CMS-10467 GNE Qualitative Data Collection Protocols for First In-P

Evaluation of the Graduate Nurse Education Demonstration Program

GNESteVist1ProtocolT1

Qualititative Data Collection

OMB: 0938-1212

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated. More recent filings and information on OMB 0938-1212 can be found here:

2016-01-21 - Revision of a currently approved collection

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EVALUATION OF THE GRADUATE NURSE EDUCATION

QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION PROTOCOLS FOR
FIRST IN-PERSON SITE VISIT

(Contract No. CMMI-393-2012-0117)

February 25, 2013

GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

Time 1 Interview guide: Graduate Nurse
Education Demonstration strategic
planning and oversight team
Obtain informed consent

Have interviewee read and sign the informed consent form. Give interviewee an unsigned copy
of the form to keep for his or her records.

Outline with timings
Time in each
section
(in minutes)
5
3
15
20
15
2

Topic
Introduction
Interviewee background
Background and motivation for participation in the
GNE demonstration
Characterization of the demonstration project
Implementation goals
Conclusion

Elapsed time at end of
section
(in minutes)
5
8
23
43
58
60

GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

This interview will last between 30 and 60 minutes. 1 With your approval, we will record audio of
the discussion to assist with note-taking. No one outside the evaluation team will have access
to this recording.
This interview will work best if you do most of the talking. Feel free to speak openly and
candidly about your experiences and perspectives regarding this demonstration.
In the final report, the data gathered through these interviews will be presented in an aggregate
manner, highlighting informational points from specific sites and not from particular individuals.
You will not be identified by name. However, it is possible that someone could attribute
specific comments to you. Hence, at the end of the interview, I’ll ask whether you told me
anything that you wouldn’t want associated with you. If so, we will structure and present the
information so it cannot be linked to you.
Do you have any questions for me before we begin?
Okay, let’s get started.

Interviewee Background (3 minutes)
1.
2.
3.
4.

What is your title?
How long have you been with this organization?
What are your main responsibilities in your position?
What are your main responsibilities in relation to the GNE Demonstration Project (if
different or more specific)?
5. Are these responsibilities similar to what they were prior to the GNE Demonstration
Project? In what way?
6. What percentage of your FTE is dedicated to the GNE Demonstration Project?

Background and motivation for participating in the GNE Demonstration
Project (15 minutes)
7. What, if any, other innovative programs related to expanding graduate nursing education
has your organization developed or implemented?
Tell me about the decision to apply to be a GNE Demonstration site.
8. What made your organization interested in joining the GNE Demonstration Project?
9. How do you think this project will benefit your organization?
10. How do you think this project will benefit the partnering organizations?
 What do you think their motivation is for participating?
1

It is anticipated that interviews with administrative staff will last 30 minutes, while interviews with Director or
other members of the executive team will last 60 minutes.
GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

11. How did you go about identifying and recruiting partnering organizations?
 What did you take into consideration when choosing partnering organizations?
 How receptive were organizations to participating in the demonstration?
 Did any organizations decide not to participate? If yes, what do you think made these
organizations decide not to participate?
 Did any organizations decide not to participate after they initially indicated interest? If
yes, what do you think made these organizations decide not to participate?

Characterization of the GNE Demonstration Project (20 minutes)
Now I would like to hear more about the demonstration project. Tell me about its essential
components.
12. How are you expanding the clinical placement opportunities for APRN students?
• Are you focusing predominantly on expanding the number of practicum opportunities
within existing clinical sites or creating new partnerships?
13. What is the process for placing students in clinical rotations within the demonstration?
• For networks with multiple schools of nursing: Will this be handled by individual
schools of nursing, or will the process be centralized?
• How does this process differ from the process for placing students in clinical rotations
before the demonstration project?
14. What made you decide to structure the demonstration project in this way?
 Did you consider alternative approaches?
 If so, what were these alternative approaches? What made you prefer the current
approach over the other options that were considered?
15. What, if any, policy or procedure changes is your organization making to support the
demonstration project?
 What, if any, new or innovative practices will the partnering organizations be engaged
in as part of the demonstration project?
16. What is the management structure of the network?
 How do you coordinate among the partnering organizations?
 Do partners sign a formal contract? If so, may we see a sample contract?
 How does communication flow (for example, with cost reporting)?
 Is there an organizational chart depicting the communication and management structure
of the demonstration network? If so, may we see this?
 How are the financial disbursements to the partnering organizations handled?
17. What do you see as the strengths of this particular network of organizations?
18. What challenges do you foresee related to this particular network of organizations?

GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

Implementation goals (15 minutes)
19. What goals do you hope to achieve through this demonstration project?
20. What are some of the challenges that might make achieving these goals difficult?
21. What are some of the strategies you are using to circumvent these challenges?
22. What challenges have you faced so far in implementing the project?
23. What strategies have you used to overcome those challenges?

Conclusion (2 minutes)
24. Is there anything that I did not ask about that you would like to share with me, or do you
have any additional thoughts about what we have discussed today?
25. Are there any areas covered by this interview that you are particularly concerned about
having your identity connected with? If so, which ones?
Thank you for your time.

GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

Time 1 Interview guide: School of
nursing administration
Obtain informed consent

Have interviewee read and sign the informed consent form. Give interviewee an unsigned copy
of the form to keep.

Outline with timings
Time in each
section
(in minutes)
5
3
10
25
15
2

Topic
Introduction
Interviewee background
Background and motivation for participation in the
GNE demonstration
Characterization of the demonstration project
Implementation goals
Conclusion

Elapsed time at end of
section
(in minutes)
5
8
18
43
58
60

Introduction (5 minutes)
My name is {name of AIR moderator}, and I am with the American Institutes for Research. This
is {name of Optimal note-taker}, who is with Optimal Solutions Group, LLC (Optimal). As
{name of GNE awardee liaison} probably told you, the American Institutes for Research (AIR)
and Optimal are the contractors responsible for evaluating the Graduate Nurse Education
Demonstration Project.
The overall goals of the evaluation are to characterize the demonstration project, identify the
challenges and successes of implementation, assess the outcomes, and evaluate the potential for
sustainability, improvement, and replication of its outcomes.
As the {title and/or role in demonstration project}, your experience and perspectives are of great
value to our evaluation.
This interview will last approximately 60 minutes. With your approval, we will record audio of
the discussion. No one outside the evaluation team will have access to this recording.
This interview will work best if you do most of the talking. Feel free to speak openly and
candidly about your experiences and perspectives regarding this demonstration.

GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

In the final report, the data gathered through these interviews will be presented in an aggregate
manner, highlighting informational points from specific sites and not from particular individuals.
You will not be identified by name. However, it is possible that someone could attribute
specific comments to you. Hence, at the end of the interview, I’ll ask whether you told me
anything that you wouldn’t want associated with you. If so, we will structure and present the
information so it cannot be linked to you.
Do you have any questions for me before we begin?

Interviewee background (3 minutes)
1.
2.
3.
4.

What is your title?
How long have you been with this organization?
What are your main responsibilities in your position?
What are your main responsibilities in relation to the GNE Demonstration Project (if
different or more specific)?
5. Are these responsibilities similar to what they were prior to the GNE Demonstration? In
what way?
6. What percentage of your FTE is dedicated to the GNE Demonstration Project?

Background and motivation for participating in the GNE Demonstration
(10 minutes)
7. What, if any, other innovative programs related to graduate nursing education has your
organization developed or implemented?
Tell me about the decision to participate in the GNE demonstration.
8. What made you interested in becoming a partnering organization?
9. How do you think this project will benefit your organization?
10. How do you think this project will benefit the other partnering organizations?
 What do you think their motivation for participating is?

