Universities with prearranged NP Practicums

[Slhengy]

Does anyone here have a list of Universities that pre-arrange practicums for NP students? I am so sick and tired of trying to find my own while trying to go to school and work. This is absolutely absurd! I am single (without children) and I am willing to relocate to another state if necessary.

Also what are the chances that I could transfer to another school this late in the game? I have two classes left before practicums begin.

Thanks for any responses.

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

I met a nurse on one of my clinicals who goes to Georgetown University's distance option. She told me they prearranged all of her clinical rotations. So that's at least a place to start. Only down-side is they do their rotations through school. So she may have been seeing clinical things she hadn't covered in class yet. But overall she seemed to like the experience.

[Slhengy]

Did she live in Washington or another location? Just wondering if I need to move there.

[babyNP., APRN]

Most brick and mortar schools will arrange clinical for you. If you are looking at an online school, best to contact them personally.

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

Did she live in Washington or another location? Just wondering if I need to move there.

She lived here in Michigan. They have requirements to attend certain classes in person. But still mostly online.

[Slhengy]

babyNP.....That's not true here in Colorado. Our brick and mortar schools still make you get your own practicums. I am attending one.

[Oldmahubbard]

Yep, I graduated from a brick and mortar a few years back, and we had to arrange our own preceptors.

Big pain.

I thought it was part of the "character building" process of becoming an NP.

[yogagal]

I think it's ridiculous. I get emails all the time through our local NP org from students begging for a preceptor; what a terrible burden on top of keeping up with school and I know many people are working as well! Columbia arranged ours. I also recently got an email from an administrator at USC (University of Southern California) asking me to precept so it seems they are arranging placements for their students.

[Oldmahubbard]

I think many people are stressed out, trying to meet their productivity quotas, and pay off their owns loans. They are potentially not in a position to give back.

For my own experience, at the forensic psychiatric hospital, I was very willing to have students, but when I requested it, I was denied.

Because I was an uppity NP who dared repeatedly to question a bunch of foreign "psychiatrists" to use the word very loosely, who couldn't diagnose their way out of a brown paper bag. And they didn't speak English well enough to evaluate people, nor did they give 2 poops about any of their patients.

Gosh, I love foreign MD's. They truly, as a group, have added so much to our country. I digress.

The problem is that many NP's might like to precept, but are not free to do so. They are employees.

The biggest issue : we are basically asking preceptors to work for free.

Nobody in medical education works for free. Why should we in nursing?

[babyNP., APRN]

babyNP.....That's not true here in Colorado. Our brick and mortar schools still make you get your own practicums. I am attending one.

I said "most" not "all" :) Sorry to hear that Colorado sucks like that. I'm actually a bit surprised TBH

[fizzlepop, BSN, MSN, NP]

I just graduated from the University of Colorado's NP program in Denver, and they set up all my preceptors and clinical rotations. I highly recommend the program.

[Jules A, MSN]

Be aware of the quality if they are setting up your preceptors. I set up my own with MD colleagues because although my school offered this option they were all NPs and most recent grads from their program. Thanks but no thanks. Keep in mind that you will mimic your preceptor so if they are weak, sorry to burst anyone's bubble but there are many weak clinicians of all disciplines, you will be weak. Know the abilities and reputation of your mentors.