Web-based Clinical Pedagogy Program to Enhance Nurse Preceptors' Teaching Competency and Nursing Students' Learning Outcomes in Clinical Competency

Clinical nursing education provides opportunities for students to learn in multiple patient care settings, receive appropriate guidance, and foster the development of clinical competence and professionalism. Nurse preceptors guide students to integrate theory into practice, teach clinical skills, assess clinical competency, and enhance problem solving and critical thinking skills. Previous researches have indicated that the teaching competency of the nurse preceptors can be transferred to the students' clinical learning to enhance their clinical competencies. Web-based learning is recognised as an effective learning approach for enhancing nursing knowledge and skills. The flexible and resource-rich nature of Web-based learning may encourage nurses to use it as a platform for continuing education.

The present study aims to develop a Web-based clinical pedagogy program (WCP) for nurse preceptors; compare the WCP with the current preceptorship course on clinical teaching competence, assessment techniques and self-efficacy; examine nurse preceptors' attitudes toward Web-based learning, and explore the preceptors' perspectives of WCP .

The design of the components in WCP is grounded on Bandura's self-efficacy theory. The WCP is an evidence-based program which provides a comprehensive coverage on clinical teaching pedagogy and assessment strategies. The unique web-based technology and interactive features provide a platform to allow the nurse preceptors to discuss the clinical encounters with their peers, and consult the experts. The WCP provides flexibility in learning, which may match the tight work schedule of the preceptors and aligns with the initiative of Singapore government to encourage leveraging on technology and continuing education for citizens.

A prospective cluster randomisation trial will be used for this study. The WCP will be provided to the preceptors in the experimental cluster, while the preceptors in the controlled cluster will receive the current preceptorship course. A follow-up qualitative study using focus group will be conducted to further explore the preceptors' perspectives of WCP.

Clinical teaching competence inventory (CTCI), preceptor self-efficacy assessment instrument (PSAI), attitudes towards web-based continuing learning survey (AWCLS) will be used to evaluate preceptors' learning outcomes. Socio-demographic data will be collected for both groups at baseline. Nurse preceptors will be invited to complete questionnaires on CTCI, PSAI, and AWCLS at three time points, before the learning program (baseline), after the learning program (post-test 1), and after clinical teaching experience (post-test 2). In addition, 16 preceptors will be invited to participate in the focus group discussions.