The effectiveness of a clinical reasoning teaching workshop on clinical teaching ability in nurse preceptors

Aim To explore the effectiveness of a clinical reasoning teaching workshop (CRTW) in preceptors' teaching ability, self-efficacy of clinical reasoning teaching. Background Preceptors' teaching skills are crucial for training novice nurses. How to enhance preceptors' teaching ability is a pertinent concern in clinical practice. Methods This study comprised two stages. At stage I, we administered a pre- to post-test single group with 33 participants to investigate the changes in preceptors' knowledge and self-efficacy in clinical reasoning teaching after clinical reasoning teaching workshop. At stage II, a quasi-experimental design was adopted to assess the effectiveness of the clinical reasoning teaching workshop by comparing the preceptors' teaching ability by novice nurses. There were 22 nurses' preceptors who underwent the clinical reasoning teaching workshop and 70 nurses with preceptors who did not undergo clinical reasoning teaching workshop and matched with preceptors' age and working experience. Results After clinical reasoning teaching workshop, preceptors' knowledge and self-efficacy of clinical reasoning teaching ware increased significantly. Novice nurses (study group) scored their preceptors' teaching ability significantly higher than nurses' (control group). Conclusion The clinical reasoning teaching workshop can enhance preceptors' teaching ability and confidence, thereby improving their teaching ability. Implications for nursing management A well-designed workshop with appropriated teaching method can allow preceptors to learn effectiveness. Clinical reasoning teaching workshop can be used in the training of preceptors.