Experiences of preceptorship in Singapore: A qualitative exploratory study of preceptors’ experience in precepting nursing students during pre-registration of clinical placement in an acute hospital

Preceptors play an important role in teaching and guiding nursing students to transit to the role of registered nurses. Nursing students are trained to acquire the skills and knowledge in providing good quality care to patients. However, the preceptors in the clinical area may face challenges in providing care to their patients in addition to their preceptor role. It is vital to explore and gain insights on the preceptorship experience to better understand their challenges and facilitate their preceptorships and the learning experience of the nursing students. This study explored the preceptors’ experience to understand their challenges and support received in the facilitation of the preceptorship and learning experience of the nursing students in an acute care hospital in Singapore. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from June to October 2021 with ten registered nurses working in an acute hospital. Thematic analysis was conducted. Three main themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (1) preceptor-student relationship; (2) barriers and challenges to successful preceptorship; and (3) outcomes of successful preceptorship. This study provided valuable insights in the experience of the preceptors in Singapore. Recommendation for nursing management and leaders to establish support system in promoting recognition of preceptors, establish dialog sessions between stakeholders. Nursing education to provide support and to review the efficacy of the current preceptorship program to identify correlation with successful precepting experience for both preceptors and nursing students. Despite challenges faced by the preceptors, their experience had been positive and they are committed in precepting the nursing students.