Discouraged with NP programs

[greatpyr]

Hi All; I am new to this site and wanted to get your options about the current state of NP programs. I started a FNP program at a brick and mortar university and did well my first semester. The discouraging aspect is we need to find our own preceptors for all clinicals. I have found that to be daunting. I seems that NPs and docs are burned out from precepting and I can understand that.

There seems to be a surplus of NP students who need preceptors and a shortage of preceptors. I am discouraged and thinking about changing my MSN program from FNP to Nurse educator or administrater.

Please tell me how your experiences have been with getting preceptors. I am searching for a reason to continue the FNP program and finding it difficult. I am on the "fence" and starting to think that the program will be impossible to complete.

Thank you in advance.

[mammac5]

It's a difficult situation. I arranged my own clinical sites because I wanted them local to my home. Others in my program were assigned to sites within a 2-hour driving distance from the location of the university. To each his/her own.

I think my experience was typical in that out of three rotations, one was really awful. Some fellow students drove long distances to have awful experiences, so I count myself lucky that at least I didn't spend as much time in my car. By "awful" I mean working with docs/NPP who won't let you do anything but observe, complain about how much time you're wasting for them, witnessing some unethical billing practices, etc.

So why does anyone precept students? Because THEY had to be precepted themselves. Because it can be a wonderful learning experience. Because it's our chance as practitioners to influence the practice of a whole new crop of graduates. Because we can learn from students who use new software to research EBP, or who are aware of recent changes in guidelines for practice, or whose enthusiasm just rubs off on us if we are jaded in our work.

Most preceptors get no financial remuneration for their services. Smart potential preceptors will ask for some intangibles, though, from whatever university approaches them - access to the university online library, privileges to sit in on lectures of interest at no cost (and for no credit, obviously), listing as official nonpaid faculty (looks good on the resume), etc.