The severity of hospitalized patients' illnesses is greater than ever—and so is the demand for a highly competent health care team.

In Northern California, all newly hired nurses participating in a training program are assured a clinical orientation with a Preceptor whose responsibilities include informing, instructing, teaching, coaching, observing, evaluating, and supporting new hires during their orientation and socialization into their new role. Selected new graduates may participate in the Preceptor Backfill Internship Program. This program is a unique approach to clinical orientation and training and is currently being evaluated for its effectiveness in developing competent new nurses.

The Preceptor Backfill Internship Program was started in June 2001 and works through funding that allows Preceptors to devote attention to Preceptees/Interns without administrative or patient care duties thereby enhancing clinical orientation, competent nursing practice, and an increased retention rate for nurses. The program criteria include:

1. Limiting the number of Preceptors per Preceptee/Intern to no more than four
2. Preceptors who have taken a Preceptor Training course
3. No assigned patient care responsibilities
4. Weekly meetings with the Preceptor, Preceptee/Intern, Clinical Educator, department Assistant Manager or Manager to discuss progress through the orientation and training program

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