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NP EDUCATION NEWS
Precepting a Student
by Diana Heffner
We are lucky to have a variety of nurse practitioner programs
in the state of Maryland. All of them are in need of preceptors
to serve as mentors and role models. Having a nurse
practitioner as a preceptor is crucial to learning the
role. Nurse practitioners definitely practice differently from
medical doctors.
Finding good nurse practitioner preceptors has been a challenge
for local nurse practitioner programs. Poor reimbursement
has increased pressure on practitioners to see larger volumes
of patients. Many are reluctant to host a student for fear
it will slow them down.
Preceptorship has many rewards for the nurse practitioner.
Preceptorship makes practitioners think about their
clinical practice and the reason behind the plan of care. Students
check resources to develop a plan of care which they
share with the practitioner. They bring in a different perspective.
Students share new developments that they learn in the
classroom. Their enthusiasm reinforces the rewards of being
a nurse practitioner. Working with a novice reveals how
much the practitioner has learned since graduation which provides
a well earned ego boost.
Patients also benefit. They enjoy the attention given to them
by the student . They like feeling that they have contributed
to the student.s education. Students can spend time doing
patient education that the practitioner may not have the time
to do.
In addition, precepting can help practitioners with renewing
their certification. For ANCC, the practitioner can count 120
hours of precepting as one of the two professional development
categories needed for recertification.
If you are able to precept a student, call one of the local nurse
practitioner programs. All the local programs along with their
contact information can be found on the web site.
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