(Shiparski is Senior Vice President of Verras working with clinical variation, process change, and resource uconsumption. In addition, she effects innovative change through leadership development and coaching.)

Mastering Precepting: A Nurse´s Handbook for Success, Beth Tamplet Ulrich and contributors share their experiences, advice, theory, and research findings to better describe the role of precepting and the importance of it. This book is not only a primer for the new preceptor but a resource to consult as needed over a lifetime of precepting. It is a resource for Nurse leaders, educators, managers and staff nurses.

Experience and good clinical skills do not necessarily result in good precepting. Throughout its 13 chapters,Mastering Precepting looks at the role of preceptor: learning strategies, communication, coaching, technology, behaviors and motivation, and self-care. It focuses on improving the skills of those who serve as preceptors, not only for new graduates but for nurses transitioning from any nursing role into another. A good preceptor can set the foundation for a thriving career while a poor one can have devastating outcomes, not only for the nurse, but for the patient as well. Kathy Sanford in the books foreword says, "Its underlying premise is that we can improve our precepting abilities and, in doing so, can contribute to the enrichment of other nurses careers. "

Mastering Precepting: A Nurse´s Handbook for Success

By Beth Ulrich, EdD, RN, FACHE, FAAN

Sigma Theta Thau received some great endorsements for the book and there is a great deal of enthusiasm for the book. They have developed an extensive marketing program for the book as they believe that it will have an important contribution to nursing. The book was launched at the October Magnet meeting in Baltimore this year.

The book will also be available as an e-book. In addition to the book, we will be doing a website (RNPreceptor.com) which is currently under construction and should be done in the next couple of weeks. It will have resources, a blog, and a discussion forum.

Ulrich, Beth (2011). Mastering Precepting: A nurses handbook for success. Sigma Theta Thau International, Indianapolis, IN. Shiparski authored Chapter 6: Communication and Chapter 7: Coaching