Male FNP Program WH clinicals

[Cllaws889, BSN]

Hello all!

i just got accepted into a prominent FNP program in the Midwest that is online focused and have been going over all of the admission materials the last week. I have recently encountered a little bit of anxiety due to the amount of self coordination of preceptors. I have noticed that I should be able to network enough to find my Adult Heath/Pediatric preceptors. However, when it comes to the Women's Health portion I anticipate it being a tad challenging due to the fact that I am a Male nurse. I have been talking to some male NP friends and coworkers who say that it's not challenging finding the preceptors, but it is more challenging to be able to perform the assessment portions due to most patients avoiding Male GYN's/Providers (understandably so). My recent advice from a friend was to find a female GYN to precept me. I just wanted to see if any of you had any advice/experience from this situation and what is the best way to prepare in order to meet the clinical requirements such as Paps and exams.

[BirkieGirl]

I would also try to find a larger practice that has many male physicians AND female providers. A practice near me has 4 male physicians, 2 female physicians, and 3 female NPs. A little exposure to all of them was great and helpful from a lot of aspects!

[Buyer beware, BSN]

When it comes to taking advice from female NP students about preceptors, this advice would be particularly irrelevant.

You seee when it comes to the OB/GYN preceptorship sex does matter.

The blatant sex discrimination is rampant but few care if it's not affecting them just the other guy.

With men accounting for around 5% of the nursing rank and file, that gives you an idea how the who cares out of sight out of mind mentality works.

When others tell you la te da there's no issues finding preceptors their uncle Morris is either a doctor who can open doors or they're some kind of pathologicsl liar.

The search for preceptors is so keen that it creates what I believe is a culture of secrecy and a sort of anti collaborative affect among NP students. That is not attractive.

The schools and instructors know what the deal is but stillnthey let the status quo reign in this area for two reasons. One is the paycheck and the other is the tuition money.

Make no mistske NP school is big business. This is evidenced by the fact that many nurses with little or no relevant in taking care of patients are admitted into schools, many without a preadmission interview to screen out those who may be too immatire or emotionally unfit to do the job.

Another issue pertaining to preceptors is the fact that if a school requires you to locate your own preceptors you must know that their may be other schools such as medical, PA and NP schools that do have exclusive contractual relations with preceptors. Because of this unlevel playing field, this puts you at a great disadvantage.

I don't get it. How a school can charge the kind of tuition they get and not provide a complete, well thought out program is beyond me. Yet these schools are accredited. Look at it this way: if a NP school required you to take day Chemistry to graduate and then said but sorry we don't offer that here, wouldn't you think that strange. So same difference with lack of precrptor support at many NP schools.

All I can tell you is that before you start school you must nail down the preceptor situation.

Again, as a male when it comes to the OB/Gyn aspect, providers are sparce.you are not a woman so in this regard you live in an alternate universe.