Should I pay for clinical hours for an NP preceptor, and if so, how much is too much to pay?

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

I found my clinical sites with good old-fashioned leg work. I made a student resume and went to offices of the practices I knew had good reputations and asked to speak to the office manager. I got my sites set up easily that way. Put yourself forward and do it. You'll be surprised at what you can find.

If your school uses Typhon to log clinical encounters, you can go into Typhon and pull up all of the practices that your school already confirms. That's a good starting point because you have the name, address & telephone numbers of current practices/preceptors in your state.

You can also join your state's NP association. Most have a process in place for current NPs to offer their services as preceptors to students. A good way to network?

[BellaNoor]

So I did my MPH through liberty University and they were very unhelpful when it came to getting clinical sites to log in my clinical hours that were required for the program. I was able to secure a clinical site and had to pay for my clinicals at the site. Fortunately, it wasn't too expensive. But then it makes you think, what am I paying for if I still had to come out of my pocket to get a clinical site. I paid $150 a month for this site and made it that I was able to get all my clinical hours in two months. At first it was going to drag on for three months. Which would have meant more money to spend, so I scheduled myself so that I could get all the hours in two months. It was tough but worth it.

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

I would never pay for a preceptor. Well, I could understand paying maybe a couple hundred for a semester, but to charge over a grand is ridiculous. Talk about taking advantage of students, especially in the time of this pandemic. I would imagine many of these people spiked up their prices because they know many preceptors are currently not taking any students or as many due to liability.

You have several months before you start the fall. If you haven't already, contact your classmates if they're in your area and see if their preceptor can buddy up. Contact your PCP or your friends/family PCP about taking in students. I did that. Just before I started NP school, I had my physical exam for school and asked my MD if she could precept me, and she agreed. Also, contact your professors, adjunct faculty, and clinical advisors. They are a good resource for preceptors as well, assuming they're in a location you can get to. My current adjunct professor is my clinical instructor as well, and my clinical advisor (the one that checks up on you and your clinical site once in a blue moon) had mentioned to me that I could precept with her if I needed to.

As much as it is like job hunting, I would beef up the resume, dress up nice, and start going clinic to clinic and asking around. There are many clinics in the area; you have to go out of your and go door-knocking. Trust me, I was nervous when I first found out we had to find our own preceptors, but I thought ahead and got started early.

[verene, MSN]

A Hit With The Ladies said:

I've decided to go through with a recruiting agency because of how stringent my program's requirements are in terms of a preceptor. The person has to be board certified, and I have to get a certain number of hours in adults, in Geri, in pediatrics, in addiction, etc., etc., etc. So that narrows my options as I have to seek preceptors or facilities that take patients across the lifespan, aren't a solo practice, and will offer in-site hours on a regular basis (because if a preceptor only works for 20 hours a week with a student, or is only available two days a week, how am I supposed to get my hours?!). It's quite frustrating!

I'm failing to see some of your complaints - board certification, experience, and seeing populations to support the life-span requirements of the PMHNP certification all seem completely reasonable.

Yes, you will need clinical hours, which cover the full lifespan of care - do you have to get them all in one term? It's pretty normal to have a few different sites/preceptors to gain all hours and to see the spectrum of the population as very, very few settings are truly life-span in nature as Peds, adults, and geriatrics have historically been split apart. Nor am I seeing anything wrong with having a preceptor who works part-time (my child/adolescent placement was with a solo practitioner who works part-time), as it is better to gain some hours rather than no hours, even if you need to split placement over multiple terms or weight more strongly to one population than another in overall hours.

Also, are you completely limited to clinical with PMHNPs, or can you complete a few hours with MD or LPC? I know the majority of hours must be with PMHNP, but many programs allow for a few hours to be completed with another licensed practitioner. (E.g., therapy with a psychologist or specialty-psych care with a psychiatrist) which would open up some more doors for hours.

I understand that it is frustrating to find placements - particularly now when COVID is limiting site options - however, I would hope that your program would work with you around this. The idea of paying for a recruiter and paying for a preceptor when you are already paying the school doesn't make sense to me - the school should be HELPING you find placements. This doesn't mean you shouldn't also try to sell yourself, network, and find potential placements on your own - but if the school isn't helping - what exactly are you paying them for?

