Why is it so hard to find a preceptor?

Published

I am very frustrated! I am a FNP student for an online distance program so I have to find my own places for clinical, but finding a place has been very difficult! I am trying to prepare ahead, unfortunately that hasn't worked out for me.

I understand the time, stress, and legalities it places on the practice and NP, I just don't understand why past experiences with students should influence the decision for me. I am my own person with valued experience, I feel so discouraged.

No you're right, I'm sorry. I was just a little discouraged reading about the find your own preceptor thing and responded negatively. The Minute Clinic is probably a good place to do first clinicals and get experience in common ailments and master physicals. It's great they're offering these preceptorships as a lot of students have trouble on that aspect of their program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/surg, Tele, educator, FNP.

Minute clinics are a great way to start out your clinical experience! They give you a very common ailments and easy things to start out with. I think those are a great beginning!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well let's look at this. Many people seem to have difficulty with "comparable educational process." There's no need for NP education to be equal to MD education, which is what I'm thinking you mean. If it were there's no need for NPs…ever. Not unless our profession were totally different say, like acupuncturists.

Distance education has many benefits which you'll find if you check out the research from distance education journals.

Compare traditional medical education where you spend what little life you have memorizing copious amounts of facts, usually while mind-numb from lack of sleep. How effective/efficient a learning process is that? In comparison, for my post-masters NP program I studied at home in Bangladesh and Bangkok and had plenty of time to learn efficiently. I know because my wife has 30 plus years in educational. When I was doing clinical in Okinawa at a Navy hospital and Texas at a VA outpatient clinic (yes, my program would help with placement but I wanted to tailor my program to my desires), I had plenty of time to LEARN. With each patient I had time and could learn everything about their condition, every drug, therapies, etc..

I guess I must be taken seriously by the docs at my workplace because the other day I was the only prescriber there because all 5 were out at my location and until recently, the only prescriber for an urgent care clinic.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Walgreen's now jumping on the NP Preceptorship bandwagon..

Business wire

March 18th, 2014

Chamberlain College of Nursing and Walgreens Join to Create New Advanced Practice Clinical and Education Opportunities for Nurses

Chamberlain College of Nursing and Walgreens are working together to provide Chamberlain’s advanced practice nursing students the opportunity to gain retail-based clinical practicum experience at Healthcare Clinic at select Walgreens locations nationwide. In addition, the relationship offers Walgreens registered and advanced practice nurses a group tuition rate for Chamberlain’s post licensure degree programs to advance their education...
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Did you ever find any preceptors in Indiana? I am looking for a Pediatric NP in Indiana.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in in home care, LTC, med-surg.

DixieCup- where at in MO? I am in KC area and planning ahead (or trying to!) for preceptors. I will be starting my practicum December of this year. I would love to chat more!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am in desperate need of a NP preceptor. I am a online NP student that had a MD as my preceptor for the first 2 clinical rotations, now per my online requirement need a NP preceptor that does women's health but does not need to be specific to gyn. I live in Terre Haute/Brazil Indiana and will travel. If anyone can help me out I would deeply appreciate it. It looks like I am going to have the summer off because I did not know I had to have a NP for 50% of my clinical rotations. I currently have a 3.84 grade point average and have references.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

how many different preceptors do you need to find ? I am hoping to start an online program for NP (Gerontology) I hope I dont need to find someone in OB (worried face)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
how many different preceptors do you need to find ? I am hoping to start an online program for NP (Gerontology) I hope I dont need to find someone in OB (worried face)

Depends on how long you stay with one, but you need to figured on at least (for a quality program) 7 or 8 semesters worth.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

sorry to clarify does that mean a different preceptor for each of those 7 or 8 semesters - or 1 can handle all semesters ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
sorry to clarify does that mean a different preceptor for each of those 7 or 8 semesters - or 1 can handle all semesters ?

For most programs there are four clinical semesters with escalating clinical time. The max you'd be able to get a single preceptor to do would be 1/semester which would make 4/7-8

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion