Effectiveness of a preceptors' social support program to aid novice nurses' error experience on preceptors' skill and novice nurses' perception of social support: A quasi-experimental study

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of the preceptors' social support program (PSSP) on preceptors' social support skill—supportive relationships and post-error support—and novice nurses' perception of received social support.

Methods

This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group of a non-random assigned sample of 47 preceptors and novice nurses and an intervention group of 48 each. Intervention group preceptors received training in building supportive relationships skill and post-error support skills three times in the PSSP over 7 months. Preceptors' social support skill and novice nurses' perception of received social support were measured as primary outcomes. Data were collected at baseline (T0), 1 month after the second session (T1), and 1 month after the last session (T2) and analyzed.

Results

No significant differences in demographics or scores were shown at baseline (T0). Preceptors in the intervention group showed significantly better supportive relationships (T2, 101.6 ± 9 vs. 96.9 ± 7.6, 95% CI [0.95, 8.42], p = .015) and better performance of post-error support (T2, 67.6 ± 5 vs. 62 ± 6.5, 95% CI [2.78, 8.32], p < .001). Intervention group preceptors' social support skill increased or remained stable, while it decreased over time in the control group. Novice nurses in the intervention group received significantly better supportive relationships and post-error support from preceptors (T2, median 112 vs. 101, p = .007; 70.5 vs. 65, p = .028, respectively).

Conclusions

The PSSP improved preceptors’ supportive relationship skills and post-error support performance, leading to novice nurses' perceptions of better supportive relationships and receiving greater post-error support.