Nurse Externships: Exploring Innovations to Recruit and Mentor Clinical Adjunct Faculty

Abstract

Background: Recruitment and mentoring of clinical preceptors for adjunct clinical faculty positions is essential to easing the nursing faculty shortage. This exploratory study investigated an academic-practice partnership through a summer nursing externship to recruit and mentor clinical preceptors for the clinical educator role. Method: This exploratory longitudinal study examined the success of recruiting and mentoring adjunct clinical educators at a Magnet hospital in the northeast United States. Reflective qualitative survey data from externs, extern faculty, and preceptors in baccalaureate and associate degree prelicensure programs were analyzed. Results: The findings revealed successes and challenges in recruiting and mentoring 21 adjunct faculty. Conclusion: Nursing externships proved to be successful in recruiting and mentoring clinical adjunct faculty. Implementing new models for recruitment and mentoring are essential for the success of nursing programs and the education of students. [ J Nurs Educ . 2023;62(12):728–732.]