[londonflo]

I figured it was an online program, and you are halfway across the country from it. Have there been any previous students from the institution in clinical sites? Perhaps they can help you get in. I do wonder, though, if the school's reputation is not the best, what happens when you ask at a clinic? Also, if you are paying the preceptor, would you get an honest evaluation of your abilities? I guess you are lucky that Covid happened so that your clinical placement preceptor woes are limited to one semester, but what are the limitations on your clinical experience?

[PMHP61, BSN]

A Hit With The Ladies said:

It's an online program. They said that in their student handbook, the student is responsible for finding their own clinical sites. I'll do whatever it takes to get the hours that I need.

Contact local non-profits in behavioral health. They usually have a need and are willing to provide training. If not I would call PMNP in the phone book and ask if they are willing to serve as a preceptor.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

FWIW, changes made effective in 2019 for NP program accreditation:

"While the following statement is not new to the 2018 Standards, the elaboration to Key Element III-H specifically states, "Clinical practice experiences are provided for students in all programs, including those with distance education offerings.” Please note, this key element does not prohibit programs from allowing students to play an active role in identifying clinical practice experiences, but if a student is unable to find an appropriate clinical practice experience, the program is ultimately responsible for providing this."

https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/CCNE/PDF/Summary-Major-Revisions-to-2018-Standards.pdf

[BellaNoor]

I'm Currently searching for an NP program that has clinical embedded in the program, which means that the school has the responsibility of finding clinical sites and a preceptor for me. And honestly, I have found very few schools that will take that responsibility. They always email me back that it is the responsibility of the student to find clinical sites. ? I couldn't believe that even seton hall. With how expensive their program is, doesn't find clinics for their students. It's so annoying, and I am not trying to go through that stress.

[Guest1144461]

BellaNoor said:

I'm Currently searching for an NP program that has clinical embedded in the program, which means that the school has the responsibility of finding clinical sites and a preceptor for me. And honestly, I have found very few schools that will take that responsibility. They always email me back that it is the responsibility of the student to find clinical sites. I couldn't believe that even seton hall. With how expensive their program is, doesn't find clinics for their students. It's so annoying, and I am not trying to go through that stress.

Even the big-name schools do this; it's sad. I would like to see the data on what % of programs actually provide preceptors. It has to be below 25%.

[Tegridy]

Students are dumb enough to pay to go to programs that do not find preceptors, so why would they provide them?

IMO they aren't giving you the full educational experience, but hey, if people are willing to buy a cat turd, then buddy that thing for sale.

[RN/WI, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

I am an FNP student that took a job with an organization that promised to place employees in a clinical spot with a preceptor. I was placed for two clinical rotations. The organization, which basically has one person to contact for educational placements, but boasts of employing over 7600 employees, emailed me that there would be a need to interview now for a preceptor to match this session. I did an in-depth 1 hour plus phone interview and did not hear back. I contacted the "clinical placement educator" as even though this is a parent site, it is not the site I work at.

The " clinical placement educator" called me back one week now prior to my next clinical start date to inform me that she was sorry, but they couldn't help my needs with a preceptor. She gave me a run around with no explanation other than it is a competitive process, and I did not make the cut for a preceptor. She also referred to all these schools r us and the need for placement. All of the local students were placed from UW and private colleges. I chose the school I did because it allows me to work full-time as an RN and provide for my family. Just because my primary classes were online, by no means means it is easy. I work 36 hours a week and attend classes and clinical. My classes are extremely in-depth, and it takes much organization on my part to get through each one!

I am not in total agreement that my school, which charges fees, should not be placing me, but this organization told me that I would be placed; so unprofessional! Sorry to be a Debby Downer, but I want to vent my frustrations about these healthcare organizations that are non-profit, take government funds, but only help certain groups.

I have three clinical rotations left to finish; after all this work, I have contacted multiple other organizations, private offices, and clinics without success. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can finish these last three rotations?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or leads! I am in the State of Wisconsin.

[anime09]

I completely understand your situation because I am currently in that position. I located a preceptor for individual psychotherapy, and he was sure to mention the $1,000 honorarium, which is what they are calling the fee they charge, which I was expecting. It's a sad day when this is happening, but the need is so great, and they know it. Gone are the days when one would be eager to pay it forward just because they also needed and obviously received that opportunity.