The preceptor may request to interview prospective students to review objectives, student’s previous clinical experience, responsibilities and expectations for the student and preceptor; and to negotiate a schedule to complete planned clinical hours.
- The student should arrange clinical hours to fit the preceptor's schedule and cannot expect the preceptor to conform to the student's personal, work, and school schedule.
- Students are advised to meet with the preceptor to review clinical course requirements and objectives and to determine the patient population, experiences appropriate for the course, and level of student participation.
- The student is to provide the preceptor with the course syllabus including its description and objectives. The preceptor should discuss their mentoring teaching style with the student.
- The student should discuss their level of proficiency, strengths, and areas for growth and establish a schedule to complete the planned clinical hours that accommodates the preceptor’s commitments.
- The student and preceptor should share contact information and procedures for communication.
Orienting the Student to the Clinical Site
The preceptor is required to provide the student with a general orientation to the clinical site, including identifying an area for the student’s personal belongings, introducing the student to staff who will interact with the student, providing an idea of the general flow of patient visits, and explaining patient record and expected documentation. Note that additional and separate training may be needed for the student to access the clinical site EMR.
The preceptor should allow the student at least one day to "shadow" so that the student can see them in action and learn the routines and pace of the clinical site.
Concluding the Preceptor-Student Relationship
The preceptor should be aware of the student’s final clinical date and provide time for the student to "debrief" regarding the entire experience, sharing what went well, what could have enhanced the experience, and major takeaway points of the experience. The preceptor should provide the student with a clear and honest appraisal of the student's performance and growth, as well as suggestions for continued development. The preceptor may also identify potential colleagues or clinical sites that might help meet the student’s needs for a future course. The student may request the preceptor provide a reference for future clinical sites or employment in the advanced practice role.
The preceptor should review their clinical evaluations with the student. They should also share summative findings of the experience with the clinical faculty member. Please also let the clinical faculty member know your availability if you're interested in serving as a preceptor again in the future!
