Shortage of Nurse Practitioner Preceptors

[ashonman]

Is there a national shortage of Nurse Practitioners who are willing to precept? I am finding it very difficult to find a preceptor, MD's are very quick to offer what they have, unfortunately as a NP student I have to have a FNP/NP for at least 50% of my 704 hrs. As Nurses/NPs we are asking and fighting for autonomy but not willing to help train more NPs to fight this cause. It is so easy for PA's to have their rotations lined up for them but can not do that for nursing? I am seeing more and more schools (Not just online schools) shifting that responsibility onto students. I love my school, great state school; but this issue of finding preceptors on our own bothers me, and they tell you today, when school starts in 10 days. However, if we are unable to find one, then "the school will step in". I just don't get it! I taught undergrad was difficult with unreasonable demands, but graduate school too? Are nurses in a way still eating their young? or now they are just putting hot sauce on it!

[stickit34]

Students truly are wasting their time and money going to schools who do not provide clinical placements, regardless of the school's reputation. If the school is not willing to put forth the time ensuring that you are getting high-quality education through experienced preceptors, then quite honestly they're not that wonderful. They're simply making more money off of you. Networking is a wonderful concept - when you're not coming with a huge amount of liability, not to mention potential loss of income due to seeing less patients amongst other situations that could occur (such as stealing mentioned before). I agree with Juan completely about the loose accreditation these schools have, and unfortunately I fear the public image of the nurse practitioner may be damaged. Of course, we'd need rigorous studies to support this, but by then who knows how the nurse practitioner situation will be.

[zmansc, ASN, RN]

Students truly are wasting their time and money going to schools who do not provide clinical placements, regardless of the school's reputation.

While that may be your opinion, some of us do not share it and find it not true. My education is from a top notch university who has been producing top quality providers since 1939.

If the school is not willing to put forth the time ensuring that you are getting high-quality education through experienced preceptors, then quite honestly they're not that wonderful. They're simply making more money off of you.

Just because a school requires the student to identify the preceptor and submit that person to the program for credentialing does not mean that the school is not ensuring the quality of the education in general or of the clinical practicum. My school has very strict policies in place to make sure that the placement is of the highest quality, and to monitor the practicum throughout. However, my school is also 1700 miles away from my hometown, and has very little if any contact with providers here, where I, through networking have extensive contact and information on what providers are here and which ones are willing and interested in precepting students. Who's more likely to know the practitioners in my town me or them?

Also, my preceptors are not assigned to take a student regardless of their desire, they have chosen to take a student that they know and expect to be a future colleague, that in many cases they hope to hire or work with in the near future. As such, they are much more vested in the outcome of that students education and want to make sure that student becomes the quality provider they believe their patients deserve.

Networking is a wonderful concept - when you're not coming with a huge amount of liability, not to mention potential loss of income due to seeing less patients amongst other situations that could occur (such as stealing mentioned before).

This stream of consciousness is hard to decipher. Networking works wonders, both for finding preceptors and for obtaining contacts and potential job options after school. I continue to be amazed at the people who don't network and then expect to find a preceptor by basically cold calling, or the new equivalent posting on a forum or social networking site that they need a preceptor (I start tomorrow, hope you can help!)! Seriously? What makes you think that will work? Who are you other than a bunch of bits on a screen? I've had friends ask me to be their student, not because I'm that good, but because I built that network, and they want to help me. In my previous 30ish year career, I'd say I created over 1000 jobs, and most of those went to someone in my network. My company also had needs to partner with other companies or purchase services of other companies and in many cases those contracts were first discussed with people I knew in companies that I thought could deliver the services I needed. Networking is how people get jobs, and companies grow. It's how you as an individual will get what you need and how others will find you and your services for their needs.

I agree with Juan completely about the loose accreditation these schools have, and unfortunately I fear the public image of the nurse practitioner may be damaged. Of course, we'd need rigorous studies to support this, but by then who knows how the nurse practitioner situation will be.

I'm not sure what "loose accreditation" we are talking about, but since many of the top programs have shifted to this model, I would question any relationship between programs that require students to identify preceptors and "loose accreditation".

The fact of the matter is that it is hard to find preceptors when the market is saturated with students crawling out of ever expanding programs in all disciplines (MD/DO/PA/NP). I don't have the numbers in front of me, but the growth in freshly minted members of all of these professions is on a spike due to perceived demand. All programs are stretched in their efforts to find preceptors. More and more programs are moving in this direction.

