Interpersonal conflicts are one source of difficulties between a preceptor and a student. Difficulties arise when preceptors have not been trained in and do not possess the positive personality traits that would cause them to be helpful to students. Characteristics of preceptors that cause difficulties in the relationship with the student include: lack of empathy, warmth, failure to be flexible and a lack of consistency. In order to avoid difficulties, preceptors should be able and willing to adapt to a teaching style that is effective for different students as well as be able to modify their techniques to align with the educational program's goals.
In order to avert difficulties during the process of clinical teaching, nursing students are expected to take some responsibility for their own education and become active learners. Nurse practitioner students are expected to bring their prior knowledge of the nursing process to their clinical program. When a nurse practitioner student fails to adequately prepare for her own role in the learning process the preceptor may be blamed even though it's not the fault of the preceptor. In order to avoid difficulties that may arise when the student feels that the preceptor didn't teach properly, students should study and prepare for her patients prior to clinical attendance.
Preceptors can work to avert difficulties during preceptorship by assuring that they have encouraged and allowed the student with ample opportunities to have questions and concerns answered. Preceptors must not assume that a nursing student has obtained mastery simply because the student failed to ask additional questions, but should actively solicit feedback and questions from the student. Likewise, students who want to benefit during preceptorship should communicate constructively with their preceptor. When both the student and the preceptor work at communicating effectively in a manner that allows for question and answers regarding the nursing process, difficulties can be avoided.
Difficulties are common during preceptorship when the nurses responsible for training students aren't provided sufficient time and incentives for taking on the additional responsibility. Hospitals and colleges can help to alleviate this challenge by compensating preceptors for their willingness to take on teaching work in addition to their normal nursing duties. Hospital administration can lessen this burden by providing the preceptor with a lower nurse-to-patient ratio during the preceptorship. This way, the nurse preceptor will have time to teach the student and follow appropriate nursing practices without compromising either the student's learning opportunities or the patient's health.