Characterization of the GNE Demonstration Project (25 minutes)
Now I would like to hear more about the demonstration project. Tell me about its essential
components.
11. How are you expanding the clinical placement opportunities for APRN students?
• Are you focusing predominantly on expanding the number of practicum opportunities
within existing clinical sites or creating new partnerships?
• Have there been any changes to class sizes because of the project?
• Have you made any changes to the curriculum because of the project?
GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

12. What was the process for recruiting and enrolling the additional APRN students?
13. Did you hire additional faculty or staff to accommodate the expanded enrollment?
 What additional staff members did you hire? What are their roles and responsibilities?
 If yes, how did you identify and recruit these additional faculty members?
 What, if any, training did these new faculty members engage in?
14. How did you identify and recruit new preceptors for APRN students?
• Who was involved in this process?
• Are the preceptors compensated? If so, how do you compensate them?
• How do potential preceptors typically respond to recruitment efforts?
• What do you think are the best ways to convince doctors and APRNs to become
preceptors?
• How does this process differ from the process for recruiting and identifying preceptors
before the demonstration project?
15. What, if any, training did new preceptors undergo?
16. What is the process for placing students in clinical rotations?
• How does this process differ from the process for placing students in clinical rotations
before the demonstration project?
• Who manages the day-to-day logistical coordination of the clinical rotations?
17. What, if any, policy or procedure changes are you making to support the demonstration
project?
 What, if any, new or innovative practices will you be engaged in as part of the
demonstration project?

Implementation goals (15 minutes)
18. What goals do you hope to achieve through the demonstration project?
19. What are some of the challenges that might make achieving these goals difficult?
20. What are some of the strategies you are using to circumvent these challenges?
21. What challenges have you faced so far in implementing the project?
22. What strategies have you used to overcome these challenges?

Conclusion (2 minutes)
23. Is there anything that I did not ask about that you would like to share with me, or do you
have any additional thoughts about what we have discussed today?
24. Are there any areas covered by this interview that you are particularly concerned about
having your identity connected with? If so, which ones?

Thank you for your time.
GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

Time 1 Focus group guide: Clinical
faculty
Obtain informed consent

Have interviewees read and sign the informed consent form. Give interviewees an unsigned copy
of the form to keep for their records.

Outline with timings
Time in each
section
(in minutes)
5
5
50
25
5

Topic
Introduction
Participant introductions
Characterization of the demonstration project
Implementation goals
Conclusion

Elapsed time at end of
section
(in minutes)
5
10
60
85
90

Introduction (5 minutes)
My name is {name of AIR moderator}, and I am with the American Institutes for Research. This
is {name of Optimal note-taker}, who is with Optimal Solutions Group, LLC (Optimal). As
{name of GNE awardee liaison} probably told you, the American Institutes for Research (AIR)
and Optimal are the contractors responsible for evaluating the Graduate Nurse Education
Demonstration Project.
The overall goals of the evaluation are to characterize the demonstration project, identify the
challenges and successes of implementation, assess the outcomes, and evaluate the potential for
sustainability, improvement, and replication of its outcomes.
As the clinical faulty of this school of nursing, your experiences and perspectives are of great
value to our evaluation.
This focus group will last 90 minutes. With your approval, we will record audio of the
discussion. No one outside the evaluation team will have access to this recording.
This focus group will work best if you do most of the talking. Feel free to speak openly and
candidly about your experiences and perspectives regarding this demonstration.
In the final report, the data gathered through the focus group will be presented in an aggregate
manner, highlighting informational points from specific sites and not from particular individuals.
You will not be identified by name. However, it is possible that someone could attribute
GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

specific comments to you. Hence, at the end of the interview, I’ll ask whether you told me
anything that you wouldn’t want associated with you. If so, we will structure and present the
information so it cannot be linked to you.
Do you have any questions for me before we begin?

Participant introductions (5 minutes)
To get started, let’s go around and introduce ourselves. Please tell us your name, which nursing
program you teach in, how long you have been teaching clinical sections at this organization,
how long you have taught clinical sections overall, and what, if any, didactic courses you teach.
{Allow participants to introduce themselves}
Thank you. It is nice to meet all of you.

