RN programs that don't have a preceptorship?

Wile E Coyote, ASN, RN · May 31, 2016

By preceptorship, you are defining that as separate from clinical instructor, right? In my limited experience, that happens more in rural areas and smaller hospitals. I precept BSN students in their capstone courses from a college 150 miles away.

The local adn program use clinical instructors exclusively.

It works very well for continuity, as the student follows my schedule, but can be problematic if Im not up on current practice or teach too many short-cuts. (Edit: *It* being preceptorship. Im not a clinical instructor)

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · May 31, 2016

My ADN program included a preceptorship of almost 100 hrs at the end.

My LVN/LPN program did not. I was still decently prepared to work as a new grad.

brillohead, ADN, RN · May 31, 2016

My ADN program didn't have a "preceptorship" if you're referring to a "capstone" semester.

It did have a clinical instructor that was available for all clinical days (6-8 students in a clinical group with one instructor).

For what it's worth, I've had floor nurses in my region comment that they prefer ADN new grads over BSN new grads in my region simply because they feel the ADN students are more hands-on with clinicals than the BSN students are. I don't know whether this is a result of the ADN programs having a different curriculum / different instructors / different standards than the BSN program, or because the ADN students are more likely to be older in general (adults going back to community college / second career learners vs kids who went to college straight out of high school), or some other reason.

IMO, as long as you're going through an accredited ADN program, you're going to be fine -- particularly so since you're already used to working with patients on a busy unit.

OlivetheRN, ADN, BSN, RN · May 31, 2016

My class had one, but the class immediately following mine did not. The reasoning was that they could not find enough preceptors for the number of students in the program. As it was, they had a difficult time finding placements for our class.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · May 31, 2016

My program did not; my BSN program consisted of second-career, healthcare professionals, and traditional students.

Most of us have thrived in clinical settings without any issue; we were in an accelerated program and have a lot of exposure in our clinicals, including in areas such as clinics and home health, so I feel as though the program have enough exposure to different specialties that we all transitioned well into our respective careers.

ohiobobcat · May 31, 2016

My program had a preceptorship, but you had to apply for it. They only selected a few students, and those students went into a one-on- one situation with an experienced nurse (employed by the hospital) in a clinical setting . I did my preceptorship in an ICU and it was a great experience. The other students who didn't get selected for a preceptorship did a regular clinical rotation in groups of 6-8 with a clinical supervisor employed by the school.

This was in a semi-rural area- not a big city teaching hospital.

Xlorgguss · May 31, 2016

Yes exactly what I meant by preceptor. As in the student gets assigned to an RN and effectively "shadows" for a given period of time. Thank you all for the feedback. I was just getting concerned because I had many nursing stufents in my area talk about their preceptorship and how that helped them land the job that want etc. I have no doubt that I will at least get a job offer on the floor I work at albeit that's not where I see myself long haul.

nlitened · May 31, 2016

My ADN program had one. In fact, all the (accredited) ADN and BSN programs in my area do.

CiaMia, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · May 31, 2016

My post-bacc accelerated BSN program did a preceptorship for our final rotation, unless you had clinical warnings/issues in clinical that made you ineligible (in which case you had to have an instructor with you and be in a group situation). I loved it, and got hired onto the floor I precepted on as a new grad. :)

BeachsideRN, ASN · May 31, 2016

My program dropped the preceptorship/practicum and added more med surg leadership clinical hours.

bugya90, ASN, BSN, LVN, RN · May 31, 2016

My LVN did not have a preceptorship but the schools RN program did (6 years ago) The RN program recently dropped the preceptor part d/t not having enough preceptors. The hospitals have such a high turnover rate that the preceptors are too busy training actual employees to take on a student that may or may not become an employee there. I think the hospitals are the ones who axed it.