Preceptor Competency Consensus Study

Despite the importance of the preceptor role, many healthcare staff serve as preceptors without preparation for the role (Warren et al., 2022). One potential barrier to developing and implementing preceptor development programs is the lack of evidence-based preceptor competencies.

The ANPD National Preceptor Practice Study was designed to identify a core set of preceptor competencies to guide professional development activities (Harper et al., 2021). Using job analysis methodology, Harper et al. (2021) conducted a national descriptive study to identify the roles, knowledge, and activities essential to preceptor practice. Download this resource to view the summary findings from the 2023 Preceptor Competency Consensus Study. Full details of the research study will be published elsewhere.

Download the Summary Findings

Organizational Value of Nursing Professional Development Practice Study

Nursing professional development (NPD) leaders often reach out to the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) to determine appropriate staffing levels for NPD department. One of the most frequent inquiries that ANPD receives is the question, how many NPD practitioners should my organization have? Now, inquiring minds can refer to the findings from the 2021 ANPD study, Organizational Value of Nursing Professional Development Practice.

The study addresses:

• The average number of individual employees and registered nurses (RN) for whom nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners are responsible
• Average numbers of NPD practitioners based on hospital size (beds)
• Relationships among HCAHPS and Hospital Compare data and NPD staffing levels

Download the Summary Findings

Monitor Your NPD Department’s Organizational Value:  Download the NPD Value by the Numbers Worksheet to help monitor your impact on organizational outcomes.

A Comparison of Pediatric and Adult Hospitals

The overall purpose of this study was to explore relationships between nursing professional development (NPD) staffing and organizational outcomes. A comparison of children's and adult hospitals indicates that children's hospitals, in general, have significantly more staffing resources, including NPD practitioners. 

The study addresses:

• The average number of individual employees and registered nurses (RN) for whom nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners are responsible in children's and adult hospitals
• Average numbers of NPD practitioners based on hospital size (beds)
• NPD staffing levels in adult and pediatric acute care hospitals

Download the Summary Findings

Multisite NPD Leader Competencies

As organizational mergers and acquisitions become more common, the role of the multisite NPD leader is emerging. In recognition of this developing position, in 2019, ANPD conducted research to identify the necessary competencies for the multisite NPD leader. 

Complete this form to download the resource

The Board-appointed task force, led by former Board Director Dr. Woolforde, gleaned potential multisite NPD leader competencies from the Nursing Professional Development: Scope and Standards of Practice (Harper & Maloney, 2016) and the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL) nurse executive competencies (AONL, 2015). A research team consisting of Dr. Woolforde, Patsy Maloney, EdD, RN, NPD-BC, CEN, NEA-BC (immediate past-president of ANPD, University of Washington Tacoma), and I, used an e-Delphi approach to identify the competencies needed by NPD leaders who are responsible for NPD practice at multiple sites. Data collection was completed in February. In addition to a manuscript that is in development for JNPD, we’ll be developing tools to guide NPD leaders in these positions.

Members of the Multisite Leader Task Force include:

• Launette Woolforde, EdD, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, NEA-BC, FAAN; Northwell Health, NY
• Lisa Langdale, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, HCA, SC
• Colleen Leake, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, Advocate Health, IL
• Kris McKenzie, MSN, RN; Advent Health-Corporate, CA
• Chris Wilson, MSN, RN, NPD-BC; Vanderbilt University Medical Center, TN
• Mary Harper, PhD, RN, NPD-BC, ANPD

Transforming Roles of Nursing Professional Development Practitioners

In 2010, legislators dramatically altered the trajectory of healthcare with the passage of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). New healthcare regulations consisting of comprehensive health insurance reforms and new care delivery and payment models have transformed the industry. Healthcare workers are challenged with new stressors such as diminished time with patients, new and evolving information technologies, fewer staff resulting in work overload, and lack of training, mentorship, and advancement opportunities (Fields, 2011). As a result, today’s nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners must meet the continuing education needs of nurses in this complex, highly regulated, stressful environment.

