Abstract
Purpose: This article aims to clarify how a preceptor responds to novice public health nurses.
Methods: A semi-structured interview was conducted with preceptors in a certain city and the acquired data were qualitatively and descriptively analyzed.
Results: Responses were received from 12 preceptors. Preceptor’s support was classified into 18 subcategories and aggregated into the following five categories: developing a trusting relationship between a preceptor and a public health nurse, providing a public health nurse a sense of security at work, helping a public health nurse grow as a member of society, helping a public health nurse grow as a professional, and organizing an educational system for novice public health nurses.
Conclusion: It was suggested that preceptors helped novice public health nurses grow as members of society and professionals through dialogue based on a mutually trusting relationship. It is considered that it is not only necessary to promote and fulfill the preceptorship, but also to develop an on-the-job training program to enhance preceptors’ expertise in their own initiative.
