Why do you/ would you like precepting?

[Junebug0710]

I am curious to hear from current NP's what would or does interest them about being a preceptor. Would love to hear specifics (for example, if it is extra pay...how much?).

For example, on the floor I work on (as an RN in a hospital), we get paid an extra $2.00/hr for 8 hours. After taxes it covers a cookie and a latte (: So, no one really does it for the money. However, the benefit is that you sometimes have a lighter patient load and it is a good break from pure patient care, on top of the desire some nurses have to teach.

There is a lot of talk on these forums about the lack of NP preceptors, so I am wondering what would make it worth it for you to want to precept. Thanks!

[BostonFNP, APRN]

For me, there is no additional pay (though schools schools do pay a modest amount, though there is a reason they are willing to pay I suspect), but I do consider it a part of my job. I was very fortunate to have wonderful preceptors when I was a student and I feel it is my duty to pay that forward to the best of my ability.

I helps keep my practice moving forward, and I do learn a little from each student along the way.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

I started precepting after 2 years of NP experience. At that point, I felt I was competent enough to teach in my role as a critical care NP. I also felt that our ICU setting was a good training ground for ACNP students. I approached the director of a well-known ACNP program in my state who was impressed with our setting and promptly assigned me a student. At the same time, I was asked by the school I graduated from if I was willing to precept. I actually felt bad turning them down because I had already committed to a student from another program and can't handle 2 students at a time.

After having precepted the first student, I kept getting asked by the program directors if I would like to continue having students as the next semesters rolled in. I ended up giving preference to students from the program I graduated from as a way to give back to an educational institution that helped me get to where I am at the time.

When I moved to another state, I ended up working for a university medical center with an affiliated ACNP program. We get students all the time as part of being employed in this type of setting. At this point, it's not our choice but part of the requirements of being in an academic setting.

I've never been compensated by the school for precepting - past or present. The students are quite grateful for our efforts and give us a small token of appreciation each time after the rotation is done. They don't have to do that in my opinion although I did the same thing as a student. I've used the hours of precepting for ANCC certification renewal and I've renewed my ACNP certification twice. However, I always have a lot of CEU's at the end of the 5-year period so I really don't need to precept to renew my certification.

Because we're part of a provider team, I tell students that they shouldn't only learn from me but from everyone on the team from the intensivist, the other NP's, the residents, the pharmacist, and the dietitian. I let them seek out what they want to get out of the clinical rotation as long as they are within the goals established by the program.

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

I had mostly wonderful preceptor relationships, and two that were not so wonderful. The ones who were great inspire me to be more like them and to give over what I learned to students. The ones who were not so great made me think a lot about what makes for a successful learning experience and what we can do as preceptors to guide our students, set clear goals and communicate well. I liked the preceptors who just threw me into the ring (although they were prepared to catch me at any moment) rather than the ones who hovered, or made me play observer all the time, or otherwise gave the vibe that they didn't trust me or my skills. I didn't trust myself much as a student either so why would I need a preceptor who just reinforced my own lack of confidence.