Preceptor location services

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Has anyone here used any of the preceptor location services such as Clinical Match Me? Was it worth the price? I'm weighing my options between 3 programs and 2 of them require me to locate my own preceptors. However, they do provide a list of clinical sites they've used in the past, so that's at least a starting place. I'm trying to make sure that I have a fall back plan if I'm having trouble locating preceptors. I saw a few companies online that match NP & PA students with preceptors.

Anyone with experience using these services? It seems a bit pricey so I want to make sure it's worth the investment if it saves me the headache of trying to line up preceptors.

Thanks :)

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
I encourage you to speak to your school's field site coordinator. Even for my school where I had to arrange my own clinicals, that office was a valuable asset.

Thanks, that's good to know. I've read so many different accounts, ranging from "I had no help at all locating clinical preceptors" to "the school gave me a list and I had to contact them myself" to "didn't have to do a thing". I'm just trying to make sure I have a Plan A and a Plan B :D

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Specializes in Assistant Professor, Nephrology, Internal Medicine.

I actually was able to get a list from my school of previous preceptors. This was very helpful, especially because I was willing to travel for mine if I wasn't able to find anything. One of my instructors also gave me the names and contact info for several NPs around my area that had previously graduated from my program.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Please don't use those pay-for-preceptor sites. They are not good for you or the profession.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
Please don't use those pay-for-preceptor sites. They are not good for you or the profession.

Thank you! I will steer clear. The cost is outrageous and it just doesn't seem right to have to pay someone to get a preceptor. I just worry about being able to find one, if I have to. I'm applying to one program that sets up all preceptors. The other two will give me a list of previous preceptors and have agreements with clinical sites in my area.

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