A Phenomenological Perspective on Preceptorship in the Intergenerational Context

Pairing a student with an experienced nurse through preceptorship is an approach to teaching/learning that promotes critical thinking, cultivates practical wisdom, and facilitates competence. Frequently, nursing students are of a different generation than their assigned preceptors and differences in worldviews and expectations can impact upon the success of preceptorship. A phenomenological study, guided by van Manen’s approach to human science research, was conducted to explore preceptorship within this intergenerational context. Data were generated using unstructured interviews with a purposive sample of seven preceptors and seven students recruited from an undergraduate nursing program. The findings reveal three main themes: being affirmed, being challenged, and being on a pedagogical journey. The findings of this study have the potential to enhance generational understanding in the pedagogical context and foster a teaching/learning culture in the clinical practice setting inclusive of divergent generational expectations.