Georgina Turner, Head of Nursing
Priory is the largest independent mental health provider in the UK, geographically spread across all 4 countries, with 80 hospitals in their healthcare division alone.
Priory’s award-winning Nursing team set out to create and develop an online Preceptorship Programme that built upon the NHS National Preceptorship Framework.
The main requirement was to create an individualised learning programme for each preceptee, driven by a unique learning plan with continual support over the 12-month period.
Priory set out to replace a locally-delivered paper-based proficiency and reflection document completed by preceptees. The existing approach made it challenging to ensure preceptees were supported, was difficult to track centrally, and allowed little flexibility around the accompanying face-to-face sessions.
The Nursing Team at Priory worked closely with the Breeio team to deliver on strategic priorities for the new programme. Priory’s key objectives included:
The need: Priory needed an “always available everywhere” solution to train and support its nurses who are working shifts and critical to the service.
How does Breeio help? Breeio is web hosted, making the training materials Priory’s Nursing Team created available 24/7. Breeio’s homepage shows each preceptees assigned courses for the duration of the programme and face-to-face or virtual sessions can be accessed in the events section. Each course consists of separate modules to be completed and any resource materials to support the learning are also available. But that’s only part of the solution. Breeio’s AI coaching and mentoring tools allow colleagues to receive immediate feedback and support, anytime, anywhere.
This preceptorship initiative is streamlining professional growth for our colleagues, and improving access to world-class training for our widely spread nursing teams.
Priory’s nurses have access to an AI Objectives Coach to assist them in setting the goals and objectives. The coach asks helpful questions and prepares a plan for meeting the objective, all recorded on Breeio and visible for line managers and the support team.
Priory’s nurses also have the support of an AI mentor on their written responses to post-face-to-face active learning sessions. Priory’s Nursing Team can write follow-up reflection questions for the preceptee nurses, and can also “train” the AI mentor on subject. Preceptees then receive immediate encouragement and feedback on their response from the AI Mentor. This reflection can then be followed up by the Nursing Team during their one-to-one sessions with the preceptee.
The need: Priory’s Nursing Team needed to be able to offer preceptees with greater choice and flexibility on the face-to-face elements of the programme.
How does Breeio help? Breeio’s Learning Events calendar allows the Nursing Team to list dates and times for active learning sets for self-registration by preceptees. The new nurses can then choose a facilitator and cohort that suits their availability and the sessions are automatically booked for them.
Breeio integrates directly with Microsoft Teams and Zoom so virtual events are automatically created, participants notified and reminded, and attendance updated in Breeio.
The need: A centrally-supported and managed programme would ensure all newly-qualified nurses would receive a consistent, quality preceptorship.
How does Breeio help? Once Priory’s Nursing Team had designed their core curriculum, Breeio allowed for the programme to be assigned and tracked consistently across the organisation. All new preceptees are automatically assigned to one of three cohorts each year, and target dates on the curriculum ensures regular progress through the programme.
Priory has easy access to detailed reporting to show progress across the 80 hospitals. Managers can also access information on their direct reports and provided necessary support locally.
Greatly improved oversight and support for newly-qualified nurses
Priory’s central Nursing Team was able to support twice as many preceptees since launching Breeio. Heading into 2025, they expect that to increase further and be 150 per cent greater than before moving to Breeio.
Confidence improved in critical skill areas
Priory captured self-evaluation data alongside feedback surveys to measure the impact of the new preceptorship programme, including a 43-point Clinical Skill Self-Assessment that preceptees completed at the start of the programme and at the end. Assessment data showed preceptees improved in confidence in all 43 key areas, including large increases in the areas of individualised care planning and use of service quality control procedures.
Improved reporting and oversight
Breeio provided the Priory Nursing Team with the ability to directly manage cohorts of new nurses, using Breeio’s reporting tools to measure progress of each group. The detailed reporting allowed Priory’s team to provide support where needed. This resulted in a better use of targeted supernumerary time – additional time a colleague is given to shadow a more experienced colleague.
Happy, well-supported new nurses
Feedback from the newly qualified nurses has been extremely positive. Of the more than 150 nurses surveyed, 93% of preceptees achieved their learning goals, and over 90% said that Breeio’s AI coaching was useful in their studies.
Feedback includes:
I felt confident highlighting my weaknesses without fear of judgement.
The programme on Breeio allowed me to view issues in a different light and see I’m not alone in my challenges.
Award recognition for Priory: Digital Nursing Proven Concept Award
Priory’s innovative AI-powered training programme for newly-qualified nurses, developed in Acteon’s platform Breeio, has been named “Proven Concept” winner at the Nursing Times Digital Competition Awards 2024.
This prestigious national award recognises Priory’s Preceptorship Programme for its innovative and outstanding provision of flexible, continuous training for nurses.
“Our 20-year partnership with Priory has always been about providing great learning opportunities that make a difference,” Matthew Borg of Acteon said. “It’s wonderful to see how new learning technology like AI can be used to benefit Priory colleagues and ultimately those they support.”
You guys always listen and support us to achieve our goals.
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