Identification of the projected future role of NPD practitioners is necessary to facilitate the identification of core competencies and to ensure adequate role preparation through academic education, orientation, and professional development in the practice environment.

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Spirit of Inquiry Program 

Definition

A spirit of inquiry (SOI) is a consistent, intentional, and applied professional curiosity and is a key element of modern NPD practice.

Characteristics

• Informs NPD practice
• Guides NPD practitioners to question the status quo
• Transforms the current state and inspires innovation
• Influences professional growth by seeking to develop new knowledge or refine current assumptions
• Ensures progression of the science of our specialty through a collective SOI

Call to Action

NPD practitioners must champion and sustain their own and others’ SOI.

NPD Inquiry Focus Areas

1. Best practices/strategies for NPD practitioner recruitment, orientation, development, retention, and recognition
2. Best practices/strategies for preceptor recruitment, development, retention, and recognition
3. Best practices/strategies for engaging NPD practitioners in evidence-based practice
4. Best practices/strategies for learner engagement and accountability
5. Best practices/strategies for using technology and learner engagement strategies to enhance learning
6. Best practices/strategies for measuring NPD initiative outcomes/impact, especially healthcare consumer/partner and organizational outcomes
7. Best practices/strategies for successful career transitions (e.g., residencies, fellowships, leadership development)
8. Models that create more efficient and effective NPD practices
9. Stakeholders’ views that impact the perceived value of NPD practice/role/influence
         a. CNOs
         b. Managers
         c. CFO
         d. Academic educators
10. Best practices/strategies for increasing “buy-in” and support of stakeholders & target audiences

Studies in Progress

• Preceptor Evaluation Tool
  • IRB exemption obtained March 2024.
  • Data collection for psychometric testing launching in May 2024
  • All preceptors are invited to participate.
  • NPD practitioners are encouraged to use the tool for preceptor program evaluation.
  • Contact Dr. Mary Harper at mharper@anpd.org  for details concerning individual or program participation. 
• ANPD/Casey-Fink NPD Transition Tool
  • Content validity data collection completed February 2024.
  • Data analysis and instrument revision completed March 2024.
  • Data collection for psychometric testing completed May 4, 2024.
  • Psychometric data analysis in progress
• NPD Practice in Ambulatory Settings
  • Data collected in January/February 2024.
  • Data analysis and manuscript development in progress.
• NPD Organizational Structure and Functions in Acute Care Hospitals
  • Data collection completed December 2023.
  • Preliminary results presented at ANPD Aspire 2024 in April.
  • Ongoing data analysis and manuscript development in progress.

Completed Studies

Grouped by topic in reverse chronological order

Evidence-Based Practice

Harper, M. G., Gallagher-Ford, L., Warren, J. I., Troseth, M., Sinnot, L., & Thomas, B. (2017). Evidence-based practice and U.S. healthcare outcomes: Findings from a national survey with nursing professional development practitioners. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 33(4), 170 – 179. DOI: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000360

Multisite Leader

Harper, M. G. & Maloney, P. (2022). The multisite nursing professional development leader competency determination study. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 38(4), 185–195. doi: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000836

NPD Influence

Harper, M. G., Maloney, P., & MacDonald, R. (2024). Nursing professional development practitioners’ self-perceived influence. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development. 40(2), 82-87. DOI: 10.1097/NND.0000000000001026

NPD Roles and Responsibilities

Maloney, P. & Harper, M. G. (2021). Informing the nursing professional development scope and standards part 1: Exploring current and future NPD practice through a world café methodology. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 37(3), 176 – 182. doi: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000735

Harper, M. G., & Maloney, P. (2021). Informing the nursing professional development scope and standards part 2: Exploring current and future NPD practice through eDelphi methodology. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development. 37(4), 239 – 246. doi: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000747

Harper, M. G., Warren, J. I., Bradley, D., Bindon, S., & Maloney, P. (2018). Nursing professional development’s spirit of inquiry focus areas. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 35(3), 118 – 124. DOI: 10.1097/NND0000000000000515 

NPD Spirit of Inquiry

Harper, M. G., Warren, J. I., Bradley, D., Bindon, S., & Maloney, P. (2018). Nursing professional development’s spirit of inquiry focus areas. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 35(3), 118 – 124. DOI: 10.1097/NND0000000000000515

Organizational Value of NPD

Harper, M. G., MacDonald, R., Maloney, P., & Aucoin, J. (2023). The ongoing value of nursing professional development. Nursing Economics, 41(1), 32 – 39, 50.

