Resources and Benefits of Preceptorship

Library Resources

As an approved preceptor you have access to library and information services provided to students and faculty at the Virtual Library. The Virtual Library has been established by the Tennessee Board of Regents Consortium of Librarians and provides you the opportunity to conduct online searches, access references, databases, journals, book reviews, and library connections to all TBR Libraries. This Virtual Library can be accessed using the direct link to the Virtual Library which has been placed in the WebCT Preceptor Orientation Course. The TBR Regents Online Degree Program Virtual Library is a cooperative service of the 19 Tennessee Board of Regents Libraries. The RODP Virtual Library’s mission is to provide online services that are equivalent to services provided at traditional campus libraries. Services available through the Virtual Library include:

• TBR RODP Reference Library Services via email and Web page.
• Reference Service from any TBR library, includes email, live chat, reference desk phone support (regional - area code, and toll free 800 #s).
• Interlibrary Loan services via home campus (fill-in form at TBR RODP VL website).
• Universal Borrowers Cards (TALC) issued via College or University Library of record, provides on-campus services and lending privileges to the book and journals collections of the nearest TBR and UT college or university library (fill-in form at TBR RODP VL website).

TBR Regents Online Degree Program purchased a set of EBSCO Nursing Databases in support of the MSN RODP at startup. The Nursing databases are available via the 19 TBR college libraries and thereby also support TBR college and university Associate and Bachelor degree nursing programs.

The databases selected include:

• CINAHL is the authoritative resource for nursing and allied health professionals, students, educators and researchers. This database provides indexing for over 1,700 current nursing and allied health journals and publications dating back to 1982, totaling over 1,000,000 records.
• Pre-CINAHL a companion database to CINAHL, Pre-CINAHL is intended to provide current awareness of new journal articles, and includes a rotating file of limited bibliographic information (no subject searching), which are available to researchers only for the time when these articles are being assigned additional indexing.
• Nursing & Allied Health Collection Comprehensive is designed for nursing and allied health professionals, students, educators and researchers, this database provides full text for nearly 400 journals covering the areas of nursing, biomedicine, health sciences, consumer health and allied health disciplines. Nearly all full text titles included in Nursing & Allied Health: Comprehensive Edition are indexed in CINAHL.
• Clinical Pharmacology provides access up-to-date, concise and clinically-relevant drug monographs for all U.S. prescription drugs, hard-to-find herbal and nutritional supplements, over-the-counter products and new and investigational drugs.

Instructional Aids

Instructional media programs and materials are also available to support curriculum objectives. Preceptors are invited to recommend appropriate instructional media programs for purchase consideration. Recommendations should be forwarded to the appropriate Concentration Coordinator. Audio visual programs purchased for use in the RODP courses must be compatible with the course management system and site license agreements must allow for online access. A link to the streaming video version of the classic Barbara Bates Physical Assessment Series is included in the WebCT Preceptor Orientation to provide access for your use.

Website Resources

The TBR central office maintains the RODP portal website at www.rodp.org. This website provides a variety of information for both students and faculty. By accessing this website, students/potential students can:

• Complete an online learner self-assessment and
• Take a self-scoring test to determine knowledge and skills required for online learning.
• Complete an online orientation.
• Take a “sample” online course
• Find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)
• Get a set of distance learning tips for students
• Check the minimum hardware, software, and browser settings and plug-ins needed for RODP courses
• Find contact information for the Central Office and each participating campus, including RODP Student Campus Contracts
• Learn how to access the 24x7 student help desk
• Contact RODP staff and committee members
• Learn what degrees are available through RODP
• Access the syllabi for courses required in RODP degrees
• Complete a secure student profile
• Access the TBR Virtual Library
• Link directly to the web pages of all 19 campuses
• Download and submit an application for admission to a TBR institution
• Register for RODP courses (via their home campus website)
• Find information about tuition and fees
• Access the academic calendar
• Order textbooks from the Virtual Bookstore
• Link to classes with user name and password
• Learn how to file a grade appeal
• Learn how to file a complaint/grievance
• Access a variety of student services including services for students with disabilities
• Access Tutorial services
• Get information about the availability of Dell computer equipment at reduced cost
• Find job opportunities and career counseling services
• View RODP student testimonials
• Visit the Virtual Student Union
• Play games with other online students
• Access home campus sport team scores
• Find schedules of activities on each campus
• and, Order a pizza – while attending classes online
  

Faculty can accomplish the following at the RODP website:

• Identify Faculty Training opportunities and schedule attendance
• Find current references and information on the pedagogy of teaching and learning online.
• Review the requirements for developing and teaching an RODP course
• Access RODP standards, templates and guidelines
• Submit a new course proposal
• Find the criteria for evaluation of an RODP course
• Find contact information for faculty mentors, trainers, and technical support
• Access RODP proctoring procedures
• Submit course improvement feedback
• Submit course improvement plans
• Review RODP grade change procedures

The MSN RODP pages inside the RODP website provide specific information about the program for potential/current students as well as faculty. MSN Website Resources:

• Mission/purposes of the program
• Program outcomes
• Concentrations offered
• Current and accurate information about admission policies and curriculum requirements
• Complete description of the 2-step process for admission
• Explanation of the Memorandum of Understanding
• Home campuses and assignment process
• Online Application
• Recommendation Form
• Preceptor Forms
• Course Offerings
• Course syllabi
• Specific credit hours required for each course
• Definition of clock and credit hours for lecture, clinical experiences
• Preceptor Orientation Manual
• Web Resources for Partners/Preceptors
• Contact information for Coordinator, Assistant Coordinator, Executive Committee, Curriculum Committee, Program Mentor, Concentration Coordinators, and Instructional Design Consultant
• Statement of institutional accreditation status
• Name, address, and telephone number of the NLNAC

Web Resources for Preceptors

The MSN RODP website (http://www.rodp.org/msn) provides a wealth of links to resources which may be useful to preceptors. These links provide professional references which have been recommended by faculty, staff and preceptors to support advanced practice nursing. Preceptors are encouraged to utilize the web resources. In addition, a password protected site is maintained for preceptors. This site provides a forum for preceptor interaction and collaboration. User names and passwords will be forwarded via the email address provided on your preceptor form. Please let us know if your email address changes or if you have recommendations for either of these resources.