Preceptorship for newly-qualified midwives: time for a change?

According to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the purpose of preceptorship is to provide support and guidance enabling new registrants to make the transition from student to accountable practitioner. To facilitate this, the NMC recommends that new registrants should have protected learning time in their first year of qualified practice, as well as access to a preceptor with whom regular meetings are held (NMC, 2006). This article explores current evidence and practice relating to preceptorship for newly-qualified midwives (NQMs). In the light of recent policy guidance from the NMC and from the government. It further explores issues that may currently affect the widespread implementation of preceptorship programmes for NQMs, suggesting that it is now time for clear and unequivocal direction from the NMC