Title

Initial Competency Tool to Assist Preceptors in the Documentation of New RN Competency

Date of Award

5-2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing (ND)

Department

Biological Science

First Advisor

Susan M. Hageness

Abstract

Health organizations rely on Registered Nurse (RN) preceptors to train and evaluate new RN’s competence. A competency tool guides and documents a new RN’s competency to adequately perform the skills needed for their position. This DNP project utilized preceptor input to optimize the competency tool to improve the preceptor’s ease of use, clear expectations for each competency, and improved the preceptor-to-preceptor handoff. This quality improvement project involved surveying RN preceptors for their perception of the initial competency tool throughout its development and after implementation. Preceptors reported a dramatically improved preceptor perception of the initial competency tool. Survey results showed an increase in perceived ability to accurately document a new RN’s competence, ease in transitioning a new hire RN from one preceptor to the next, and a clear understanding of what is expected for each competency.

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