A Celebratory Tribute to Nursing’s Preceptors from Nurse Residents’ Perspectives

The transition from nursing student to a professional registered nurse in today’s fast-paced, complex healthcare environment is both exciting and profoundly overwhelming. Newly licensed registered nurses (NLRNs) enter practice with a strong foundation of nursing theory.  Upon introduction to the practical field of nursing, however, many NLRNs quickly realize their nursing school experience may only be semi-comparable to the reality of patient-centered care. Duchscher (2009) describes this shift as “transition shock,” defined as the “physical, emotional, intellectual, and sociocultural stress new graduate nurses face when moving from the role of student to registered nurse.” The approach to developing NLRN’s acknowledges this phenomenon and tasks experienced nurses with guiding NLRN’s to ease the challenges of this new role.

During entry to practice, when NLRN’s are at their most vulnerable, preceptors play a crucial role in shaping their transition into practice. They guide new nurses through unfamiliar clinical environments, help mitigate uncertainty, and provide reassurance as residents build confidence in their skills and establish their own professional identities as registered nurses (Urban & Barnes, 2020). For countless NLRNs, preceptors serve as guiding lights—modeling what safe, compassionate, and competent nursing practice looks like every single shift in real time.

Preceptors as Vital Lifelines Who Provide a Safe Space for Learning

The Association of Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) defines a preceptor as “an individual with demonstrated competence in a specific area who guides, assesses, and validates the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to transition to a new role, specialty, or environment in the healthcare setting” (Harper et al., 2023, p. 3).

For NLRNs, preceptors are more than instructors—they are the indispensable lifelines who bridge theory to practice while providing psychological safety during a period of intense self-doubt and discouragement. Confidence is learned through practice, but NLRN’s will not make it far alone. Preceptors are the shepherds, who selflessly guide NLRNs through a whole new world, asking for nothing in return as they watch them bloom.

Supportive preceptors foster environments where residents feel comfortable asking questions and seeking clarification without fear of judgment. This is essential, as many NLRNs hesitate to speak up due to concerns about appearing unprepared or incompetent (Hampton et al., 2021). When questions go unasked, patient safety may be compromised and feelings of inadequacy can intensify, contributing to burnout and attrition. In contrast, preceptors who encourage curiosity and provide constructive feedback promote confidence, critical thinking, and a sense of belonging for NLRNs.

As patient acuity and complexity increases, NLRNs may experience heightened stress and uncertainty regarding their roles (Urban & Barnes, 2020). Effective preceptors resist the urge to provide all the answers; instead, they guide residents through clinical reasoning, empowering them to make informed decisions. This approach builds competence, autonomy, and trust in one’s clinical judgment—essential components of professional growth.

We have discovered throughout our residency program that preceptors also play a key role in socializing residents into unit culture, which includes shared values, communication styles, and unwritten norms. Understanding these dynamics can be challenging for NLRNs trying to “fit in” while still developing confidence. By creating safe spaces for learning and professional growth, preceptors help residents navigate unit culture, reduce transition shock, and recognize their role as members of the healthcare team (Harper et al., 2023).

Resident Reflections: The Lasting Impact of Preceptorship

The authors, as NLRNs in a nursing residency program, are deeply grateful for the competence, patience, and compassion demonstrated by our own preceptors. Their leadership and dedication to patient care have left everlasting impressions on our professional journeys.

Many of us entered residency feeling overwhelmed and scared, and many of those feelings remain as we pass our six-month or halfway mark in the program. Yet, our preceptors remain there, to acknowledge the fear and uncertainty, reminding us that growth comes with time, persistence, and patience. Among our personal reflections, we recognized our shared gratitude for our preceptors. In one account, a moment of hesitation by the resident at the bedside of a patient, was met without criticism or judgment, but with reassurance and support in which the preceptor stated softly to the resident- “One day this will be you.” Those words became a source of strength, reminding us that confidence is built through experience, not perfection.

Challenging NLRN’s with intention is effective as the best preceptors asked questions, prompted clinical reasoning, and encouraged leadership in patient care. Though demanding at times, these moments fostered critical thinking and revealed a not yet discovered potential. Paired with encouragement and constructive feedback, these challenges served as powerful tools for our growth.

Others described the profound impact of preceptors who modeled compassion and patient advocacy. The simplest of actions— pulling up a chair to listen, validating a patient’s fears, and demonstrating respectful collaboration with the healthcare team—revealed how nursing extends as both a science and an art, one focused on human presence, connection, and belonging.

Across all our experiences, one theme consistently emerged: preceptors made us feel seen, supported, and capable. They helped us find our voices, trust our instincts, and believe that we belong in this profession.

Celebrating Preceptors: Shaping the Future of Nursing One Resident at a Time

Our lived experience transitioning into practice, coupled with the instruction of our preceptors, has defined our success during our nursing residency. We feel deeply fortunate to be learning from those preceptors that go above and beyond. Although the transition period for residents can be marked by stress and uncertainty, these key preceptors make a difference by fostering growth, resiliency, and confidence as we begin to develop our own professional identities. By demonstrating professionalism, compassion, and clinical excellence each day, preceptors show us what it truly means to be a nurse. While they may not recognize it in the moment, their early support is key to our success.

To every nurse who has served as a preceptor, or will do so in the future, we celebrate you today and always.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no relevant conflicts of interest. The authors did not receive grant funding or financial support for this article

References

Duchscher, J. B. (2009). Transition shock: The initial stage of role adaptation for newly graduated registered nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65(5), 1103–1113. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04898.x

Hampton, K., Smelzer, S., & Ross, J. (2021). The transition from nursing student to practicing nurse: An integrative review of transition to practice programs. Nursing Education in Practice, 36(6). 551-559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103031

Harper M. G., Ulrich B., MacDonald R., Maloney P., Insalaco Warren J., Whiteside D. (2023). Summary findings from the 2023 preceptor competency consensus study. ANPD. https://www.anpd.org/Portals/0/Files/ANPD_1127571-23_PreceptorCompetencies_Report.pdf

Urban, R. & Barnes, D. (2020). Transition to practice: The lived experiences of new graduate nurses in early solo flight. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 36(2), 74-81. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31977755/