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.
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.
I totally agree with this. Brick and mortar schools usually (not always) have arrangements for preceptors. That is why I chose a B&M school, even though I did find my own preceptors.
That being said, PAs are also refusing to take NP students as well. My friend who is a PA said that PA schools as a whole have taken the stand that they will not allow any on-line PA schools to develop. They want to protect the profession from a glut of on-line PAs and provide adequate support for the schools that are already in place. I think there is wisdom in their position.
I agree the the PA school stance. I wish I went to a brick and mortar school. There is one that is a two hour drive one way, but I would have done it if I had known what a nightmare this would be. However the post masters program is $32,000 per year. Too expensive for me, or I would have switched.
I totally agree with this. Brick and mortar schools usually (not always) have arrangements for preceptors. That is why I chose a B&M school, even though I did find my own preceptors.
That being said, PAs are also refusing to take NP students as well. My friend who is a PA said that PA schools as a whole have taken the stand that they will not allow any on-line PA schools to develop. They want to protect the profession from a glut of on-line PAs and provide adequate support for the schools that are already in place. I think there is wisdom in their position.
Is it possible that they also see NP's as a threat to their current situation and want to make sure they are not helping the competition? Just a thought.
NeldaFNP
53 Posts
I totally agree with this. Brick and mortar schools usually (not always) have arrangements for preceptors. That is why I chose a B&M school, even though I did find my own preceptors.
That being said, PAs are also refusing to take NP students as well. My friend who is a PA said that PA schools as a whole have taken the stand that they will not allow any on-line PA schools to develop. They want to protect the profession from a glut of on-line PAs and provide adequate support for the schools that are already in place. I think there is wisdom in their position.