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.
I am in Northern California. UNR (University of Nevada, Reno) finds preceptors. Also I looked into the University of CA, San Francisco (UCSF) and they find preceptors.
UCSF is $8000 a quarter, too expensive for me to afford.
Since I am not a NV resident, the cost of tuition would also be about $8000 a semester for out of state. Too bad, since I was living in NV for a while and got my BS degree at UNR. It's a good school.
My school requires me to find my own preceptor. While at first I thought it daunting, I now see it as a networking opportunity where you get your feet in the water speaking to other professionals. I have found that larger practices expect a certain amount of students and make the application process easier by placing them online. My preceptorship will be through the VA. If you speak to their education department you should find someone who will help you set it up.
I tried the VA. They were going to take me but then stopped returning my emails and phone calls.
I don't see this as a good networking opportunity. I'm in a PMHNP program and there are only about 12 psych np's within a two hour radius. They all said no.
I have never experienced so much rejection in my life. For the most part, no one wants to be bothered with a student.
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.
This is sad to read. These complaints should all be directed to our nursing accreditors who allow these diploma mills to stay open.
As my friend who just graduated from her NP program told me that when she complained about this, they told her that she knew what she was getting into upfront and should have been in the process of looking for preceptors long before she needed them. This is the main reason I won't return for my NP. Also, no brick and mortar in reasonable driving distance that would provide preceptors
My school requires me to find my own preceptor. While at first I thought it daunting, I now see it as a networking opportunity where you get your feet in the water speaking to other professionals. I have found that larger practices expect a certain amount of students and make the application process easier by placing them online. My preceptorship will be through the VA. If you speak to their education department you should find someone who will help you set it up.
You're looking at the situation from a glass half-full perspective which is nice, but also overlooks the bigger problem. The fact that NP students have to set up and facilitate their own learning already casts doubt upon the profession and if you hop onto other forums (SDN) we are mocked for it.
Imagine if med students were forced to cold call MDs to set up their clerkships. There would be an extremely large outcry from the medical community.
I understand your frustration. I just graduated and it was always a stressful thing. ..... But I did do it!!!! My suggestion is to talk to people graduating in your area.... Get some names of people they worked with. Better yet, ask them if they will put in a a good word for you. One strategy I think I got off here was to send a letter in the mail. This was very successful for me. I also went through websites and targeted nps who graduated from my program. The majority of my preceptors did and worked with students primarily from our program
One strategy I think I got off here was to send a letter in the mail. This was very successful for me. I also went through websites and targeted nps who graduated from my program.
That is brilliant advice. I will totally look into doing that.
Also, to address some other things... I did know what I was getting into. I knew I would have to find my own preceptor and wasn't happy about it but like another poster said, my other option was Emory University ($$$$$) or another school I've heard mixed things about (I'm going for Peds NP so my options are a little more narrow).
The point is, I knew it wouldn't be exactly easy, but they don't even give you accurate information to set you up for success. It's just a whole lot of facilities that they *supposedly* have contracts with (thats not always the case) and they are in a system thats difficult to navigate, you can't search by speciality, and almost all the contact information isn't updated so phone numbers and names will be just wrong.
I'm going to start reaching out to people I know that are NPs and see if they know somebody that would be willing to take me. The problem is that I'm primary care and almost all the NPs I know work in the hospital so I can't really precept with them. Bleeehhhhh, is it over yet?
The point is, I knew it wouldn't be exactly easy, but they don't even give you accurate information to set you up for success. It's just a whole lot of facilities that they *supposedly* have contracts with (thats not always the case) and they are in a system thats difficult to navigate, you can't search by speciality, and almost all the contact information isn't updated so phone numbers and names will be just wrong.
Good luck! Just wanted to add that one of the hospital systems in my area has their own NP program (employed as a nurse>5 years, some other qualifiers, but they pay the whole kit and caboodle, must work with the hospital 6 years after completion/credentialing at their desired rate of pay or 100% pay back + interest), and many jumped on the bandwagon. They flooded a small area with many NPs and these NPs making less than a new bedside nurse regular hourly, but they work them crazy hours, 50-60/wk. But they are not allowed to precept anyone that is not in the hospital program. This is something that many of the independent students (those who said no way to that program) have run into, as this system supplies NPs to multiple counties and other hospitals in the area. Basically, they locked everyone out who didn't choose to be party to this. Don't know if this happens in other areas, but definitely think it stinks for those who need preceptors in my area
Getting locked out of facilities is happening in my area. UCSF (who provides preceptors) has contracts with several facilities in the Bay Area, all the way up to Sacramento where I am located. These facilities will only take UCSF students. So my experience is that most facilities within the two hour radius will only take you if you go the that school.
I went to a brick and morter school that set up our clinicals. It was not always the best, let me tell you. We didn't do ob/gyn (As a FNP) because they didn't have enough preceptors. My own pediatrician who had agreed to precept me backed out saying he was just too busy to take on a student. Unfortunately, when our programs rely on individual providers to provide this service without recompense, it can be a problem.
That being said, check ENP network. I know the professional associations in my area provide a list of preceptors.
PeacockMaiden
159 Posts
I am in Northern California. UNR (University of Nevada, Reno) finds preceptors. Also I looked into the University of CA, San Francisco (UCSF) and they find preceptors.
UCSF is $8000 a quarter, too expensive for me to afford.
Since I am not a NV resident, the cost of tuition would also be about $8000 a semester for out of state. Too bad, since I was living in NV for a while and got my BS degree at UNR. It's a good school.