Effect of preceptor education in the development of critical thinking in new graduate nurses

There is a strong push for nurses to think critically in their nursing practice. Educators, managers, and advanced practice nurses all struggle with how to get nurses to think critically. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the importance of preceptors in the development of critical thinking in new graduates. This study is a partial replication of the study conducted by Sorensen and Yankech (2008). The study will examine how preceptors influence the ability of new nurses to think critically. Nurse preceptors will participate in a research-based, theory-driven educational program designed to help them facilitate critical thinking in new graduate. A convenience sample of 30 new graduates will be divided into groups. Group 1 will contain preceptors who did not attend the preceptor education program. Group 2 of the new graduates will contain preceptors, who attended the education program. All new graduates will complete the California Critical Thinking Skills Test after the completion of their orientation working with their preceptors. The test findings will be analyzed to determine the effect of preceptor education in the attainment of new graduate nurses’ critical thinking skills.School of NursingThesis (M.S.