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Nurse Preceptor Program
Beaufort Memorial Hospital Goes The Extra Step for Nurses and Patients
In 2001, Beaufort Memorial Hospital began an outstanding program that is aimed at recruiting and retaining good nurses! This program has afforded BMH the opportunity to maintain a nursing turnover rate that is well below the national average. In fact, this program has experienced such success; it has grown to a Multidisciplinary Preceptor Program that serves nearly every discipline (clinical & non-clinical) at the organization. It has been nationally recognized and represented and at the Health Care Education Association Conference in 2006.
The Nurse Preceptor Program, which originated in BMH’s Education Department, is a 12-week orientation program for new graduate nurses. (The orientation length is modified for experienced nurses, based on their past work history in nursing). At the forefront, each Nursing Department Director selects key staff that holds mentoring skills and reflects the hospital’s mission vision, and values. Those key staff members are then enrolled in an 8 hour Preceptor Course held at the hospital. After success completion of the course, these key staff members are set in place to precept new nurses coming the organization, as assigned by their respective directors.
Before the orientation begins, the Preceptor completes a Teaching Style Self Assessment Tool, which illustrated his / her teaching style. The orientee (new nurse) completes this tool as well. This assures that the Preceptor is able to modify his / her teaching style to meet the learning style needs of the new nurse coming on board. This is instrumental in creating a learning opportunity that is conducive to the success of the orientee on the unit.
During the orientation, weekly evaluation meetings are conducted between the Clinical Instructor, the Preceptor, Department Director, and new nurse to ensure that professional and clinical objectives are being met. This also an opportunity for the new nurse to express any concerns that he/ she may be having on the unit and together this team will strategize on how to best resolve any issues and enhance the success of the new nurse.
The patient load taken on by the new nurse is gradually modified during the weeks of the orientation process to assure that they are able to successfully manage a full patient load by the end of the orientation process. In addition, each orientee is scheduled time to work with multidisciplinary departments, immediately related to the special needs of that unit (i.e. Physical Therapy, Wound Care Nurse, Dialysis, Cath Lab, Operating Room, etc). Overall, the program is geared towards meeting the professional and clinical needs of new nurses coming to the organization and that the care provided reflects the highest quality.
If you have any questions concerning our Preceptor Program at BMH, please contact Joy Rivers, RN, MSN, who serves as the lead program coordinator. You may reach her via Email at JRivers@bmhsc.org or by phone at 842-522-5650.
