Finding your own preceptors for clinical experience is one of the most stressful things about nurse practitioner school. I recently chatted with another student about whether she liked her program and she said she might not pick the same school if she had to do it again. The main reason she cited was “lack of support” in finding preceptors. I have also questioned my choice in schools for this reason. I chose a school that was totally online but makes you find your own preceptors for clinical versus a school that places you into clinicals but only offers a hybrid DNP option that would take 5 years to complete.
Of course, now I am so excited to be entering my last semester and I feel relieved that all my last clinical sessions are set. I don’t think I could have written this blog before with the stress of not knowing if I would ever find another preceptor looming over my head. So now I can share with you the wisdom I gained from finding my own preceptors. Then you can decide which option is best for you.
Asking people for favors is not my favorite thing to do. Or even worse, feeling like you are begging people you just met to help you out. But when you want something bad enough you might have to swallow some pride and just do it. The payoff is that you get to complete your program and start a wonderful career. And you might meet some very interesting and caring people along the way.
Finding your own preceptors can be very frustrating. I tried the method of dressing in my best interview attire and taking my polished resume around to all the clinics and physician’s offices in my area. Most of the time I didn’t even get to speak to a nurse practitioner or physician. Sometimes the person working in the front didn’t even seem to know what a “Nurse Practitioner” meant and wasn’t sure if they had one. Often I was either told flat out that they don’t take students or given the name of someone in HR. That person would put me on a “waiting list” but also didn’t give me much hope. I never heard back in any of these cases.
Then how did I do it? I could tell you that I have some kind of magical secret to finding preceptors but the truth is the old tried and true method of networking really works.
Who’s in your network?
I found all five of my preceptors through various networking resources: a former co-worker, a family member’s former co-worker, a family member’s own physician, and two from joining a nurse practitioner professional organization and networking with members. Tell everyone that you are looking for preceptors and exactly what you need. My school has very specific requirements about preceptors so make sure you know yours.
Be persistent
One of my preceptors was a former co-worker in my nursing unit. But it took over a year of emailing with her before she was able to take on a student. Because we had a personal relationship and she showed a personal interest in my progress I knew she was a good contact. I just had to keep in touch with her until she had enough experience and was in the right job. There were various other reasons I encountered that people couldn’t take a student: they already have a student, they have health issues, their practice was shut down, restrictions due to COVID-19, I’m moving to Alaska (Yeah, really!). The point is that sometimes a person’s circumstances change so maintain these relationships and try again at a later time.
Create New Opportunities to Network
Unless all your friends and family are in healthcare, you can exhaust your personal network pretty quickly. And my school doesn’t allow students to do clinical work on the unit we currently work. How frustrating is that?! So I started looking into joining a nurse practitioner professional organization in my state. I started making plans to go to a conference but I also found that they had a membership list just to help people find preceptors. I found two of my preceptors this way but it took a while and a lot of emails. I kept a running spreadsheet of everyone I contacted and their response, noting people I could follow up with (for example, after their maternity leave). One of the people I contacted emailed me right back but only because she had been in the same predicament and wanted to help me. She had just graduated and she gave me several names of people she had precepted with, and one of them worked out for me. The other was a nurse practitioner that has her own practice but for whatever reason it was several months after I emailed her that she responded.
In summary, networking works. It is a necessary skill when looking for preceptors and will also come in handy when you start job hunting. It takes tenacity, a little organization, and good people skills; all things which will make you a better nurse practitioner. I feel I have found some really great preceptors this way. And perhaps because they knew me or someone close to me, or maybe just because they volunteered to help someone in need, they all have been very kind to me and good teachers. Maybe these are some reasons why it is better to find your own preceptors, although it is definitely not the easy way.
Categories: Healthcare, Nursing, Careers
6 replies ›
Trackbacks
- How I landed my first job as a Nurse Practitioner
- How I passed the FNP certification exam
- What I Learned at a Nursing Conference and Why Students Should Go
- Using Keywords for Nursing Resumes
- Choosing between PA and APRN: What’s the difference?
- Health Content Blogs: Who Should Have One and What Can It Do for Your Business – Freelance Health Writer | Nurse Practitioner
Free Nursing Career Information: Expert Tips for Success 