In desperate need for a NPPreceptor. Please help. For Western Washington- Puget Sound area

Students NP Students

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Hello everyone,

I have exhausted all my resources looking for preceptors for my online FNP program. I have gone as far as paying a company couple of thousands of dollars for finding me a preceptor 4 hours away for Fall. Now I am looking for a preceptor for Spring 2017 and Summer 2017 and I have been looking for almost a year with not a single positive response. Needless to say, I feel exhausted, and frustrated to a point where I even applied to a local brick and mortar school to transfer so that they would find me preceptors, but backed out of it because I would have lost 15+ credit hours I have earned so far. I know I made a huge mistake of choosing online school and not realizing how hard it is to find your own preceptor. As mentioned above, I seriously considered switching school, but I would have lost significant amount of time and money. I only have three more semesters to go. So, I have just trying to make this work somehow.

So here I am begging and hoping that someone will hear my plea for help and give me some suggestions or offer me some resources to find a preceptor in and around Seattle area willing to travel 1 hour each way. Please help me!!!

AAC.271

110 Posts

Which school?

RNmeee

84 Posts

I go to Gonzaga online FNP program

Buyer beware, BSN

1,137 Posts

Specializes in GENERAL.
I go to Gonzaga online FNP program

OP: I'm not sure how any NP program could call itself credible without being able to afford a student a substantive way to obtain the meat and potatoes of any NP program which most find out too late involves obtaining preceptors to train you for free. These preceptors are businesses and in most cases if there are no incentives (money) for them to do so they won't. I can sort of understand physicians not wanting to, but, much to their infamy, there are many practicing NPs that don't want to do it also. The competition for these relativly few preceptor spots is highly competitive. The problem is the schools know it but the hapless students don't.

When you are competing with medical schools, NP and PA schools that do have contractual agreements with preceptors, this puts you at an incredible disadvantage.

In other words, there is no level playing field.

The real problem here is that at the point of starting your preceptorships you have already spent a ton of money and probably feel you've been led down a primrose path. This modus operandi is common with many schools and they are deceptive about it.

Like many others in your position you've have found that transferring credits is not an option. So you're stuck with lots of debt and little hope of obtaing the degree.

My advice is to gather all the documentation you can and consult an attorney. This kind of deception has got to stop. The so-called Nursing leadership and organizations of accredidation have been neutered on this issue. And the for-profits require an arbitration agreement before admission that silences the public airing of this issue.

Why this problem is the best kept secret in nursing education is beyond me.

Specializes in ICU, Military.

I am shocked Gonzaga isn't willing to help find placement!!!!!!!! That is one of the most prestigious private institutions in America! Have you asked for help from the school? I cant imagine they'd be willing to lose the thousands of dollars in tuition you are paying them due to not having a preceptor!

bbcewalters, NP

178 Posts

Specializes in NP, ICU, ED, Pre-op.

Buyer beware,

While your comment maybe/is completely true I do not see how it is at all helpful to the OP! You have a person who is already desperate enough to be looking for help on an anonymous web site, and it is a little too late for this person to turn back!!

To the OP:

First if you haven't already contact your school. See what they say about your situation. Next google providers in your area, Make a list and drive to each office with your resume in hand along with a cover letter. Do not expect to meet the provider, they are busy, but ask to speak to the office manager.

Then contact your local NP groups and network. Also group text any students in your class. See if anyone has any contacts you can "borrow". Good luck and I hope you find someone.

While Buyer beware is correct IMHO, I know you are looking for helpful ideas.....

OP: I'm not sure how any NP program could call itself credible without being able to afford a student a substantive way to obtain the meat and potatoes of any NP program which most find out too late involves obtaining preceptors to train you for free. These preceptors are businesses and in most cases if there are no incentives (money) for them to do so they won't. I can sort of understand physicians not wanting to, but, much to their infamy, there are many practicing NPs that don't want to do it also. The competition for these relativly few preceptor spots is highly competitive. The problem is the schools know it but the hapless students don't.

When you are competing with medical schools, NP and PA schools that do have contractual agreements with preceptors, this puts you at an incredible disadvantage.

In other words, there is no level playing field.

The real problem here is that at the point of starting your preceptorships you have already spent a ton of money and probably feel you've been led down a primrose path. This modus operandi is common with many schools and they are deceptive about it.

Like many others in your position you've have found that transferring credits is not an option. So you're stuck with lots of debt and little hope of obtaing the degree.

My advice is to gather all the documentation you can and consult an attorney. This kind of deception has got to stop. The so-called Nursing leadership and organizations of accredidation have been neutered on this issue. And the for-profits require an arbitration agreement before admission that silences the public airing of this issue.

Why this problem is the best kept secret in nursing education is beyond me.

rnkaytee

219 Posts

My friend goes to Gonzaga FNP online and she mentioned that they help with placement - what have they done to help? Good luck, that must be very stressful!

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