Finding a NP preceptor

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 15, 2015

Welcome to AN! Have you checked with your school for placement help? My school (education track, but list of everything given out) provided a list of facilities/providers who have been preceptors in the past and who have current field site agreements on file. That may be a place to start if it's an option.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jul 15, 2015

Sorry you're having a hard time. It is a prevailing issue with NP education that some schools leave the task of finding preceptors to students. Some of us, fortunately, didn't have that problem since our programs arranged our clinical sites for us. Since you're already in the middle of the program, some strategies have been helpful to other students in your situation:

- a student membership in your state NP organization can assist in you in networking with NP's in your area and hopefully someone can point you to the right person who is willing to precept you.

- sometimes just writing letters isn't enough. Some students actually called, visited, and physically followed-up on their request to providers and their clinics in order to secure clinical placement.

- in the future, a good tip is to start the process early. As many students in your area seek providers who are willing to precept, the existing preceptor pool becomes smaller and the ones who ask early are at an advantage.

On a larger scale, I think it's time for students and NP's to unite with a single voice to end this kind of exploitation in our educational preparation. The days of "backwoods novice" training with whoever is willing to train NP students have lost relevance in a time when health care is becoming more complex, NP's are assuming independent roles, and the general public is becoming more critical of how their providers are trained.

Columnist · Jul 16, 2015

Moved to Student Nurse Practitioner forum for more responses.

WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN · Jul 17, 2015

Here is a post I responded with in another thread, maybe it will help?

I am in my first clinical rotation. I would like to post a lengthy post to offer advice but I'm doing homework. One thing that was most difficult was finding preceptors. The best advice I can offer is what my mentor shared with me. Create a folder with your resume' (how do I get the accent over the e?), a cover letter stating concisely what your needs are [Pediatric rotation, 144 hours, which amounts to 2 8-hour days across 10 weeks or something like that], and how to contact you. My husband made up some business cards for me on Vista print [cheap but effective!] that states my name, title, status as an FNP student, and my phone and email address. I made up several packets and put them in colored file folders and went door to door. (It's harder to ignore the student in person than on the phone).
I also go to the local advanced practice nurse association dinners (usually free for students) and network there. I just went last night and have two leads on my women's health rotation. Don't be afraid to make repeated calls.
Treat this like a job search and be persistent! But be kind, respectful, and patient. Don't take rejection personally. It's usually not you, it's them.

Alicia777, MSN, NP · Jul 17, 2015

Know any recently pregnant women? See if you can contact the office manager at that site (with the friends knowledge/approval of course). Use their name and say you were hoping to find an OB rotation because my friend "Mary" had such a good experience there. It may work, you have nothing to lose..

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Jul 18, 2015

To add to the resume', provide some information about the school (usually can get from their "about us" page), as well as what is expected during your class: what will be covered and what is expected from the clinical rotation. During my searches, this helped as the clinic and preceptor had SOME idea of what I was expected to do and learn.

Mike Austin · Jul 18, 2015

Thanks everyone for your contribution

Mike Austin

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 18, 2015

Duplicate threads merged.

EunaMwaura · Jul 24, 2015

Thank you for these great ideas. I start on my FNP in 2 weeks and will put together a folder and go door to door. I will start to look for preceptors ahead of time coz I don't start clinicals till much later in the program. Thanks

EunaMwaura · Jul 24, 2015

Has anyone attended or attending the University of Texas- Arlington AP FNP online program? I start my FNP school Aug 10th and looking for tips about the program. If anyone lives in the Austin area, I would love to buddy up for study times. Please assist. Thanks and good luck to you all.

Riburn3, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · Jul 24, 2015

The OBGYN rotation was my hardest to secure. A month before I was about to start my rotation, the FNP I was going to be with switched from a community women's health practice to nephrology. Talk about being blindsided.

Like you, I cold called a few places and was turned down. As men we have a rough go of it. What eventually worked for me was I asked my preceptor for my first rotation (who is a PCP) if he knew any OBGYN's that would be willing to train me. Since he refers to them all the time, he gave me a few and specifically told me to tell them "I sent you". Instead of calling, I went to their office and told them I am a student working with "blah blah blah" and he referred me to you because he thought I would get a good women's health rotation. Flattery and coming with the backing of someone that provides them with business was the trick. Taking this approach I had 3/4 people he suggested accept me, and ended up having my pick of the litter.

If anything, go to a place in person. It's easier to reject someone over the phone when it's a faceless voice. If you show up looking presentable and let them see you, it makes it harder for them to shoo you away.