NP Programs that Provide Preceptors

[diana_lopez]

Hi,

Do any of you know of a school (anywhere in the US) where I can pursue my NP education WITHOUT having to worry about trying to find a preceptor? I would like to know what NP programs actually provide for ASSIGNED clinicals and preceptors. I know that trying to find a preceptor is a huge problem, and I just want to avoid that headache!

Thank you so much for your time!

Di

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

There are many but this work needs to be done by you.

- Start by identifying the kind of nurse practitioner you want to be first (FNP, ANP, ACNP, Psych?).

- Look for prospective schools that offer the program you want.

- Check the credentials of the faculty (all schools have a website and lists faculty accomplishments)

- Find a strong program that supports the kind of nurse practitioner you want to be by speaking directly to schools (i.e., strong primary care training if you want FNP, critical care exposure if you want ACNP, diverse training settings if you want Psych)

- Ask specifically how clinical rotations are arranged and which sites students rotate to.

- pick the school that you can afford given the kind of school debt you want or don't want to incur.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Hi, there. Your post has been moved to the Nurse Practitioner forum with the goal of accruing more replies from people in your potential field. Good luck to you!

[Pachinko]

I think the UCs do. At least UCLA does.

[BostonRN13]

Boston College. Just remember, having a school find your clinical placements isn't always a blessing. They may not be convienient for you to get to or in the best part of town. Just something to consider. I had to find my own and initially wished I had gone to a school that provided preceptors but in retrospect it was so nice being 15-20 minutes away from my sites..

[SlyFoxRN, BSN, RN]

Finding your own means you practice where and how you want. It means you also get to work in an area possibly not used to seeing new students constantly, so less competition if they decide they want to hire an NP. It's an excellent way to get your first job.

[Aradien]

I would look at the University of Pennsylvania. When I was looking a couple of years ago at their FNP program that is what I was told. They would find the clinicals and preceptors. Made a big point of mentioning it several times.

BTW, I am not employed by U of P. I do not go to school there and the MSN I am working on is Nursing Informatics.

Good luck!

Aradien

[Averykat]

Northeastern University does. They also worked with us to make sure it was a good fit (if you were interested in inpatient or outpatient, etc.) and paid attention to location preferences. I was in their PMNHP program.

[Guest413699]

University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Sometimes you have to drive an hour to the rural counties for placements, though.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

OK, we can keep naming the cream of the crop schools: University of Washington, Johns Hokpins, University of Pennsylvania, UCSF, Yale, Columbia, University of Michigan, OHSU, UNC...the list goes on - they all provide assistance with preceptors. The questions are will you get in, would the cost of tuition be within your budget, are you willing to relocate to those campuses, do they offer the nurse practitioner program you want?

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

Duke University

[NJprisonrn]

I felt the exact same way as the OP. I wanted to focus on school, not finding willing preceptors. When I looked at schools, I emailed the contact person and asked them this question point blank. I struck many schools off the list by doing this. In the end I applied to only 2, UPENN and Richard Stockton in NJ. I didn't get into UPENN, but I did get into Stockton. I am glad that it worked out that way. They are half as much $ in tuition, and I am getting a GREAT education. They have been wonderful with helping me find great preceptors that are reasonably close to me (within an hour or so). I am still friendly with my first preceptor. What a find!

I have 9 months left to go. I have so far only found 1 site on my own, and that is because I specifically wanted something in a certain area. I have been to a physical rehab hospital, the ED, primary care, and now occupational med thanks to the help of my clinical advisor. He gives me the lead and I make the call/email. If you can get to Southern NJ, then I highly recommend Stockton.