A comparison of role conceptions and role deprivation of baccalaureate students in nursing participating in a preceptorship or a traditional clinical program.

In this study, the professional and bureaucratic role conceptions and role deprivation of students participating in a preceptorship program were compared to those in a traditional faculty-supervised clinical group. The role conceptions and role deprivation of nursing faculty and preceptors were also examined. One hundred eighteen students in a two-year upper division baccalaureate program participated in this study. The Corwin Nursing Role Conception tool was administered. Results indicated no differences in role conceptions or role deprivation in students participating in the preceptorship program and those who did not. There were no differences in the developmental pattern of role conception and role deprivation during two years of nursing education. Also, nursing faculty had a significantly higher professional role conception and a significantly lower bureaucratic role conception than preceptors but there were no differences in role deprivation between the two groups.