The NAWC ® Preceptor Program

1. The NAWC® Preceptor Program Making a difference in the Wound Care Community

2. Objectives • Introduce the concept of mentoring • Discuss the role of a Preceptor • Discuss the qualifications to become a Preceptor

3. Who Do You Look Up To? “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

4. Famous Role Models “ Be the change you want to see in the world.” Gandhi

5. Famous Mentors “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” Mother Theresa

6. Mentoring • Mentoring another nurse is a professional means of passing along knowledge, skills, behaviors and values to a less experienced individual who is often referred to as the “mentee” or “protégé” (NLN, 2006).

7. Mentoring Who Mentored you?

8. My Mentors

9. Pass it FORWARD !!!

10. Mentoring • Takes place in a one-on-one relationship where the mentor makes a personal investment in the person being mentored

11. Mentoring • Includes aspects of professional development as well as personal development

12. Mentoring • Goals tend to be broad

13. Mentoring • Voluntary • Long term relationship • Paired by similar characteristics • Teaching goes beyond skills only • Role Models

14. Effects of Mentoring • Increases: • Access to information • Self - esteem & confidence • Job satisfaction • Empowerment to cope • Professionalism

15. Effects of Mentoring • Decreases: • Stress • Frustration • Lack of initiative

16. To Become a Mentor • Have the desire • Be committed • Make the time • Be patient

17. Effects of Mentoring • Be experienced in the subject matter • Show enthusiasm

18. Benefits to Mentee • 3 “E’s” • Emotional support • Encouragement • Empathy

19. Benefits to Mentee • Receive motivation • Valuable direction • Gain knowledge • Different perspective

20. A Preceptor

21. A Preceptor • Relationship is sustained over time but is time limited (College-semester/qtr/orientation) • Specific time frame-to be a WCC preceptor 120 hrs/3wks

22. Goal - Preceptor • Goals of preceptorship • specific, course related, objective, measurable • Related to practice performance of a particular role ie. WCC • WCC- Competnancy Checklist

23. Role - Preceptor • Role Model-demonstrates how competent preceptee perform their tasks

24. Role - Preceptor • Socializer-helps preceptee feel welcome & integrated

25. First Day for Preceptor • To set the tone for a proper learning environment allow 30 mins. on first day: • Meet & Greet • Learning about each other • Address mutual expectations • Identify previous experience • Many WCC students do not have a lot of clinical experience

26. Get student on the Same Page • Responsibilities • Be as explicit as possible about the entire spectrum of responsibilities. • Consider such mundane but important aspects • How to dress • Where to park & enter the bldg • Where to store personal possessions

27. Get student on the Same Page • Discuss clinical site rules & regulations. • Be clear on how you want the student to contribute to the rotation • Some activities may be observational • While others may require hands-on participation

28. Get student on the Same Page • Teaching - You may wish to tell the student you: • “Teach on the fly” • Primarily by asking questions • Role-modeling & directing the learner to the literature to answer important content questions. • Whatever approach you choose • Briefly describe what will occur • What the student must do to make the process work

29. Get student on the Same Page • Evaluation & Feedback • The student needs to know when and how it will occur • Have a clear idea of what criteria will be used for evaluation • Use this time to reassure the learner that you will offer informal feedback frequently during the experience

30. Your Role as a Preceptor • Educator • Helps preceptee • Assess learning needs • Plan learning experiences • Implement the plan • Evaluate performance

31. Preceptor Tips of the Trade • Listen to what the students need/want to learn • Do not present only what you want to teach • One teaches more by what one does than by what one says • Get to know the student’s strengths and weaknesses • Help find experiences to address the weaknesses • Capitalize on the strengths

32. Preceptor Tips of the Trade • Do not always provide answers • Provide tips to help guide through the problem-solving process • Immediate feedback is most effective • Correct a misunderstood situation/mistake as soon as it happens

33. Preceptor Tips of the Trade • Not only do preceptors teach, but they also learn by teaching. • Student questions require you to provide a rationale for the treatment regime of the patient. • Additionally, it gives you the opportunity to reevaluate the treatment approach related to certain conditions.

34. Preceptor Tips of the Trade • Let people make mistakes • Does not jeopardize patient safety • This is an excellent way for learning to have an impact • Encourage questions • Make sure the student understands that no question is stupid

35. Preceptor Tips of the Trade • Go step by step: • Students cannot be taught short cuts • They first need to learn things the established way • On the other hand, if there is a safe short cut, share it!

36. Preceptor Tips of the Trade • Every individual is unique and that you must tailor the learning to the individual learning style • Recognize and accommodate the learning style of your student • Some like a lot of discussion before trying out a new skill • While others want to practice right away-then discuss

37. Benefits to preceptee • Participate in wound care practice in a variety of settings • Experience the "real world" of practice

38. Benefits to preceptee • Socialization into the profession • Gain competence and confidence

39. Benefits to preceptee • Investigate employment opportunities. • Begin the transition from the role of student to WCC

40. Ready to Become a Preceptor??

41. NAWC® Preceptor Program • WCC® certification option that allows licensed, healthcare clinicians who have a strong passion for healing wounds, but do not have the required wound care experience to earn the WCC credential.

42. NAWC Preceptor Program • 4 wk program that includes • 1 wk WCEI Course • 3 wk/120 hours with a WCC preceptor-clinical setting

43. Qualifications to Become a Preceptor • Approval from employer • 1. Current unrestricted professional license • 2. Current active certification • National Alliance of Wound Care® as a “WCC” • Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB) as a "CWCN", “CWON” or "CWOCN“ • American Academy Wound Management - CWS

44. Qualifications to Become a Preceptor • 2 yrs of clinical WC experience • Within the last 5 yrs • Min of 1 yr since you have been WC Certified • Approval from employer • Check requirements needed to bring student in-house

45. Qualifications to Become a Preceptor • Sufficient clinical population & opportunities • provide hands-on wound care skills • learning experiences to student • Submission & approval of the NAWC clinical preceptor application

46. In Closing • There are many ways to share your knowledge • It starts with you • There is always a need • You can make the difference for a deserving WCC candidate • Become a WCC Preceptor today

47. You’ve been great! Thank you

48. Bibliography • Greenberg, M., Colombraro, G., DeBlasio, J., Dolan, J., & Rich, E. (2001). Rewarding preceptors: A cost-effective model. Nurse Educator, 26(3), 114-116. • Jackson, M. (2001). A preceptor incentive program: Rewarding staff nurses for mentorship. American Journal of Nursing, 101(6), 24A-24E. • Yonge, O., Krahn, H., Trojan, L., Reid, D., & Haase, M. (2002a). Being a preceptor is stressful! Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, 18(1), 22-27