-NP PRECEPTORS are elusive and mysterious. The holy grail of the NP experience. The pandemic made finding one almost impossible. Almost. There are still ways.
Before the pandemic ravaged the world, finding a preceptor was as difficult as changing the mind of your crazy uncle at Thanksgiving dinner. It wasn’t easy. But you could have a shot it if you put the work in. Once the pandemic hit, however, finding a preceptor became mission impossible. A wave of rotations were cancelled in March 2020 and a class of NP students were left scrambling to find a clinical home. NP students faced a dilemma of putting off school or giving up completely. Many NP students were registered nurses and forced to work in high-risk situations at clinics and hospitals while the rest of the world stayed at home. Nobody understood what they were going through. The world made celebratory banners and called these nurses Healthcare Heroes but when asked for a raise or a bonus, most places said “Oh you are lucky you have a job.” The only thing increasing in their lives were anxiety levels – anxiety about catching the virus (the early days there was little PPE protection), and now the anxiety of losing rotations. A year and change later the situation has improved, but not by much. Some NP students gave up finding np preceptors, but others worked with agencies like ours or found their own through hundreds of phone calls. It’s still incredibly difficult to find a preceptor. But it’s do-able. Here are a few tips:
NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP HOPE.
It’s cheesy but true. So many students come to us ready to quit. It’s understandable. It feels hopeless. But in most cases a student finds a preceptor. Sometimes they find a preceptor with us, or another agency. Sometimes a co-worker. Or on their own. Stay in the game. Have a growth mindset. “How can I find a preceptor” instead of “I’ll never find a preceptor”
LINKEDIN, AND THE ART OF THE ASK
If you aren’t on LinkedIn it’s time to join. Look up different nurse practitioners in your area, request to follow them, or send them a private message. Ask them for advice. Plant a seed. Don’t ask them to precept. Ask them for advice on clinical. Establish a relationship. So many times people first contact someone they make the mistake of asking for something big too early. Don’t make that mistake.
FACEBOOK MAY OR MAY NOT BE EVIL, BUT FOR NP STUDENTS, FACEBOOK GROUPS ARE A GOD-SEND.
How many nurse practitioner groups are there on Facebook? Last we counted there are about a million. Join some of them. Comment and be an active member in a few of them. Like the Linkedin tip, don’t just go for the ask – be a part of the solution. Help other students, be a part of their story. But when you need to – ask if anyone has advice. Ask if anyone can precept you.
