NP Programs, Preceptors and You - Get Your Voice Heard!

[stickit34]

Over the years I've read numerous posts and articles about nurse practitioner education - the pros, the cons and the absolutely unacceptable. One of the things I am passionately opposed to is schools that do not provide preceptors for their students. This is unheard of in physician and physician assistant education, and is degrading to the NP profession. Quality is not assured nor required, adequate experience is not assured and yet schools keep getting paid. If we are to be a profession to be reckoned with, we should start acting like one.

Enter CCNE, the largest accrediting body of nursing programs, both baccalaureate and graduate, in the nation. They are currently revising the old standards for accreditation, and are open to comments about the concerns in the programs and about the programs they accredit. They are asking for your opinion. Instead of complaining, let's act!

Here's the link to the webpage: American Association of Colleges of Nursing | CCNE Accreditation

Please, please consider inputting your opinion! Every opinion counts, especially those that differ. Let's be a profession of quality, not numbers.

Please put your opinion down below if you'd like, but please take the survey. It ends May 5, 2017.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

I hope the preceptor issue isn't the only concern about the current state of NP education worth mentioning. What about the total lack of admission standards many schools have? There are some that will waive the gpa requirement on a probationary basis, I'm guessing the probation being as long as the check continues to clear covering the tuition each semester?

I mentioned this as well in the comments. I was so frustrated at the lack of basic writing skills of some of my "peers." (I'm not peerless, but I felt like a frickin' genius in many classes.)

WKshadow, NPWho....smarter than the average bear.

[escapebigd]

I just finished the survey as well, but I don't have a lot of faith in change.

[stickit34]

I just finished the survey as well, but I don't have a lot of faith in change.

It is so sad that so many do not have the faith for change! I wish there was something that we knew we could do to change things. I just finished reading a number of articles from a physician's viewpoint of NPs, and while there were some that were supportive of our role, there were numerous who were not in favor of our education and frequently point to the lack of science-based courses and the large amount of "theory" and "politically-correct" classes. While I don't agree with them, I can see their frustration, especially with very lenient admissions. A number of physicians also mocked our profession because we have a large amount of online programs.

I can only hope that something will change for the positive! Thank you for taking the survey and letting your voice be heard!