Paper
Tuesday, November 6, 2007

690
This presentation is part of : Creative Learning and Assessment Tools
Preceptor Experiences Affect Simulation, BKAT and Critical Thinking (CT) Skills
Patricia R. Messmer, PhD, RN, -BC, FAAN, Nurse Researcher, Children's Mercy Hospital & Clinics, Kansas City, MO, USA
Learning Objective #1: Descibe the effect of the Preceptor experience on new graduate's simulation, BKAT and CT scores
Learning Objective #2: Discuss the difference a Preceptor experience can make on the Simulation, BKAT and CT scores
Background: Bowles & Candela (2005) reported that 30% of new graduates left in one year and 57% left by 2 years. Patient care issues, such as unsafe nurse-patient rations, were perceived as the most negative aspects and the most frequent reason for leaving.  Rosenfield et al (2004) reported their nurse residency program using one-to-one mentoring provided a meaningful environment.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the preceptor learning experiences on Human Patient Pediatric/Infant Simulator (HPPS) scores, Basic Knowledge Assessment Tools (BKAT) for Critical Care Nursing and Critical Thinking (CT) Skills. 

Methodology: Thirty new graduates (10 PICU; 10 NICU and 10 ED) in a Children’s Hospital participated and were pre-tested during orientation on the HPPS and administered Toth’s (2004) BKAT and NLN CT test. There are three BKAT versions:  PEDS-BKAT5; NICU-BKAT3, and ED-BKAT.  The CT test is a 58 item test that evaluates students on five critical thinking skills--Interpretation, Analysis, Evaluation, Inference, and Explanation and determines student’s ability in 9 content areas including research, legal/ethical, leadership, health promotion/risk management and therapeutic communication. The HPPS is a full body computerized mannequin that provides real time physiological and pharmacological measurements programmed to immediately reflect a child ranging from 4-11 years old.  The infant is 3-6 months. All subjects were assigned a code so that there will not be any identifying information. They were re-tested in 3 months following the preceptor program.

Results: Demographics reveal a diversified group for gender, age and ethnicity. Following the preceptor program, the scores increased for both HPPS and BKAT but were not significant on CT Skills.

Conclusion: Perhaps additional time and mentoring is needed to allow for an increase in CT skills or the ICU and ED are not conducive in enhancing new graduates critical thinking skills due to the fast pace.

 

 

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