Boycott schools that make you find your own preceptors

2015 · Sep 19, 2014

Before I read anyone's comments, I can't begin to imagine the stress I would be going through if I had to find my own preceptors. My school encourages us to send them a list of possible preceptors then they will contact them on our behalf. I tried calling some of these offices in the past to see if they were willing to precept, and absolutely none was responsive. I even tried the local NP association without luck. Since then, I have stopped bothering sending suggestions to my school. So far, I have been placed in two locations by the clinical placement team and the places are fantastic. Am letting them do their job. After all am paying big bucks for the service.

2015 · Sep 19, 2014

One question I've always had about this issue is, how do programs monitor their student's clinical activity and progression throughout the program if it is an on-line, pick your own preceptor type of program? I wonder this because I personally know a lot of nurses working in my hospital that are concurrently enrolled in an on-line NP program that is located half way across the country. How does this school know that these students are working hard and developing into competent NPs during their clinicals, and not just sitting on a stool in the corner gnawing on a corndog all day?

To answer your question, am doing an online program with Georgetown. The preceptor is required to evaluate you midway through the clinical rotation and send feedback to the school. The university also sends a clinical faculty advisor (CFA) to the site once a semester to evaluate the student and provide a clinical grade for that class. The CFAs fly all over the country and go to the remotest of places to meet with the student. My CFA is from my area (she also teaches FNP classes), so I doubt she drives over 100 miles to see the 10 students allocated to her around my area. We also have video conferences together as a group to discuss any issues we may be facing. We also have two on campus intensives with actors playing the role of a patient, and a student must pass the two exams to be able to proceed. In our next OCI, we will be learning simple procedures such as suturing which is helpful if by any reason you did not get to learn the procedures during clinical.

Riburn3, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · Sep 21, 2014

I absolutely agree with zmansc on this one. While I think schools that provide preceptors are ultimately a better option, I loved having to find my own preceptors. I got to choose people I knew and was comfortable around, and it also led to some great job offers. Although had I been a newer nurse lacking connections, I would have struggled.

In regards to the actual program. My instructors come and evaluate me on site 3-4 times per semester, and fly to see other students (even to Alaska) as well. I've also gone to the school itself multiple times throughout the program to learn skills and be evaluated on paid actors pretending to be patients, straight out of that episode of Seinfeld.

I think my point is not all online schools are created equal. Some still assist you in your quest to find preceptors if you are struggling, while others do not. Case in point, one month before I was to start my OBGYN rotation, my preceptor left her position and went to work for a nephrologist. My school, (which is a state system public school), provided me a small list of potential preceptors that already had affiliation agreements with the school from previous students, and I didn't miss a beat. A similar incident happened to a friend of mine that is going to a large for profit online school, and he was left to dangle in the wind and ultimately fell a semester behind.

Good online schools fill a necessary need, and allow nurses serving in remote areas the convenience of being able to stay local while getting their higher education. To say that schools should be boycott based on making you find your own preceptors is absolutely absurd, however I do believe there needs to be some better quality control out there.

Alicia777, MSN, NP · Sep 21, 2014

I haven't read through all the posts but I went to a school where I had to find my own preceptors. While it was extremely difficult (and only happened because I already knew 2 of the 4 and the other 2 I just got lucky) I loved being able to choose where and who my mentors were.

The NP student is an adult learner and therefor should be researching the program their interested in. If you don't want the trouble of finding your own preceptors, don't go to that school!

Yammar · Sep 21, 2014

Finding the preceptor I never thought would be that hard, but then again I did not realize that NPs just do not want to precept anyone. I sent out 78 requests and received about 8 emails back declining to precept for all sorts of reasons. "My physician does not allow students", "I am in the ED and the hospital does not allow students", "We only precept students from local universities", "our practice is going through changes so it is not a good time", blah blah blah. I think the only replies that i actually believed were the ones telling me they had students already. Most people did not even bother to reply.

I got concerned and actually paid for a 90 day membership to the ENP website! Save your money people it is a RIPOFF!! I sent a request to everyone and not a single response. I feel cheated by them and I hope Karma catches up to the thief's you own that site!

Did have one person respond with a yes only to vanish after I wrote her back. She flaked big time!!

I am thankful I finally found one!! I am freaking out that I still need to undergo this process at least two more times. However, once I am physically living in the city I will be precepting in I think my odd will increase as I network and get more involved in the local organizations.

allnurses Guide · Sep 21, 2014

Finding the preceptor I never thought would be that hard, but then again I did not realize that NPs just do not want to precept anyone. I sent out 78 requests and received about 8 emails back declining to precept for all sorts of reasons. "My physician does not allow students", "I am in the ED and the hospital does not allow students", "We only precept students from local universities", "our practice is going through changes so it is not a good time", blah blah blah. I think the only replies that i actually believed were the ones telling me they had students already. Most people did not even bother to reply.
I got concerned and actually paid for a 90 day membership to the ENP website! Save your money people it is a RIPOFF!! I sent a request to everyone and not a single response. I feel cheated by them and I hope Karma catches up to the thief's you own that site!
Did have one person respond with a yes only to vanish after I wrote her back. She flaked big time!!
I am thankful I finally found one!! I am freaking out that I still need to undergo this process at least two more times. However, once I am physically living in the city I will be precepting in I think my odd will increase as I network and get more involved in the local organizations.

