Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Staff Engagement and Empowerment (motivating staff / teamwork / work revamp tackling manpower issue / staff wellness / OSH / retention)
Authors (including presenting author) :
KOO YY(1), WONG SF(1), LAM PL(1), LEUNG MK(1), HUNG YW(1), PY CHAN(1), SY WONG (1).
Affiliation :
(1) Community Nursing Service, Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital.
Introduction :
Community Nursing Services (CNS) play a critical role in delivering comprehensive care in the community. CNS nurses are responsible for independent outdoor work and conducting clinical assessments to provide specialized patient care. However, the clinical practicum in CNS was suspended for several years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it has resumed in June 2023 at OLMH CNS, inadequate clinical supervision has posed challenges for nursing students, causing significant stress during their practicum. Moreover, mentors struggle to cover all aspects of community nursing within the limited timeframe. Therefore, it is imperative to implement an effective and updated preceptorship program that upholds high nursing standards and fosters a supportive learning and mentoring environment for both nursing students and mentors.
Objectives :
1)To implement a CNS orientation program to help nursing students adapt to the working environment, understand their roles, and develop professional behavior. 2) To establish a high-risk nursing procedures list to ensure patient safety by restricting certain procedures from being performed by nursing students. 3) To provide ongoing clinical coaching and assessments to enhance the nursing skills of students. 4) To strengthen mentors' preceptorship skills through training and support. 5) To promote satisfaction and reduce stress among both mentors and nursing students by creating a supportive and positive learning environment. These objectives aim to improve the overall quality of the clinical practicum experience, maintain patient safety, and foster the professional growth of nursing students in the community nursing setting.
Methodology :
At the start of the nursing students' clinical practicum, an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) would provide a comprehensive CNS orientation that includes a list of high-risk nursing procedures prohibited for students. Each student would be paired with a clinical mentor who oversees their progression, starting with simpler tasks and gradually advancing to more complex procedures. To enhance their understanding of community nursing, students would choose a chronic disease management case and participate in peer conferences to share and discuss their studies. Collaborating with CGAT nursing staff, a visit to an Old Aged Home would be arranged to provide students with insights into community care. Mentor training, pre- and post-practicum meetings, and regular debriefing sessions would ensure effective support and communication. Finally, students would offer feedback through a post-practicum evaluation form to express their thoughts on the CNS experience.
Result & Outcome :
In the preceptorship program, 32 nursing students participated, resulting in the following outcomes:
1) 100% of the students expressed complete satisfaction with the program.
2) All students agreed that the program successfully achieved its objectives.
3) The program received positive, useful, and successful feedback from all participants (100%).
4) All students believed they acquired valuable knowledge from the program.
5) A majority of the students advocated for the program.
Additionally, all mentors agreed that the student mentoring guidelines were clear and practical, promoting effective communication and goal attainment. The mentors also acknowledged that the Preceptorship Program significantly enhanced their clinical confidence and competence.
