The nursing shortage in the United States is increasing and directly affects the turnover of staff in the adult burn center of the facility that is the focus of this project. In addition to the institution's traditional leadership education, which includes preceptor and charge nurse modules, a burn-focused supplemental preceptor preparation education program (SPPEP) was developed and delivered to address the expressed needs of the staff preceptors. The purpose of this quality improvement evidence-based project was to develop and deliver a program evaluation tool for the adult burn center leadership to assess the effectiveness of the SPPEP in this specialty area, including whether a supplemental preparation program for adult burn center preceptors would increase their confidence and competency, and lower attrition rates of nurse orientees. A preprogram survey was administered to all participating preceptors identifying perceived gaps in preparation to fulfill the expectations of the preceptor role. Benner's novice-to-expert and Knowles's adult learning theory concepts provided the framework for the SPPEP. The quality improvement program evaluation was based on reported confidence and the perception of competence of the preceptors who participated (N = 11). This research revealed that the SPPEP increased the preceptor's confidence and perceived competence level from 64.12% to 89.28% after the first SPPEP delivery. By systematically preparing the preceptors, the SPPEP can reduce overall orientation expenditure while improving patient outcomes, preceptor confidence, perceived competence, and the satisfaction of registered nurses.

A significant nursing shortage exists in the United States, which is compounded by high turnover rates. Skilled nurse preceptors are needed to train and assimilate nurses, which would improve retention of nurse preceptors, facilitate transition of nurses to the practice environment, and increase the number of preceptors within the organization. A preceptor preparation program in a 300-bed hospital was developed to promote nurse preceptor success while enhancing learning outcomes and creating a supportive work environment. The organization's leaders are interested in the successes of the program and its long-term role in retaining nurse preceptors who completed the preceptor preparation program. Therefore, the purpose of this doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project was to develop a program evaluation model where the institution could assess the retention rate of preceptors and the overall effectiveness of the program. The evaluation framework consisted of the Benner's model skill acquisition, from novice to expert, which will assist in assessing outcomes of retention of nursing preceptors as they evolved through the program. The project question for this DNP project asked whether a program evaluation to identify methods to capture current rate of retention of preceptors and overall program effectiveness could be developed. A survey tool was successfully developed and the pilot study was accepted by the facility to capture and evaluate the program information. This project provides a model for program evaluation and may increase the nursing literature on preceptor retention programs. Preceptor program outcomes are important to evaluate and can create positive social change regarding the number of quality preceptors available to train new nurses in practice.