As for it ruining the quality of the NP graduates, that is not proven. In fact, my school has been using this model since the 1990s and there has been no drop in quality of provider produced. I would argue that it is schools that lack quality oversight both in didactic systems and clinical that negatively impact the quality of a profession. That goes for B&M schools that place students in clinicals as much as it goes for online schools where the student identifies the preceptor. It goes for MD programs as much as it goes for NP programs. I will say that the newer the program, the faster the growth of the program, the more likely it is to have oversight issues, just because oversight is not inherently built into a program and can be tough to expand during a growth period.

[orrncnor]

Is there anyone in the kansas city area that would be willing to precept for family practice? I have been networking, but when those people, say no, and/or take medical students after they tell you that they are taking you then what? I am not sure what else to do, any advise from anyone would be helpful. It just seems very difficult when your in a town that has 2 medical schools and 4 NP programs. I am willing to do what ever it takes, including driving hours for this.

[TFRANKLIN11]

I JUST STARTED CLINICALS . I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND ONE FOR ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESMENT BUT AM HAVING TROUBLE FINDING ONE FOR THE NEXT SEMESTER. Pediatrics and Women's health is the worst. Does anyone know of any preceptors for Adult, pediatric and women's health in St. Louis, Missouri ?

[Dranger]

I JUST STARTED CLINICALS . I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND ONE FOR ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESMENT BUT AM HAVING TROUBLE FINDING ONE FOR THE NEXT SEMESTER. Pediatrics and Women's health is the worst. Does anyone know of any preceptors for Adult, pediatric and women's health in St. Louis, Missouri ?

I do but they don't take people who write in caps.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

Sorry to re-revive an older thread. I don't know which is worse: reviving or starting a duplicate?

I've done my research, sent resumes, called offices, drove 100miles all over Horry county, and have exhausted means. I've even gone to APRN dinners to network (which worked out for peds).

What I need is a Women's Health preceptor for December 2015 to February 2016.

I'm still looking and I'm not giving up. I'll keep doing work on my part but thought it couldn't hurt to ask here.

[Luvarn7009]

Are you still interested in being a preceptor? I am in Fayetteville and would love to talk to you.

Sharon

[email protected]

[wilsontr]

Hello, I am also in need of a Nurse Practitioner preceptor for the 8 week period from March 2016 to May 2016. This is an 8 week rotation 125 hours. 16 hours per week. This can be 3 day per week 5.5 hours or 2 days per week 8 hours total 125 hours over 8 weeks. I am available days and evenings at the convenience of the preceptors schedule. I am licensed in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York City. I have transportation and able to travel. I can be reached at [email protected], or [email protected] and willing to pay fee if needed to obtain the clinical practicum time required. This can be Family, or women's health. T. Wilson, BSN

[yhl1975]

Hello, I am a student in PMHNP Molloy program ( Long Island NY).When I was searching the programs , I was promised that all my clinical hr. will be " with professional preceptors", all was supposed to be set up by Molloy. Unfortunately, my next semester 60 clinical hours will be with " informal arrangements". From one hand, I want to finish my program as fast as I could, from the other side , I need to be well trained.

So I am looking for volunteering in psychiatric/ neuro pediatric setting.

For my personal experience please help me to find pediatric -adolescent MD/NP/DO/PA in privet practice with ADHD /ADD cases,as "shadow" once a week.

I prefer to start any "shadow" as soon as possible in pediatric setting, since all my psychiatric experience is adult outpatient/ ambulatory care.

If you need any other information , please email.

[email protected]

Peace and Blessings,

[COLOR=#00ff00]Everything that you send out, returns to you[/COLOR]

[kkguffey]

I am an NP and hearing this from many of my friends who are in NP school. Someone commented about doctors. Actually they have to be chosen through and extensive interview process to get a residency. There is no promise of residency when going through school and since it is a paid position even harder. My daughter is in podiatry school and she has to internship for free 4 weeks as an interview process then at Match time she applies to where ever she wants to go to residency then she rates her favorite and the residency rates if they want her and each gives it a number. Its like a NFL draft. crazy and in the end she may not get one at all after 4 years of med school.

I have been a preceptor for many students. It is work extra work and most of us don't have the time. However, now the AANP has added to renewal that you can use preceptor hours in place of CME which I think will be very helpful for future preceptors willing to put in the work. I think I am going to open a business to help place students for those schools who don't provide one. Will let you know how it goes.

[jenbrown1]

KK - supply and demand would be favorable. Make it 501c3 to attract more preceptors? (You could still pay yourself a reasonable wage)!

[Dranger]

I have been a preceptor for many students. It is work extra work and most of us don't have the time. However, now the AANP has added to renewal that you can use preceptor hours in place of CME which I think will be very helpful for future preceptors willing to put in the work. I think I am going to open a business to help place students for those schools who don't provide one. Will let you know how it goes.

The problem is students would still have to pay. The schools should be the one to foot the bill on this one.