Exploring Discrepancies in Perceived Nursing Competence Between Postgraduate-Year Nurses and Their Preceptors

Abstract

Background: Postgraduate clinical training programs improve the core competence of nurses. How postgraduate-year (PGY) nurses perceive their clinical competence and their preceptors' perceptions may affect program effectiveness. This study compared the perspectives of clinical competencies of PGY nurses engaged in a residency program in Taiwan with their preceptors' perspectives.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical center in Taiwan. The Nursing Competence Questionnaire was used to obtain data from 99 pairs of PGY nurses and preceptors.

Results: PGY nurses' scores were higher than their preceptors' for communication, patient education, and management competencies (p <.05). Preceptors with more years of clinical experience exhibited greater assessment discrepancies for clinical care, communication, patient education, research awareness, and overall competence (p <.05).

Conclusion: Preceptor development courses should be grounded in a strong pedagogical framework. An assessment tool with explicit behavioral indicators would be needed for objective evaluation from both perspectives. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2017;48(4):190-196.