Characterization of the GNE Demonstration Project (50 minutes)
1. What is the process for placing students in clinical rotations?
• Who manages the day-to-day logistical coordination of the clinical rotations?
2. What are the strengths or advantages of the current process?
3. What are some weaknesses or difficulties of the current process?
4. How would you compare the current process to the previous process of placing students in
clinical rotations?
• How does this process differ from the process for placing students in clinical rotations
before the demonstration project?
• Would you say it is better, worse, or the same?
• How so?
5. How did you identify and recruit new preceptors for APRN students?
• Who was involved in this process?
• How do potential preceptors typically respond to recruitment efforts?
• What do you think are the best ways to convince doctors and APRNs to become
preceptors?
• How does this process differ from the process for recruiting and identifying preceptors
before the demonstration project?
6. What, if any, training did new preceptors undergo?
7. How did you recruit existing preceptors to take additional APRN students?
• Who was involved in this process?
• How did these preceptors respond to this request?
8. What, if any, policy or procedure changes are you making to support the demonstration
project?
GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

•

What, if any, new or innovative practices will you be engaged in as part of the
demonstration project?

Implementation goals (25 minutes)
9. What outcomes do you hope are achieved through the demonstration project?
10. What are some of the challenges that might make achieving these outcomes difficult?
11. What are some strategies that might circumvent these challenges?

Conclusion (5 minutes)
12. Is there anything that I did not ask about that you would like to share with me, or do you
have any additional thoughts about what we have discussed today?
13. Are there any areas covered by this interview that you are particularly concerned about
having your identity connected with? If so, which ones?
Thank you for your time.

GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

Time 1 Focus group guide: APRN
students
Obtain informed consent

Have interviewees read and sign the informed consent form. Give interviewees an unsigned copy
of the form to keep for their records.

Outline with timings
Time in each section
(minutes)
5
5
30
35
10
5

Topic
Introduction
Participant introductions
Placement in clinical rotations
Clinical training experiences
Education and career goals
Conclusion

Elapsed time at end of section
(minutes)
5
10
40
75
85
90

Introduction (5 minutes)
My name is {name of AIR moderator}, and I am with the American Institutes for Research. This
is {name of Optimal note-taker}, who is with Optimal Solutions Group, LLC (Optimal). As
{name of GNE awardee liaison} probably told you, the American Institutes for Research (AIR)
and Optimal are the contractors responsible for evaluating the Graduate Nurse Education
Demonstration Project.
The overall goals of the evaluation are to characterize the demonstration project, identify the
challenges and successes of implementation, assess the outcomes, and evaluate the potential for
sustainability, improvement, and replication of its outcomes.
As the students participating in the GNE Demonstration, your experiences and perspectives are
of great value to our evaluation.
This focus group will last 90 minutes. With your approval, we will record audio of the
discussion. No one outside the evaluation team will have access to this recording.
In the final report, the data gathered through these interviews will be presented in an aggregate
manner, highlighting informational points from specific sites and not from particular individuals.
You will not be identified by name. However, it is possible that someone could attribute
specific comments to you. Hence, at the end of the interview, I’ll ask whether you told me
anything that you wouldn’t want associated with you. If so, we will structure and present the
information so it cannot be linked to you.
GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

This focus group will work best if you do most of the talking. Feel free to speak openly and
candidly about your experiences and perspectives regarding this demonstration.
Do you have any questions for me before we begin?

Participant introductions (5 minutes)
To get started, let’s go around and introduce ourselves. Please tell us your name, what program
you are in, whether you are choosing a specialty, and when you anticipate that you will be
graduating.
{Allow participants to introduce themselves}
Thank you. It is nice to meet all of you.

Placement in clinical rotations (30 minutes)
1. Tell me about how your organization matches students with preceptors for clinical
training experiences.
• What is the process?
• Are you asked for your preferences for types of preceptors or settings? If so, how are
your preferences obtained?
2. What do you like about the process?
3. What don’t you like about the process?
• What challenges have you faced?
• What changes would you make?
4. To what extent have you received clinical assignments that match your interests?
5. What do you think about expanding the clinical placement opportunities for students?
• Do you think it is necessary or helpful?
• If yes, what makes you think so?
• If no, what makes you think so?

