Precepting nurse practitioner students: One medical center's efforts to improve the precepting process

PurposeTo describe the challenges shared by schools of nursing and precepting institutions in meeting the clinical rotation requirements for nurse practitioner (NP) students. A formal process was developed to screen students and provide appropriate clinical placement with ongoing evaluations. Detailed description of a preceptor class for NPs is offered. Data sourcesSingle institution NP survey, preceptor class participant survey, author experience, and PubMed, CINAHL. ConclusionsThe barriers to precepting are well known, particularly from the viewpoint of schools of nursing. This article describes the barriers from a precepting institution's standpoint. Standardizing processes and expectations for NP students and preceptors improves the overall efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of the clinical experiences. Implications for practiceHighlights of an NP preceptor class and efforts to streamline precepting arrangements are described. Lessons learned, including the need to minimize paperwork burden on students during the preclinical period and the continued need for improvement of evaluation tools, are discussed. Recommendations for ways to blend specialty rotations with primary care rotations are made.