Advice on finding clinical sites and preceptors

Nursing Students NP Students

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Hi everyone! I am about to start an FNP program in a few weeks, and by mid-next year we will be starting clinicals. We have to find our own preceptors and sites. We need half of our hours in womens health and pediatrics, and the other half is up to the student. I have a quick question for anyone who has had success in the past finding their own clinical sites. Do you have any advice on how to find and gain preceptors? Were there any techniques that you used in communicating with offices? I don't know exactly where to start or how and would really appreciate what anyone has to say. Thank you!

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I will have the same problem next year, and I've started asking some people who are finishing up their clinicals or who just graduated where they went. They told me they would give me the contact info. I've read elsewhere that you can just cold call clinics. I'd also call the VA hospital, local health departments, and even student health centers at the local universities. These are my plans!

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Those are awesome suggestions, and I am definitely planning on calling everywhere I can! I am just so concerned because I would regret not being able to finish my program just because no one would take on a student :/ Its my biggest fear upon entering my MSN. Its why I wanted to try to start early! I am adding those to my list though, so thank you for the suggestions!

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the enp has a list of preceptors willing to take students. see the link on the left hand side. http://www.enpnetwork.com/

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

I am about to start my first semester of FNP clinicals. I called different clinics and just asked if the doctors or practitioners accepted students and if they were available. BE PREPARED FOR REJECTION. I had problems finding clinical spots because not many doctors in my area take students (aside from a local PA program...grrrrr) and there aren't any NPs in my town that see OBGYN regularly or peds regularly for me to be with. So both my OB clinical and peds clinical sites are about 45 miles away but, luckily, are with preceptors who seem happy to have me. Good luck! And check I'm with the offices every now and then to make sure your paperwork and such is getting completed. To make a long story short I lost a local OBGYN spot because the office staff who organized students did not attempt to schedule me with my doctor until the last minute...by then he had several PA students already scheduled. I attempted to follow up with her about everything...to the point that I was probably harassing her....but she never returned my calls and such. So STAY ON THE OFFICE PEOPLE WHO ORGANIZE SUCH THINGS. It can save you from having to start from scratch 3 weeks before your clinicals start....

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Thank you so much for all those suggestions and your advice! I will be keeping it all in mind. I appreciate learning from all of you! :]

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