Why is finding preceptors so hard?

[Kalibear17]

Needing some advice. I just started my psych NP Program in March. I work fulltime night shift, so I try to use my time wisely and do my assignments a week ahead. So with this being said, I called my advisor and asked about the preceptor process and how to get a head start. Well I feeling discouraged already. I have went in person with my resume and the school's addendum for the program, emailed, called different hospitals within HCA and Ascension, Vandy, including the one I work for. I have been turned down by all of them. Has anyone had any luck finding a psych preceptor in TN area? My program gives a list of affiliated sites that have been approved in the past. I have reached out to those but do to covid pandemic a lot of facilities are not taking students? Am I wasting money in school if I cannot find a preceptor? I am doing well in my first quarter and will be finished with my first quarter this week? 

 

[Lluk S]

11 minutes ago, myoglobin said:

My preceptor was a psychiatrist. If I had to find a PMHNP I would have been hard pressed. Also, although I would be willing to precept it is not easy given that I only have about 18months experience and I work from home seeing clients only via tele video which many schools will not accept.

My school allows telepsych preceptors due to COVID. However, even then, I simply can't find anybody. I will continue to write to people, but if I can't I will try a preceptor agency and just have to shell out about $2,000 per semester. Other than that just forget it and suck up my loss of about $20,000 -- hey that's life...it's cruel. I knew this would be a gamble. 

[OnlineNPscam]

Online for profit NP programs are turning the NP profession into joke. There are no admission standards & make it seem like anyone can become an NP. The ANCC needs to make some changes & tighten up the standards or there is going to be an over saturation of NPs and no one is going to respect the profession. When I became a Psych NP I felt proud of my new profession. Now I get inundated with requests from Psych NP students who go to schools that sound sketchy. And pay is going down because employers are seeing all these applications from all of these lower level schools. Something needs to be done. 

[Polly Peptide, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Vanderbilt virtually has a lock on preceptors in the middle TN area, probably up to 150 miles away from Nashville.  Many of the local PMHNPs are Vanderbilt graduates and take Vandy students.  I would not be comfortable attending an online NP school in middle TN unless I had good connections.

Even Vanderbilt will tell you it's challenging to find preceptors and that is coming from the institution.  Of course, they are looking for placements for all of their local students but...it tells you something about the state of the situation.

We have MANY nurses in graduate school competing for preceptors; newly graduated NPs aren't in a position to precept those students, so we are limited to more experienced ones or physicians who are willing; there is ever more increasing production pressure on NPs and taking on a student slows them down; many times preceptors are not remunerated for their time and effort; and then there's COVID.  Add to that the constant requests for precepting help, and it probably becomes a little bit like that call bell that never stops...you become desensitized.

[londonflo]

On 5/19/2021 at 8:43 AM, Lluk S said:

I am 61 years old and this is my last ditch at higher education. If I cannot make it I'm going to retire as soon as possible. 

I retired at 62. I had always had an antiques business until I married.  My husband thought I  was nuts to resurrect the business. Well we have limited ourselves to books. We are very disciplined to got out twice a week to restock. We make (after profits) our  grocery story bill. 

[Chikungunya]

Lluk S said:

I should have stopped when I got my BSN.  I feel so stupid having lost over $20,000 -- oh well, life is a gamble. I think I just wanted to try to see if I could do it. I am 61 years old and this is my last ditch at higher education. If I cannot make it I'm going to retire as soon as possible. 

If you are older do NOT go to a for-profit university -- you will be sorry and lose your shirt. Go to a state university where they will assign you preceptors. 

Now if you are well connected in the medical field, then go to Walden or other for-profit university.  You also have a good chance if you are young and pretty. Sorry, it's the truth.   

That is sad. I should have gone to an NP school that helps with preceptors.