Stop the preceptor madness!

bryanleo9 · Jun 17, 2018

It is terrible to have to pay top dollar to a university and then have to cold call / beg preceptors to take you under their wing. And the prices the paid preceptor sites charge are equally insane. The current preceptor situation has me debating even trying to get my NP.

subee, MSN, CRNA · Jun 17, 2018

It is terrible to have to pay top dollar to a university and then have to cold call / beg preceptors to take you under their wing. And the prices the paid preceptor sites charge are equally insane. The current preceptor situation has me debating even trying to get my NP.

And this is what I thought previous poster meant byv"regulation " of NP's. The students are being cheated by schools who don't provide instruction by people with ANY teaching credentials. No student should be distracted by having to look for instruction after they have paid the price for tuition. I would like for the NP requirements to be as vigorous as those for CRNA with the caveat that they be given the opportunity for part time option or paid internships . We need to do more to pre-empt the criticism from the M.D. community against independent NP's.

wyosamRN · Jun 18, 2018

I suspect that what was being referred to as regulation was mostly in terms of education, not practice. As long as the education system for NPs is as it is now, the field is in serious jeopardy of losing all credibility. There are many great providers out there, and even many great providers out there who went to horrible schools. However, as long as we (the groups that accredit NP schools) continue to have such minimal standards for entry to the profession, we are cheapening (both literally and figuratively) the profession.

Aromatic, you are either misunderstanding or being deliberately insulting:
a. No one maintains that NP's can "handle everything". Every NP organization calls for NP's to only practice within their scope and strongly encourages NP's to refer to specialists (almost always MD's) for cases beyond their training and abilities.

b. Lack of regulation are you serious? NP's are regulated by state boards of nursing just as MD's are regulated by state boards of medicine. Furthermore, they must go through licensing, and credentialing processes in every state in the union. They must also carry liability insurance, and maintain continuing education for both their RN and NP licenses in almost every state. Furthermore, they must maintain a DEA number in states with prescriptive authority. Many like my SO study PubMed, Cochrane's, UptoDate, and Harrison's like they are a Mississippi Baptist minster going to an extended revival where Jesus will be in personal attendance.

allnurses Guide · Jun 18, 2018

The current preceptor situation has me debating even trying to get my NP.

Just cross all the schools that don't secure preceptor spots off your list.

bryanleo9 · Jun 23, 2018

^ indeed, it has come to that.

Arriss · Sep 5, 2020

On 2/7/2017 at 5:27 PM, myoglobin said:

A few points to consider:

1. Medical school residencies are limited by congressional funding. Some allege that this reflects a deliberate attempt by physician groups to limit competition here is a USA today article on the subject that I read some years ago and may or may not still function USATODAY.com - Medical miscalculation creates doctor shortage . Also as a medical school resident you will be working 40 to 70 hours per week (it used to be even more) and the school/hospital will tell you when and where. Not to mention that the residency application process is quite competitive and it is not unusual for student to have to move to a different city. It is certainly not geared towards students with families who are "mid career" and who have families. Guaranteed, "clinical's" or in this case residency come at a price.

2. Here are some steps that may facilitate finding a preceptor:

a. Simply ask around work. My significant other had no problems finding a preceptor using this strategy alone. However, unlike me she wasn't a stubborn version of Rain-man, with the absolute inability to ask people he knows for anything or even engage in small talk.

b. You could utilize my "mass market" approach and sent personalized letters to every provider in a 100 mile radius. Followed up by a phone call and visit (if appropriate).

c. You could also join the AANP as a student and contact local members.

d. You could also contact your school to locate previous graduates in your area. Perhaps, they could either precept you or at least point you in the right direction.

e. You could provide prostitutes to providers in the area, secretly tape them and then blackmail them into doing your bidding. Then again that strategy is a bit redundant, trite and overused (not to mention probably expensive). Flexibility like liberty come with the price of an increased risk of failure, but it is at least more flexible.

I have been been removed from my DNP program during this pandemic because I was unable to get a preceptor and immersion site on time no assistance from my school or understanding the situation that we are facing. I’m almost finished but I’m thinking of finding another school.

myoglobin, ASN, BSN, MSN · Sep 5, 2020

I would encourage you to keep trying. Hopefully, the program considers this a "pause" rather than a "removal" that requires reapplication given the systemic challenges that everyone is likely facing in finding preceptors. I would actually start now looking for preceptors. My approach was "brute force", but ultimately successful (I literally sent a signed letter in a personalized envelope to every psychiatrist and and Psych NP in the state of Florida, had that failed I would have started "fanning out" to other states). If you need to find another school I found the University of Southern Indiana to be a good program especially for the money (about $300 per credit hour), I also know several people that felt the University of Cinncinatti to have been a good program. Good luck and many blessings.

Arriss · Sep 6, 2020

Thank you for your encouragement and the information you posted. I’m not giving up I have come too far. Yes I would have to re-applying to the program. I’m thinking of applying to another school I have lost confidence in them myself concern is I will lose mostly of the credits I have already done. This is so upsetting.

myoglobin, ASN, BSN, MSN · Sep 6, 2020

3 hours ago, Arriss said:

Thank you for your encouragement and the information you posted. I’m not giving up I have come too far. Yes I would have to re-applying to the program. I’m thinking of applying to another school I have lost confidence in them myself concern is I will lose mostly of the credits I have already done. This is so upsetting.

WOW!, their behavior (your school's) in making you reapply rather than just sitting out for a semester for failing to find a clinical site even in the context of the current national crisis rises to a level of ethical concern that were I affiliated with the school in an official capacity I would fear not only complaints with the relevant boards that accredit the program, but lawsuits, and even complaints against my personal professional license(s). No doubt this hasn't even occurred to them such is their level of myopia regarding the callous nature of their actions and the likely fact that so many students are so much in "survival" mode that the thought of hiring attorneys and filing such complaints is beyond their reach. I wonder if it might not be possible for other students facing similar situations to find a law firm that might entertain a class action lawsuit against schools that not only don't find preceptors, but who won't even allow extensions. Sometimes the credible threat of such an action can quickly change what a school or business is willing to consider.