Monitoring preceptors' supportive role: A measuring instrument for increased accountability.

Purpose: This article describes the development of a measuring instrument to monitor support offered by preceptors during their accompaniment of students in clinical facilities.

Design: A quantitative methodological study design was used to develop the instrument.

Methods: Data were collected by means of a self-completed questionnaire. Total sampling of 192 undergraduate nursing students was done. Descriptive data analysis was conducted regarding the biographical characteristics, Cronbach's alpha was computed to determine the reliability, and an exploratory factor analysis was done to describe the construct validity of the developed instrument.

Results: The Cronbach's alpha of 0.98 indicates high reliability and high internal consistency. Three constructs regarding clinical support, namely cognitive-, emotional- and system support were identified by means of the exploratory factor analysis.

Conclusion: The new conceptualisation of support gives insight into the value of the preceptor's role. The instrument designed for this study could be used to assess and monitor the support offered by preceptors while they accompany students in clinical practice.

Clinical Relevance: Considering the need to strengthen nursing and midwifery education systems, this instrument contributes to measuring and monitoring clinical accompaniment of students by preceptors.