descriptive quantitative design, Sample: 73 nurses' interns selected from different hospitals. Purposive sampling method was used.

Results: The findings of this study revealed that, the graduates' perceived that, the preceptors do play a vital role in
facilitating the graduates' transition in the clinical settings. They also agreed that, the preceptors have a great
influence among the graduates' in terms of enhancing their clinical performance, confidence, responsibility,
accountability and foster in them positive skills to be competent nurses in their field of practice. The findings also
suggested that, assigning one preceptor yielded better outcomes than assigning multiple preceptors. In fact, high level of satisfaction was obtained from the graduates with one preceptor more than the other group who were
assigned multiple ones. 

Conclusion: The internship period is considered a critical period for the new graduates. Having well planned program to support the graduates as well as assigning one preceptor to them facilitates their transition and enhances their clinical performance. The results illustrated that, the preceptors play a significant role to instill confidence related to skill development and nursing decision making. In addition to that, preceptor's continuity with one graduate builds up a strong relationship between them which resulted towards the end in high level of satisfaction among the graduates.

Recommendation: It is recommended to assign one preceptor only to the intern and shadow the preceptor in all
shifts. Furthermore, a Comprehensive orientation program should be organized for the graduates and preceptors as well as a preceptorship programs in order to prepare all preceptors for their roles.