Paying Preceptor

allnurses Guide · Apr 14, 2015

Bad practice. Hope no one did.

Sent from my iPhone.

Trauma Columnist · Apr 14, 2015

Moved to student NP forum.

TheDude77 · Apr 15, 2015

That's what I just ran into. I was setting up the rest of my clinicals and found out that the office (not the NP) are thinking about charging bc they are "providing a service". Ridiculous.

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 15, 2015

I'll be unpopular here, but I think the time has come for our profession to start talking about this. Students pay their schools for an education, but yet, the education is provided by "instructors" (preceptors) who aren't getting paid. The school pockets the money having done minimal work for that preceptorship. That's not right. When the students take classroom classes, the instructor gets paid. The clinical instructors also deserve some compensation for the extra work they are doing.

Back in the old days, when the number of students was very small ... precepting could be looked at as a "professional obligation." But things are different now. The number of requests that come in from students looking for preceptors has become a real burden on those in practice. They can't be expected to precept continually and get nothing in return. A different model needs to be established.

I worked for a school of nursing that had contracts with various agencies (hospitals, clinics, private practices, etc.) based on a 2-way exchange of services that benefited both parties. The agency/facility/practice provided clinical experiences and preceptors and in exchange, the school provided some research consultation and/or staff development courses. That seems a very fair and reasonable approach to me. (It doesn't have to be cash that flows from directly from student to preceptor.)

If schools set up such arrangements, students would have an easier time finding qualified preceptors and preceptors would be fairly compensated for the teaching.

whovian11 · Apr 15, 2015

I can understand some type of gain for the preceptor, and I agree it should be arranged between the school and that preceptor. However, paying a preceptor or their office cash for their "service" is irritating to me. I already pay so much in tuition. I have to find my own preceptor. The biggest thing is.... I'm in psych.... Finding a psych NP to follow is not easy. If I can't afford what they are asking what will I do? I've already decided I won't pay them and have magical found an MD to follow. The school won't like that but they will get over it.

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 15, 2015

I can understand some type of gain for the preceptor, and I agree it should be arranged between the school and that preceptor. However, paying a preceptor or their office cash for their "service" is irritating to me. I already pay so much in tuition. I have to find my own preceptor. The biggest thing is.... I'm in psych.... Finding a psych NP to follow is not easy. If I can't afford what they are asking what will I do? I've already decided I won't pay them and have magical found an MD to follow. The school won't like that but they will get over it.

I can understand your frustration. To me, your situation seems like your school's fault. Why are they not helping you to find a preceptor? Why are they even offering that program if they have no help to offer you? How can they take your money with a straight face and not give you any help? How can they take your money with a straight face and then pass on their teaching responsibilities to a total stranger (preceptor)?

The system is not right ... and needs to be changed.

Jules A, MSN · Apr 16, 2015

I have to find my own preceptor. The biggest thing is.... I'm in psych.... Finding a psych NP to follow is not easy. If I can't afford what they are asking what will I do? I've already decided I won't pay them and have magical found an MD to follow. The school won't like that but they will get over it.

While I do think schools should offer preceptors I don't understand not having enough professional contacts to call in some favors and find preceptors for clinical rotations.

The great news is that you will be working with a psychiatrist who will, even if not a great doc, have a significantly more in-depth education in both pharmacology hours and also residency hours than NPs get. I did all my rotations with physicians in both the psych and FNP program and they were excellent experiences.