Lately, I’ve been reading Don Quixote. Maybe not the most relaxing bedtime choice, but stick with me—because it’s reminded me a lot of the search for NP preceptors.
For those who haven’t dusted it off since undergrad lit class: Don Quixote is about a middle-aged guy in Spain who reads way too many chivalric novels and decides to become a knight. He puts on a homemade suit of armor, renames himself, and sets off to protect the helpless and fight evil. Noble, right? Except… he’s completely delusional. The giants he’s charging? Just windmills. His great steed? An old horse. His armor? Basically cardboard. But he believes, with his whole heart, in the quest.
He’s accompanied by Sancho Panza, his loyal squire, who’s part cheerleader, part eye-roller, and mostly just trying to keep him from accidentally hurting himself.
Now here’s where I laughed (and winced): the whole situation reminded me of NP students trying to find their own preceptors.
Sometimes, we feel like Sancho—supporting students on this overwhelming journey, watching them try clinic after clinic with the same hopeful persistence as Don Quixote swinging at windmills. We want to say, “Maybe let’s rethink this strategy,” but we also admire the heart. That fire. That belief that it’s supposed to work.
And other times? We are Don Quixote—idealistic, determined, maybe a little naïve, thinking if we just email enough clinics or fill out enough forms, we’ll get a perfect match. That if we just stay noble and positive, it’ll all come together.
But the most honest moment? Sometimes, it’s the schools that are playing Don Quixote. They recruit bright, passionate nurses into NP programs—and then say, “Just find your own preceptor! Here’s a list from five years ago. Good luck!” No plan, no structure, just vibes and hope.
That’s why we started Preceptor Tree. Because while the system might feel like a fantasy, students need real solutions. We built a national network of NP preceptors who actually take students, and we pair them with people we know we can help. Not with blind hope—but with follow-up, real conversations, and accountability.
We don’t promise magic. We don’t fight windmills. We do the work.
So if the process of finding NP preceptors has left you feeling heroic, exhausted, and a little unhinged—you’re not alone. Let us help. Whether you’re the idealist, the realist, or just trying to graduate without losing your mind, we’ve got you.
Because chasing a dream is noble.
But chasing down a preceptor shouldn’t be an act of fiction.
Onward,
Angela
Preceptor Placement & Sanity Restoration Officer
preceptortree.com
