Preceptors for Student NPs

[Retired APRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

I studied many years ago, so I am ignorant about some modern practices in AP education, particularly with regard to the burgeoning online option.

Most (all?) online nurse practitioner programs seem to require that students find their own preceptors. Is there any control on who can be your preceptor? Do you need to have your choice approved by the school? What sort of verification of their qualifications and your clinical experience is in place?

Thanks!

[futureeastcoastNP]

Some online schools help find preceptors, and some brick and mortar schools don't. It's not an online versus in person thing, it's a top school versus lower ranked school thing. In general, the better and more reputable programs tend to be more involved in the entire education process, which includes finding preceptors for their students and ensuring proper clinical experience. This isn't the case 100% of the time, but in general it is true.

I believe each school has a different process for acquiring a preceptor and vetting them. Some actually want to vet the person, some (specifically the least reputable programs) just want you to find a warm body with a medical license.

[Retired APRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Thank you; that clears up several issues for me. I gather that these "less reputable" schools are the ones with the least demanding entrance criteria, as well?

I am concerned about this because one of the major criticisms I hear from MDs about nurse practitioners is that the education and clinical experience is not standardized and that on-line, for-profit schools (which are perceived as the majority of NP schools) are turning out NPs who are prepped for the exam but are not well-trained clinicians.

[futureeastcoastNP]

The less reputable ones are the ones that only want to collect tuition money, and thus they have less demanding entrance criteria because their goal is maximum enrollment vs ensuring students will succeed. This includes for profits mainly, and for profits are actually not the majority. There a number of top traditional programs that turn out excellent NPs, and there are also top programs that offer coursework online (such as Duke or Vanderbilt), and they still have high entrance requirements and turn out excellent NPs.

[futureeastcoastNP]

I'm actually glad you posted that - I say on this forum all the time that fully online FOR profit schools look bad for the profession, and that to an outsider it may cause a lack of respect for the profession as a whole, but few listen. Most people here are die hard supporters of for profit schools, despite the dark mark they are putting on the profession (as your MD colleagues commented).