A Nationwide Survey of Clinical Dietitians' Perceptions of Precepting

Clinical preceptor shortages are a limiting factor for programs in dietetics. Perceptions on precepting were obtained from 378 registered dietitian nutritionists. The top benefits of precepting included improved teaching skills, staying current/stimulated in the profession, and increased awareness of practice area. Frequently reported barriers included inadequate compensation, time, and reward. People who had not precepted in the past year indicated higher perceived benefits of precepting. Those who indicated they would discontinue precepting reported significantly fewer benefits and more barriers than those who would continue. Finding and addressing barriers among a program's preceptor pool may be key to promoting preceptorship.