Finding a FNP Preceptor, how hard is it?

[jenn17]

So I've been accepted to a program that provides "support" finding a clinical preceptor (I imagine its like ideas and strategies rather than actual leads/lists/sites). The school is in Illinois, I am in florida. I havent even started the first semester (its a fall start) but I wanted to get a jump on it because of the horror stories I have heard on these boards and online in general. The places I have called have told me that they don't have the resources to precept and that if they did they would do it with local institutions that they had affiliations with in their community. I feel like I am losing this battle before I even begin. What should I do? I don't have the money to buy preceptor connections from those online companies and I cannot postpone this already 3 year program. Please help, any ideas or experience would really help.

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

Have you contacted the program for suggestions? Do they have recommendations. It would seem they would have zero business if their students couldn't graduate.

[jenn17]

No, I haven't, I don't begin my program until August and Clinicals aren't until Spring semester. I was literally just accepted. I did ask about this when I was applying and I will be assigned a "Student Support Advisor" in edition to an academic advisor who I was told will help me navigate finding a clinical site/preceptor to the extent of ideas/approaches to use when looking, but ultimately it is my responsibility. It is an online program. I am planning on calling tomorrow to see what they can do in terms of pointing me in the right direction.

[WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I would say contact the school, then start calling everywhere you can. It's going to take a while and be prepared to hear a lot of "no" before you get anywhere. If you don't go through a program that guarantees preceptors, there is an added difficulty. I've heard horror stories of people have to extend their program a year or more because of lack of preceptors. The schools don't care as long as they get their money.

[Zyprexa_Ho]

Have you contacted the program for suggestions? Do they have recommendations. It would seem they would have zero business if their students couldn't graduate.

I disagree. Many students just get in these programs without thinking about this first, so they've paid in money and have to extend their schooling for lack of preceptors (AEB horror stories)

[jenn17]

I am not sure what most graduate students do, I but I didn't "just get into" this program "without thinking about it first". There is a huge problem nationwide finding preceptors, schools that offer placement are usually upwards of 1,200 to 1300 or more per credit hour and students are still sometimes left struggling to find slots with an NP or physician to precept each rotation. There are a lot of articles, posts, etc about it, it is a real problem between more students in more programs and a busy healthcare system which doesn't want to take the time or use the resources to precept the next generation of nurse practitioners. I was not under the impression it would be easy, like most grad students making a huge commitment of my finances, effort and time and did a good deal of research about this issue and np school in general before submitting my applications. But that being said, I want to become a np, and I want to serve my community in that way. Just because the path to getting there is difficult doesn't mean we shouldn't take them. The trick now is to try to learn from those that have been before me or are currently succeeding in spite of the challanges. That is why I post on here.

[AliNajaCat]

Isn't there an ANP forum here? Ask there to get more people with experience.

https://allnurses.com/advanced-practice-nursing/