Critical friends: A way to develop preceptor competence?

• Published in: Nurse education in practice Vol. 15; no. 6; pp. 470 - 471
• Main Author: Carlson, Elisabeth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2015; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Attitude of Health Personnel; Beliefs; Classroom Environment; Clinical Competence; Clinical medicine; Competence; Conferences; Conflicts of interest; Core curriculum; Critical friend; Critical friends; Education; Educational Background; Feedback; Friends; Friendship; Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Learning; Learning Activities; Mentors; Mentors - education; Models, Educational; Multilingualism; Newcomers; Nurses; Nursing Education; Nursing Students; Pedagogy; Preceptor; Preceptors; Preceptorship; Preceptorship - methods; Professional competence; Professional development; Quality of Working Life; Reflection; Self Actualization; Staff Development; Students; Students, Nursing; Supervision; Supervisors; Teacher Improvement; Teaching; Teaching Methods; Trust; Undergraduate Students; Professional competence; Critical friends; Preceptorship
• ISSN: 1471-5953; 1873-5223; 1873-5223
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2014.11.016

Preceptorship entails for nurses to create a supportive learning and working climate where students or newcomers are given opportunities to develop professional competence. However, being a skilled and experienced nurse does not automatically turn the professional into a skilled educator as teaching of a subject is a whole different story. Preceptors need to continuously and critically reflect on their practices in order to facilitate the development of professional pedagogical competence. Critical friends are colleagues with comparable educational background evaluating the work of each other. The relationship should rely on friendship and mutual trust, adding new dimensions to the reflective process. Being engaged in a critical friendship allows the “friends” to become aware of their own shortcomings which can then be reflected on in relation to clinical as well as pedagogical practices. Being and having a critical friend might be one promising way forward for preceptors to develop pedagogical and professional competence. •Preceptorship entails for nurses to create a supportive learning climate.•Critical friends are colleagues with comparable educational background.•Support from a critical friend enables professional and pedagogical development.