Why is finding a preceptor so blahblah difficult!

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Specializes in ER, Pediatric Transplant, PICU.

I just finished my first semester of NP school at UAB for peds primary care. I, along with most everybody else in my cohort, have already been working on securing a preceptor for the fall semester and I really think nobody has gotten anywhere unless they have some sort of connection.

Anyways, I know this is out there in the world of Allnurses, but I just need to vent more about it. I am already SO stressed about finding a preceptor and feel like the school is pretty much like,"Go find one! You better find one! You'll be so screwed if you dont find one!" but otherwise, dont really provide any more assistance than that. They have a list of facilities that "have contracts", but most of the contact info is so out dated or flat out inaccurate. Plus, good luck just getting a callback from anybody.

Anyways, I dont know what other advice anybody can give other than to work connections and keep calling, but I really just wanted to vent because this *really* isn't what I want to worry about over break.

okay, end rant.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I'm sorry that you're having a bad experience. I'll be starting FNP school in January and I won't be starting clinicals for at least another year but I'm already dreading this.

And besides, how do you go about finding preceptors? Do you just call the hospitals and ask?

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

If I go to NP school it will be through one that finds your preceptors for you! I know it will limit my options but will save me some stress and also I hopefully won't be halfway through a program on a leave of abscence looking for another school because all of the promising preceptors have turned down everyone asking from my school because "the students don't come to clinical prepared enough, etc". This is what is currently happening to a few of my co-workers in NP school right now that attended a supposedly good program!

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One of the reasons (not the main one) I switched NP programs was because of the exact same thing. Now my school find preceptors for me, however I have the option of using my own. It's pretty awesome.

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I'm a current UAB MSN student, and I can empathize. You are totally on your own when it comes to finding a preceptor. I have 2 semesters until I graduate and I still don't have a practicum site. THe school has blamed it on me repeatedly when the process to secure a contract fails. I was also delayed an entire YEAR because of a clerical error with my preceptor planning form that was NOT my fault. My advice is start now, call everyone you know and ask everyone you know if they know anyone, look within your hospital system, if you have kids reach out to your pediatrician, and pray! Best of luck to you, and just know that you are not alone!!

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

I know this is not a helpful comment, but it is just unconscionable to me that so many NP schools do this to their students. Clinical education is the foundation of a good NP education, there is just NO excuse (besides money) to not ensure that your students are receiving the best possible clinical education. Can you imagine going to medical school and being required to secure your own clerkships/rotations?! I, like previous posters, chose my school (CNM in my case) partly based on the fact that they arrange all clinical rotations for you.

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The reason many schools do not find preceptors is because they don't want to limit their enrollment thus reducing their profits. It's easy to accept all online MSN applicants then make THEM find preceptors. That way they have almost 0 cost since most online programs utilize online programs such as blackboard, which essentially allows them to just cash checks all day with no repercussions. If they actually had to find preceptors for students they would need to limit enrollment and thus make admissions requirements harder which in turn would upset NP prospective students who feel entitled to be a provider and hurt the school's bottom line.

It's pretty sad really. No other health profession does this.

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Can people add schools that they know find preceptors for students, or provide real assistance.

UNR is semi online requires 1 visit per month, finds preceptor sites. Has PMNHP and Gero.

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Can people add schools that they know find preceptors for students, or provide real assistance.

UNR is semi online requires 1 visit per month, finds preceptor sites. Has PMNHP and Gero.

Problem is people want convenience. Fully online with little to no campus visits. Most programs that offer preceptors are either brick and mortar or are going to have quite a few campus visits because they actually invest in their students.

Prospective NP students are going to need to realize they need to choose what educational experience they want.

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What school?

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

Schools that make you find your own preceptors shouldn't be allowed. You're paying this education. It's not free. They're stealing from you and diluting the quality of their graduates. We don't get to be called professionals until we REQUIRE more from our education.

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Specializes in psychiatric nursing.

Finding my own preceptors has been the worse, demoralizing experience ever. I looked into schools that find preceptors for you, but the tuition was 3-4 times more than what I am paying. If I didn't already have so much student loan debt, I'd switch into one of those programs.

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