Aligning Efforts to Support Nursing Students and Preceptors

When undergraduates step into their final clinical experiences, the nurses who guide them can shape not only what they learn, but how confidently they move into practice. Elizabeth Taliaferro-Jones, MSN, RN, the Pre-Licensure Clinical Specialty Lead at the UVA School of Nursing, is working to make that experience more consistent and more meaningful for both students and the nurses who precept them.

This summer, the University Medical Center is implementing the evidence-based Tiered Skills Acquisition Model (TSAM)®, a structured approach to orienting new nurses as they transition into practice. TSAM® organizes skill development into progressive tiers, beginning with foundational competencies and building toward more complex clinical tasks that require advanced critical thinking. The result is enhanced confidence and preparation, a shorter orientation period, improved satisfaction and retention, and reduced burden on preceptors.

As part of her participation in the UVA Health System’s Health Leadership Institute (HLI) over the past year, Taliaferro-Jones completed a capstone that she presented May 20 at the HLI final session. Her project focuses on aligning preceptor training between the UVA School of Nursing and UVA Health by adapting TSAM® materials for use with preceptors who work with senior pre-licensure nursing students. Right now, hundreds of UVA Health nurses support student learning across the Medical Center, but variations in training can lead to uneven experiences for both preceptors and students.

Using a Relational Coordination framework, Taliaferro-Jones is working closely with UVA Health nursing leadership, School of Nursing colleagues, and clinical partners to support a shared approach to training. Aligning these materials is intended to create greater consistency, strengthen engagement and learning, and build on the already strong partnership between the School and UVA Health.