The Preceptors Role in Addressing Crucial Conversations

 

Experiential education accounts for up to 1/3 of pharmacy education and offers tremendous benefits of hands-on learning in preparation for clinical practice.  Across the profession, literature has highlighted preceptors for putting great deal of efforts into creating meaningful and positive learning experiences for students. However, preceptors often experience several challenges when handling difficult conversations, particularly in delivering constructive feedback and addressing unprofessional or apathetic behavior.

 

Despite the critical role of feedback in experiential learning, many preceptors report discomfort or lack of confidence in providing honest evaluations, especially when performance is suboptimal. A national needs assessment of pharmacy preceptors identified low confidence in managing difficult learner behaviors and engaging in conflict resolution, highlighting a persistent gap in preceptor development. Qualitative findings also suggest that preceptors may avoid giving negative feedback due to discomfort or fear of damaging rapport. Moreover, recent studies underscore the emotional burden associated with managing apathetic or disengaged students, a situation that can lead to frustration and communication breakdowns. These challenges indicate a clear need for targeted training in communication strategies, conflict management, and feedback delivery to better support preceptors in fostering productive, professional learning environments.