There are several reasons why NPs either can't or don't want to precept students:

1. Not all NPs have a desire to precept students. It's a significant amount of work, it takes time away from patients/seeing patients, and can put the perceptor in awkward situations. Some NPs just don't want to take all that on for little benefit.

2. Not all NPs should precept; precepting is a skill that not all NPs have.

3. Some facilities simply don't allow it because of risk or productivity loss.

To my read, this post highlights the biggest problem of programs that don't find preceptors: students get desperate, send out emails en masse begging for preceptorships, and they take whatever they can get. This means that the students only care about securing a placement not the fit between the student-preceptor or the quality of the preceptor/site. Further, in conveys to physicians that NP education is desperate and unorganized, or worse dependent on them, which doesn't help our cause.

My facility only takes students from two local programs. We do this because we agree with their philosophy, their reputation for having quality students, and their academic quality.

Sent from my iPhone.

Go-GetterRN · Sep 21, 2014

There are several reasons why NPs either can't or don't want to precept students:
1. Not all NPs have a desire to precept students. It's a significant amount of work, it takes time away from patients/seeing patients, and can put the perceptor in awkward situations. Some NPs just don't want to take all that on for little benefit.
2. Not all NPs should precept; precepting is a skill that not all NPs have.
3. Some facilities simply don't allow it because of risk or productivity loss.
To my read, this post highlights the biggest problem of programs that don't find preceptors: students get desperate, send out emails en masse begging for preceptorships, and they take whatever they can get. This means that the students only care about securing a placement not the fit between the student-preceptor or the quality of the preceptor/site. Further, in conveys to physicians that NP education is desperate and unorganized, or worse dependent on them, which doesn't help our cause.
My facility only takes students from two local programs. We do this because we agree with their philosophy, their reputation for having quality students, and their academic quality.
Sent from my iPhone.

Since your facility only takes students from the two local programs, I'm guessing your facility is also picky about hiring graduates from certain programs? I have been wondering if this is the case, because if so, I would only want to apply to some of the more 'well-liked' programs around.

And just saying, my previous comment is not against online, pick your own preceptor types of schools. I have very little knowledge of NP school or what it truly takes to be a NP. I was just asking a question about something I had been curious about and got some good feedback from a lot of people.

allnurses Guide · Sep 22, 2014

Since your facility only takes students from the two local programs, I'm guessing your facility is also picky about hiring graduates from certain programs?

Absolutely. Places tend to hire what they know.

Sent from my iPhone.

BiaFNP · Sep 22, 2014

I had to find my own preceptors and it was difficult! Even the expensive "brick and mortar" schools in my area require the students to find their own preceptors. I think the school have trouble too and therefore don't want to deal with it and leave it to the students. This is a cop-out. As much as I paid the school for my education they should be willing to pay the preceptor something to do the precepting. The preceptor have absolutely no incentive what-so-ever. I went to a quality state university. Only through the grace of God and connections through friends was I able to get my preceptors. I started working on them 2 years before I even started clinicals. I don't think it necessarily has anything to do with the quality of the NP education. JIMHO.

zmansc, ASN, RN · Sep 23, 2014

I had to find my own preceptors and it was difficult! Even the expensive "brick and mortar" schools in my area require the students to find their own preceptors. I think the school have trouble too and therefore don't want to deal with it and leave it to the students. This is a cop-out. As much as I paid the school for my education they should be willing to pay the preceptor something to do the precepting. The preceptor have absolutely no incentive what-so-ever. I went to a quality state university. Only through the grace of God and connections through friends was I able to get my preceptors. I started working on them 2 years before I even started clinicals. I don't think it necessarily has anything to do with the quality of the NP education. JIMHO.

Actually, my program, which requires the students to locate the preceptors does pay a stipend to the preceptors for a student once the clinical practicum is completed. I agree with the concept, that the programs should help students who are struggling to find preceptors. One of the things my program does early in the program (a year prior to starting your clinical practicum), is have you identify potential preceptors. Then we have assignments where you have to spend time with potential preceptors, or contact them, etc. This forces students to actually talk to a local nurse practitioner in their community. It doesn't always work, there are several students who complain about it every step of the way, but most of them get on board and find people sooner than later.

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Apr 14, 2015

I couldn't agree with this more. I am actually getting ready to pull my admission today from a school that I have already been accepted to for an FNP program and re-direct my admissions only to schools where they have preceptor agreements.

I for one refuse to take this anymore and like the OP stated, this will continue until we develop a backbone and stop allowing these schools to ruin advance practice nursing.

In NO OTHER GRADUATE PROGRAM, do you risk not completing it because you cannot find a person that is not employed with the program to help you.