Clinical training experiences (35 minutes)
6. Tell me about your most recent clinical rotation experience.
• What type of organization were you in?
• Was your preceptor a doctor or an APRN?
• How closely did your preceptor work with you?
• What did you like about it?
• What didn’t you like about it?
• How would you rate the quality of training you received?
7. Tell me about your most positive clinical rotation experience.
• What made it the most positive experience?
8. Tell me about your worst clinical rotation experience.
GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

• What made it the worst experience?
9. Overall, how satisfied are you with your clinical placements?
• For example:
o the distance of your placement?
o the amount of one-on-one attention from preceptors?
o your involvement in the placement process?

Conclusion (5 minutes)
10. Is there anything that I did not ask about that you would like to share with me, or do you
have any additional thoughts about what we have discussed today?
Thank you for your time.

GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

Time 1 Interview guide: Clinical
placement coordinator
Obtain informed consent

Have interviewee read and sign the informed consent form. Give interviewee an unsigned copy
of the form to keep for his or her records.

Outline with timings
Time in each section
(minutes)
5
5
45
5

Topic
Introduction
Interviewee background
Characterization of the
demonstration project
Conclusion

Elapsed time at end of section
(minutes)
5
10
55
60

Introduction (5 minutes)
My name is {name of AIR moderator}, and I am with the American Institutes for Research. This
is {name of Optimal note-taker}, who is with Optimal Solutions Group, LLC (Optimal). As
{name of GNE awardee liaison} probably told you, the American Institutes for Research (AIR)
and Optimal are the contractors responsible for evaluating the Graduate Nurse Education
Demonstration Project.
The overall goals of the evaluation are to characterize the demonstration project, identify the
challenges and successes of implementation, assess the outcomes, and evaluate the potential for
sustainability, improvement, and replication of its outcomes.
As the {title and/or role in demonstration project}, your experiences and perspectives are of
great value to our evaluation.
This focus group will last 60 minutes. With your approval, we will record audio of the
discussion. No one outside the evaluation team will have access to this recording.
This interview will work best if you do most of the talking. Feel free to speak openly and
candidly about your experiences and perspectives regarding this demonstration.
In the final report, the data gathered through interviews will be presented in an aggregate
manner, highlighting informational points from specific sites and not from particular individuals.
You will not be identified by name. However, it is possible that someone could attribute
specific comments to you. Hence, at the end of the interview, I’ll ask whether you told me
GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

anything that you wouldn’t want associated with you. If so, we will structure and present the
information so it cannot be linked to you.
Do you have any questions for me before we begin?

Interviewee background (5 minutes)
1.
2.
3.
4.

What is your title?
How long have you been with this organization?
What are your main responsibilities in your position?
What are your main responsibilities in the GNE Demonstration Project? Are they different
or more specific than in your overall position?
5. What percentage of your FTE is dedicated to the GNE Demonstration Project?

Characterization of the GNE Demonstration Project (45 minutes)
6. What is the process for placing students in clinical rotations?
• Who manages the day-to-day logistical coordination of the clinical rotations?
7. What are the strengths or advantages of the current process?
8. What are some weaknesses or difficulties of the current process?
9. How would you compare the current process to the previous process of placing students in
clinical rotations?
• How does this process differ from the process for placing students in clinical rotations
before the demonstration project?
• Would you say it is better, worse, or the same?
• How so?
10. How did you identify and recruit new sites and/or preceptors for APRN students?
• Who was involved in this process?
• How do potential preceptors typically respond to recruitment efforts?
• What do you think are the best ways to convince doctors and APRNs to become
preceptors?
• How does this process differ from the process for recruiting and identifying preceptors
before the demonstration project?
11. What, if any, training did new preceptors undergo?
12. How did you recruit existing preceptors to take additional APRN students?
• Who was involved in this process?
• How did these preceptors respond to this request?
13. What, if any, policy or procedure changes are you making to support the demonstration
project?
• What, if any, new or innovative practices will you be engaged in as part of the
demonstration project?
GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

14. What challenges have you faced so far in implementing the project?
15. What strategies have you used to overcome these challenges?

Conclusion (5 minutes)
16. Is there anything that I did not ask about that you would like to share with me, or do you
have any additional thoughts about what we have discussed today?
17. Are there any areas covered by this interview that you are particularly concerned about
having your identity connected with? If so, which ones?

