Innovating Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist Clinical Learning Through United States Air Force Pilot Training Practices: A Review of the Literature.

The clinical learning environment is essential for student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) to develop intricate clinical knowledge and acquire proficiency in technical skills required for anesthetic care. The perioperative experience of an SRNA can differ greatly based on the program, preceptor, hospital rotation, or geographic location. This literature review synthesizes the historical and current state of certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)/SRNA preceptorship in the clinical setting. Themes analyzed include the current CRNA/SRNA learning and teaching environment, student perceptions of effective CRNA preceptors, evaluation tools and feedback practices, and overall CRNA preceptor preparedness as well as the availability and effectiveness of preceptor training programs. We compare their findings to best practices seen in the United States Air Force (USAF) pilot training program because of its similar "high stakes" learning environment and utilization of a preceptor teaching model. Actionable recommendations, based on CRNA preceptorship data, preceptorship theory, and the USAF pilot training model are presented in the effort to improve preceptor transfer of knowledge and SRNA clinical competence.