Showing New Employees The Ropes

If you're an experienced healthcare professional, chances are good that you'll be asked to orient or precept a new employee. "In the hospital, anyone who is new to a unit works with a preceptor," says nurse Lynn Duane.

Hands-on orientation

Precepting is tailored to the needs of the employee. For an experienced professional, this hands-on orientation might last only a few days. A brand-new graduate might work with a preceptor for one to six months, depending on the specialty.

"Healthcare is a multi-faceted, high-risk industry, and the use of preceptors is a reflection of the complexity of our jobs," says Duane, who is program manager of Twin Cities Health Professionals Education Consortium.

Preceptors teach new employees how to do the work and function effectively in the culture of the unit. This includes walking employees through unfamiliar procedures, acquainting them with the hospital's systems and processes, identifying key players and resources, and assuring that they understand important information and its application to patient care.

Habits of highly effective preceptors

Successful preceptors must have good interpersonal and communication skills. "Communication is the essence of precepting," Duane says. "It shows interest and acceptance, builds trusting relationships, and helps preceptors assess and solve problems."

Above all, preceptors should be active listeners. "It's important to listen first, without interrupting, before responding," Duane says. She recommends that preceptors:

One useful strategy is what Duane calls the "one-minute preceptor technique." The preceptor asks the orientee to give a short presentation about a patient, with references to general principles of practice. The preceptor then provides appropriate feedback.

Preceptors can also go on patient rounds with the orientee and do a daily review of what went well or could have been improved. But the most effective strategy of all is role-modeling. "That's because whether you realize it or not, orientees are always watching," Duane says.

Nancy Giguere is a freelance writer from St. Paul who has written about healthcare since 1995.