By Francella Smoker
Francella Smoker has been a registered nurse for over 14 years with a background in peri-operative nursing and trauma. She completed her BSN at Armstrong Atlantic State University with a focus on research, leadership, and management. She received her Masters from Capella University with a focus in nursing education. She is currently completing her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree with Capella University with a focus in nursing education. She served 15 years in the military before making Oklahoma City home. She has professional memberships with the National Nursing Association and the Oklahoma Nursing Association. She recently participated in Nurses Day at the Capital and spent a day at the Capitol advocating for nurses with the Oklahoma Nurses Association. Smoker said, “This was an invigorating experience and I look forward to continuing being an advocate for nurses.”
Francella is currently working on her dissertation and asking Oklahoma nurses for input with the research component of her dissertation. Smoker commented, “The primary focus of my dissertation study is to investigate how nurse preceptors describe factors that influence their role of precepting nursing students during clinical practice and training. I became fascinated with the preceptor issue while reflecting on my experiences as a nurse preceptor and a BSN student, reflecting on observations over the years working as a staff nurse in clinical settings, asking questions, and in leveraging the literature. Nurse preceptors are pivotal in the training of student nurses during clinical which is why they were selected for this study. First, nurse preceptors have experience in precepting nursing students. Second, they are knowledgeable practitioners with years of clinical experience. Third, their input in training the next generation of nurses is critical to the nursing profession and clinical education. Finally, nurse preceptors serve as teachers and role models for student nurses.”
The research question her study seeks to answer is; how do nurse preceptors describe factors that influence their role of precepting undergraduate student nurses in clinical training? “I will interview nurse preceptors either face-to-face or through Skype to collect the data in order to answer the research question. I believe that understanding the factors influencing the nurse preceptors’ role when precepting undergraduate student nurses in their clinical training will enable nurse educators to understand what types of decisions they must make to support and facilitate nursing students; especially in developing more realistic curricular materials to guide the preceptor and student’s clinical development. I also believe understanding the factors that influence the role of the nurse preceptor, acquired through years of experience, and through trial and error can enhance the ability of nursing managers and educators to empower students and qualified nurses to pursue effective competency development pathways to provide a higher standard of patient care.”, Smoker stated.
If you would like to participate, Francella is currently looking for volunteers. You must be an RN working in the clinical setting with 3 or more years’ experience precepting nursing students. You are currently precepting or have precepted nursing students within the last 2 years. You have an active unrestricted nursing license. Participants will remain anonymous in the research study. The information and data collected is secured. Please respond before June 3, 2017. For more information about this study, or to volunteer. Contact: Francella Smoker, Doctoral Learner/Capella University at: 405-625-5867 or you can email Francella at fransmoker@gmail.com
