Date of Award
Fall 2013
Degree Type
Thesis
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Patricia Hart
Second Advisor
Nicole Mareno
Abstract
Purpose: To examine the relationship between newly licensed registered nurses’ perceived preceptor role effectiveness and newly licensed registered nurses’ perceived level of psychological empowerment and professional autonomy.
Design: A prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive research design was used.
Methods: Sixty-nine newly licensed registered nurses who graduated from an academic institution in the southeast United States were recruited and surveyed. Data collection occurred from August 2013 through October 2013.
Results: Newly licensed registered nurses had moderately high levels of perceived preceptor role effectiveness (M = 63.04, SD = 9.77), psychological empowerment (M = 3.98, SD = .57), and professional autonomy (M =198.90, SD = 21.23). Preceptor role effectiveness had significant, moderately, positive relationships with professional autonomy (r[69] = .326, p = .006) and psychological empowerment (r[69] = .486, p < .001). In addition, a significant relationship was found between professional autonomy and psychological empowerment, r(69) = .444, p < .001.
Conclusions: Preceptor role effectiveness is an important element in the successful transition of newly licensed registered nurses to nursing practice. Effective preceptorships are linked to increased professional autonomy, psychological empowerment, competence, and confidence in newly licensed registered nurses. Effective preceptorships are necessary in easing the newly licensed registered nurses transition to practice and increasing retention rates.