Thank you for your time.

GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

Time 1 Interview guide: Preceptor
Obtain informed consent

Have interviewee read and sign the informed consent form. Give interviewee an unsigned copy
of the form to keep for his or her records.

Outline with timings
Time in each section
(in minutes)
5
5
10
35
5

Topic
Introduction
Interviewee background
History as a preceptor
Preceptor experiences
Conclusion

Elapsed time at end of section
(in minutes)
5
10
20
55
60

Introduction (5 minutes)
My name is {name of AIR moderator}, and I am with the American Institutes for Research. This
is {name of Optimal note-taker}, who is with Optimal Solutions Group, LLC (Optimal). As
{name of GNE awardee liaison} probably told you, the American Institutes for Research (AIR)
and Optimal are the contractors responsible for evaluating the Graduate Nurse Education
Demonstration Project.
The overall goals of the evaluation are to characterize the demonstration project, identify the
challenges and successes of implementation, assess the outcomes, and evaluate the potential for
sustainability, improvement, and replication of its outcomes.
As a preceptor, your experiences and perspectives are of great value to our evaluation.
This focus group will last 60 minutes. With your approval, we will record audio of the
discussion. No one outside the evaluation team will have access to this recording.
This interview will work best if you do most of the talking. Feel free to speak openly and
candidly about your experiences and perspectives regarding this demonstration.
In the final report, the data gathered through interviews will be presented in an aggregate
manner, highlighting informational points from specific sites and not from particular individuals.
You will not be identified by name. However, it is possible that someone could attribute
specific comments to you. Hence, at the end of the interview, I’ll ask whether you told me
anything that you wouldn’t want associated with you. If so, we will structure and present the
information so it cannot be linked to you.

GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

Do you have any questions for me before we begin?

Interviewee background (5 minutes)
1. What is your profession/title? (Physician? APRN? Primary care? Specialist?)
2. How long have you been with this organization?
3. How long have you been practicing as a {insert title}?

History as a preceptor (10 minutes)
4. How long have you been a preceptor?
5. Tell me about when you were first approached to become a preceptor.
• Who approached you?
• What were your initial thoughts? Were you eager, reluctant, interested?
• What was the administrative process that you went through to become a preceptor? Did
you or your organization need to sign contracts? Has this process changed over time in
the last year or two?
6. What made you decide to become a preceptor?
7. Have you participated in any preceptor training?
• If yes, tell me about that training.
• Who delivered the training?
• What was the length of the training?
• What was the format of the training? Was it written documentation? Or was it a
presentation format of some other type?
• What were the main components?
• How well do you think that training prepared you to be an effective preceptor?

Preceptor experiences (35 minutes)
8. Tell me about your most recent preceptor experience.
• What type of nursing student were you training?
• What did you like about the experience?
• What didn’t you like about the experience?
• How would you rate the skills and preparedness of the student you were training?
9. Tell me about your experience in working with the faculty member(s) who work with the
clinical course.
• How involved are faculty in the practicum experiences?
• What does this faculty member do to coordinate with you?
• Does he or she make visits to your clinical site? If so, how often and how long?
• Has this process changed over time? If so, in what way?
10. Tell me about your most positive preceptor experience.
• What made it the most positive experience?
GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

11. Tell me about your worst preceptor experience.
• What made it the worst experience?
12. In general, what do you like about precepting?
13. What don’t you like about precepting?
14. Do you intend to continue precepting in the future?
• If yes, what makes you want to continue to precept?
• If no, what makes you not want to continue to precept?
15. How does precepting seem to affect your own clinical practice?
• Does it make it difficult to keep a desired pace with seeing patients? Does it affect your
efficiency?
• Does it enhance your practice in any way?
16. Do you get compensated in any way for precepting?
• If yes, how does this affect your interest in continuing to precept?

Conclusion (5 minutes)
17. Is there anything that I did not ask about that you would like to share with me, or do you
have any additional thoughts about what we have discussed today?
18. Are there any areas covered by this interview that you are particularly concerned about
having your identity connected with? If so, which ones?