Harper, M. G., Maloney, P., Aucoin, J., & MacDonald, R. (2022). Findings from the 2021 organizational value of nursing professional development practice study, part 1: Overview and descriptive data. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 38(5), 259 – 264. DOI: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000920

Harper, M. G., Maloney, P., Aucoin, J., & MacDonald, R. (2022). Findings from the 2021 organizational value of nursing professional development practice study, part 2: Relationships between NPD staffing and organizational outcomes. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 38(5), 265-272. DOI: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000919

Harper, M. G., Aucoin, J., & Warren, J. I. (2016). Nursing professional development organizational value study. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 36, 558-559.  DOI: 10.1097/CEH.0000000000000092

Harper, M. G., Aucoin, J., & Warren, J. I. (2016). Nursing professional development organizational value demonstration project. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 32(5), 242–247. DOI: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000282

Opperman, C., Liebig, D., Bowling, J., Johnson, S., & Harper, M. G. (2016). Measuring return on investment for professional development activities: Implications for practice. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 32(4), 176 – 184. DOI: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000274

Opperman, C., Liebig, D., Bowling, J., Johnson, S., & Harper, M. G. (2016). Measuring return on investment for professional development activities: A review of literature. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 32(3), 122 – 129. DOI: 10.1097/NND.000000000000026

Preceptors

Ulrich, B., Harper, M. G., Maloney, P., Warren, J. I., Whiteside, D., MacDonald, R. (in review). National preceptor consensus study. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration.

Harper, M. G., Ulrich, B., MacDonald, R., Maloney, P., Warren, J. I., Whiteside, D. (2023). Summary findings from the 2023 preceptor competency consensus study. https://www.anpd.org/Portals/0/Files/ANPD_1127571-23_PreceptorCompetencies_Report.pdf

Harper, M. G., Whiteside, D., Warren, J. I., MacDonald, R., & Ulrich, B. T. (in press). The Association for Nursing Professional Development National Preceptor Practice Analysis Study: An exploration of perioperative preceptors. AORN Journal.

Warren, J. I., Harper, M. G., MacDonald, R., Ulrich, B., & Whiteside, D. (2022). The impact of preceptor education, experience, and preparation on the role. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000822

Harper, M. G., Ulrich, B., Whiteside, D., Warren, J. I., & MacDonald, R. (2021). Preceptor practice: Initial results of a national ANPD study. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 37(3), 154-162. doi: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000748

Ulrich, B., Harper, M. G., Maloney, P., Warren, J. I., Whiteside, D., MacDonald, R. (2025). National Preceptor Consensus Study. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration. Published online ahead of print https://journals.lww.com/jonajournal/fulltext/9900/national_preceptor_competency_consensus_study.95.aspx

Technology (including simulation)

Harper, M. G., Bodine, J., Monachino, A. (2021). The effectiveness of simulation use in transition to practice nurse residency programs: A review of literature from 2007 – 2018. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 37(6), 329 – 340.  doi: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000787

Harper, M. G., Gilbert, G. E., Gilbert, M., Markey, L., & Anderson, K. (2018). Simulation use in acute care hospitals in the United States. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 34(5), 242-249. DOI: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000472

Harper, M. G., Durkin, G., Orthoefer, D., Powers, R., Tassarini, R. (2014). Association for Nursing Professional Development technology survey: The state of nursing professional development practice. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 30(5), 242 – 247. DOI: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000106