The Challenges of Precepting Undergraduate Nursing Students in Malawi

PURPOSE: Malawi trains registered nurses as clinical preceptors to facilitate quality clinical teaching to nursing students. The concept of preceptorship is new in Malawi, and as such data about its contribution and challenges are scanty. It is for this reason that this study was undertaken to explore the challenges that preceptors face as they teach students. METHODS: This exploratory-descriptive qualitative study was conducted at Malawi’s four major referral hospitals utilised by nursing training institutions as clinical sites. A sample of 12 participants was purposively selected to provide data regarding challenges encountered during preceptorship activities. In-depth interviews were conducted in order to collect data on challenges experienced by these facilitators. The data were later categorised and analysed into themes. RESULTS: From the analysed data, three key themes emerged including preceptorship as time-consuming, lack of support from faculty members and lack of teamwork among preceptors. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that preceptors face several challenges that affect the quality of clinical teaching. The study recommends that there should be an improvement in the working relationship among those involved in clinical teaching to enhance clinical learning experiences among student nurses. It also recommends that more registered nurses should be trained as preceptors to improve the student–preceptor ratio.