Thank you for your time.

GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

Time 1 Interview guide: Director of
Nursing or clinical director
Obtain informed consent

Have interviewee read and sign the informed consent form. Give interviewee an unsigned copy
of the form to keep for his or her records.

Outline with timings
Time in each section
(minutes)
5
3
10

25
15
2

Topic
Introduction
Interviewee background
Background and motivation for
participation in the GNE Demonstration
Project
Characterization of the GNE
Demonstration Project
Implementation goals
Conclusion

Elapsed time at end of
section
5
8
18

43
58
60

Introduction (5 minutes)
My name is {name of AIR moderator}, and I am with the American Institutes for Research. This
is {name of Optimal note-taker}, who is with Optimal Solutions Group, LLC (Optimal). As
{name of GNE awardee liaison} probably told you, the American Institutes for Research (AIR)
and Optimal are the contractors responsible for evaluating the Graduate Nurse Education
Demonstration Project.
The overall goals of the evaluation are to characterize the demonstration project, identify the
challenges and successes of implementation, assess the outcomes, and evaluate the potential for
sustainability, improvement, and replication of its outcomes.
As the {title and/or role in demonstration project}, your experiences and perspectives are of
great value to our evaluation.
This focus group will last 60 minutes. With your approval, we will record audio of the
discussion. No one outside the evaluation team will have access to this recording.
This interview will work best if you do most of the talking. Feel free to speak openly and
candidly about your experiences and perspectives regarding this demonstration.
GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

In the final report, the data gathered through interviews will be presented in an aggregate
manner, highlighting informational points from specific sites and not from particular individuals.
You will not be identified by name. However, it is possible that someone could attribute
specific comments to you. Hence, at the end of the interview, I’ll ask whether you told me
anything that you wouldn’t want associated with you. If so, we will structure and present the
information so it cannot be linked to you.
Do you have any questions for me before we begin?

Interviewee background (3 minutes)
1.
2.
3.
4.

What is your title?
How long have you been with this organization?
What are your main responsibilities in your position?
What are your main responsibilities in relation to the GNE Demonstration Project (if
different or more specific)?
5. What percentage of your FTE is dedicated to the GNE Demonstration Project?

Background and motivation for participating in the GNE Demonstration
Project (10 minutes)
6. What, if any, other innovative programs related to graduate nursing education has your
organization developed or implemented?
Tell me about the decision to participate as a GNE demonstration site.
7. What made you interested in hosting APRN students?
8. How do you think this project will benefit your organization?
9. How do you think this project will benefit the other partnering organizations?
 What do you think their motivation for participating is?

Characterization of the GNE Demonstration Project (25 minutes)
10. How did you identify and recruit new preceptors for APRN students?
• Who was involved in this process?
• Are preceptors compensated? If so, how does this occur?
• How do potential preceptors typically respond to recruitment efforts?
• What do you think are the best ways to convince doctors and APRNs to become
preceptors?
• How does this process differ from the process for recruiting and identifying preceptors
before the demonstration project?
GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

11. What, if any, training do new preceptors participate in?
a. What is the format of this training?
b. Does the school of nursing train on site?
12. What, if any, policy or procedure changes are you making to support the demonstration
project?
 What, if any, new or innovative practices will you be engaged in as part of the
demonstration project?

Implementation goals (15 minutes)
13. What goals do you hope to achieve through this demonstration project?
14. What are some of the challenges that might make achieving these goals difficult?
15. What are some of the strategies you are using to circumvent these challenges?
16. What challenges have you faced so far in implementing the project?
17. What strategies have you used to overcome these challenges?

Conclusion (2 minutes)
18. Is there anything that I did not ask about that you would like to share with me, or do you
have any additional thoughts about what we have discussed today?
19. Are there any areas covered by this interview that you are particularly concerned about
having your identity connected with? If so, which ones?

Thank you for your time.

GNE Evaluation Qualitative Data Collection Protocols – Time 1 Site Visit 2.25.13

File Type	application/pdf
Author	Brandy Farrar
File Modified	2013-07-10
File Created	2013-07-10