In need of NP Preceptor

Sent you a PM.

What have you tried so far?

I sent you a pm as well....its a tough market out there for finding preceptors

I am currently looking for a NP or MD preceptor in family practice or pediatrics in Minnesota. Were you ever able to find preceptors? If so, how did you go about getting them? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I keep just getting "no"s.

Thanks for any guidance that you can give!

I had to find my own preceptors, I was in psych.

1. Try networking with classmates about potential sites. Try networking with your professors and ask help from your clinical placement office if they know of any leads or places that took students in previous semesters.

2. Get a updated resume together as well as a packet of everything you may need to be an intern (immunization records, PPD, malpractice insurance). Also make sure you have some electronic copies of preceptor responsibilities and any documentation that is given to preceptors from your school (welcome letter, evaluation requirements etc). It can be very helpful when talking to HR to be able to email everything over to them. It makes you look like you are prepared.

3. Consider the site. It may be easier to get into some not-for profit places. Hospitals may have waiting lists. Private practice can be tricky, but being effective at cold calling and letting them know your needs as well as perhaps anything you can offer them. NPs needs to renew for their boards. If they precept students for 120 hours that qualifies them for this renewal. Let them know what they can get out of it. Sometimes NPs are more willing to precept than MDs, but I actually had better experiences with MDs so I guess it depends on the preceptor. Also don't forget urgent care/minute clinic type facilities. Some children residential facilities for behavioral health have FNP's to treat the medical side of things so that could be an option as well.

4. Don't be afraid to call human resources and ask to talk to director of nursing in the department you want to get into or talk to someone in charge of interns or education.

5. Need to be persistent and may need to do follow up calls and emails.

Don't get discouraged. It was hard and it was tricky for my other classmates. We helped each other the best we could with leads and some students even teamed up with one preceptor. It WILL take some persistence and having a good "script" practiced for the cold calling helps a lot.

Good Luck!

I wish these posts would not be moved to the student forums. We list them in the NP forums because that's where the potential preceptors are, and not in the student NP forums