Important Issues

UC Philosophy Statement for RN Professional Responsibility at Teaching Hospitals

It is the mission of UC teaching hospitals to further the educational goals of the institution, including providing extensive orientation and training of new employees who are hired into the UC hospitals.   The University believes this educational duty is a professional responsibility of any UC RN, and includes explaining the characteristics of the requirements of a unit to new nurses or nurses new to a unit.

Preceptors serve a unique and valuable function within the University nursing community.  A preceptor, who may also be called a clinical coach or mentor, performs more than skills-based orientation and training.  A preceptor is an experienced registered nurse selected by the University, who has completed her/his medical center's preceptor training.  The University recognizes preceptors as nurses who are proficient in clinical teaching at the medical center, and who model the University's core values related to interpersonal relationships, leadership, and problem-solving skills.  A preceptor is responsible for specific, criteria-based and goal-directed education and mentorship of newly hired nurses, new graduates or nurses who are transferring into new specialty areas over the course of an identified development program.  A preceptor is assigned to participate in the planning, organizing and evaluating the new skill development of a nurse.