Essential Competencies of Preceptors: A Focus on Working with APRN Students

Module 3: Clinical Teaching Strategies

Performance Improvement Plans

The performance improvement plan, also known as the Clinical Learning Improvement Plan (CLIP), functions as a learning contract between the course faculty, preceptor, and student to:

• define a focused area of growth to address performance gaps;
• identify available resources for support in meeting learning objectives; and
• identify learning activities to help close performance gaps.

A few examples of when CLIPs may be used are when a student is not progressing as expected, is not meeting clinical learning objectives, or is demonstrating unprofessional behavior.

It is important to note that a performance improvement plan is specific to the academic institution and is for purposes of student growth, improvement, and success in the clinical setting. It is separate from clinical site-specific paperwork that may be required for incident reporting.

Components of a CLIP should include, but are not limited to:

Performance improvement plans and the role of the preceptor in developing the plan with the student varies between academic institutions. Preceptors should discuss course-specific policies regarding performance improvement plans with the faculty of record for the course.

Resource

A CLIP template used at Western University of Health Science is one example of a performance improvement plan.

Activity

Reflect on the meaning of psychological safety in the context of clinical learning. Identify specific actions you can take as a preceptor (tailored to your teaching style and clinical site) that would help promote a psychologically safe learning environment for students you precept.