College of Nursing

iCON | Intranet for the College of Nursing
iCON | Intranet
An icon representing iCON, the Intranet for the College of Nursing

Feedback Principles and Examples

Principle Negative Example Positive Example
Constructive Feedback Preceptor: "Ash, your patient assessments need improvement.”
Student: "Can you be more specific, Alex?”
Preceptor: "Just do better next time."		 Preceptor: "Ash, your patient assessments are thorough, but I noticed a few opportunities for improvement in your documentation. Let's review them together.”
Student: "Thanks, Alex. I appreciate the feedback. I wasn’t sure of the abdominal assessment charting.”
Specificity Preceptor: "Ash, your charting needs improvement.”
Student: "Can you be more specific, Alex?”
Preceptor: "Just look at it and fix it. Do better next time."		 Preceptor: "Ash, your patient charting is fairly thorough, but I noticed a few opportunities for improvement in your documentation of physical assessment, especially your abdominal assessment. Let's review it together.”
Student: "I wasn’t sure of that area. I'll work on being more detailed in my abdominal assessment charting."
Timeliness Preceptor: "Ash, I want to talk with you about your 10 am medication pass from two weeks ago. Can we talk about it later today?”
Student: "Um, I don’t remember what I did that day. I’d have to look it up in my notes. I thought my med pass was ok that day as we didn’t talk more about it then."		 Preceptor: "Ash, I want to talk with you about your 10 am medication pass. Can we talk about it later today?”
Student: "Yes, I remember I really fumbled with the syringe and the IV tubing. I can talk later today."
Respectful Delivery Preceptor: "Ash, I want to talk with you about your 10 am medication pass from two weeks ago. Can we talk about it later today?”
Student: "Um, I don’t remember what I did that day. I’d have to look it up in my notes. I thought my med pass was ok that day as we didn’t talk more about it then."		 Preceptor: "Ash, I want to talk with you about your 10 am medication pass. Can we talk about it later today?”
Student: "Yes, I remember I really fumbled with the syringe and the IV tubing. I can talk later today."