Become a preceptor

Eligible preceptors include Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives and Physician Assistants who hold an active North Carolina license and have been licensed for at least one year prior to the start of the semester in which they will precept. Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) may also serve as preceptors for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, provided they meet the same licensing and experience requirements.

1. As a preceptor, you will have the opportunity to:
   1. • Improve your clinical, communication and teaching skills
      • Reflect on and evaluate your own practice
      • Stay current and revitalized as a health care professional
      • Shape the next generation of advanced practice providers in NC
      • Serve as a role model for your teaching ability and professionalism
      • Improve your ability to be considered for promotion or advancement in your workplace
      • Experience the personal satisfaction of giving back to your community
2. Access to the AHEC Digital Library and the electronic resources at the UNC-Chapel Hill Health Sciences Library
3. Financial compensation
4. Invitations to events designed specifically to connect and recognize you for your commitment to UNC-CH School of Nursing
5. Verification of preceptor hours for credentialing and/or licensure; for NP Preceptors: 30 precepting hours may be applied to the biennial 50 hours of CE required by the NCBON
6. Invitation to apply for membership to the Alpha Alpha Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society as a Nurse Leader.

7. The possibility of an adjunct faculty appointment with sustained involvement in our educational mission.

Yes! Our Preceptors Monthly newsletter will provide you with upcoming resources, tips/tricks from other preceptors, a Q&A forum, and more! Additionally, preceptors are invited to view and participate in the following self-paced learning modules:

• • AHEC sponsors interprofessional clinical precepting (CP) modules that include the efforts of the regional AHECs and UNC-Chapel Hill faculty (register; free):
    • CP 101: The Role of the Clinical Preceptor, Host Clinical Site, and Legal Considerations
    • CP 102: Planning for and Providing Clinical Learning Experiences
    • CP 103: Communication, Learner Self-Assessment and Preceptor Feedback
    • CP 104: Managing Difficult Situations in the Clinical Learning Environment
  • Preceptor Tool Kit (AANP)
  • GAPNA (geriatric NP focus)
  • Johns Hopkins

Additional Precepting Resources
Here are some excellent resources to help you make the most of the precepting experience:

• Mastering the Preceptor Role: Challenges of Clinical Teaching– How to be an effective teacher while maintaining a busy clinical practice.
• Teaching Strategies Used by Expert Nurse Practitioner Preceptors: A Qualitative Study
• The One-Minute Preceptor: Shaping the Teaching Conversation – Well known teaching model that is brief, easy to learn and effective for the preceptor and student.
• Cultural Competency Continuing Education Program – To help health care providers improve the quality of healthcare services to diverse patient populations, the Office of Minority Health offers free online classes with CE credits for NPs, Physicians and PAs.

The Graduate Clinical Placement Coordinator will facilitate contacts with sites/preceptors to request clinical placement. After a clinician has agreed to precept, the Clinical Support Division at the School of Nursing will work with the clinic, arranging all of the administrative details, including contracts and Health and Safety requirements.

Preceptors provide our students with the opportunity to obtain real-life, hands-on experience while providing guidance and clinical expertise. We also expect preceptors to let us know when they have any questions or concerns.

Hour requirements range from 60-240 hours per semester, depending on the course. The time commitment will be communicated to a potential preceptor prior to assigning a student to them. Students are typically at their clinical site for 1-2 days per week for the duration of the semester. Preceptors should identify their preferred day(s) of the week that they are available. Students are encouraged to be flexible in their scheduling.

Prior to the student’s start date, the course coordinator will communicate specific expectations for the course via email. Generally, before beginning their first clinical placement, students will have received classroom and lab instruction in advanced assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and the prevention and management of common health conditions. To effectively develop these skills in the clinical setting, students should begin working with patients independently as early as possible. Before assigning patients, assess the student’s clinical competence to ensure it aligns with the demands of your practice. Students are required to review all findings, diagnoses, and treatment plans with you before the patient leaves your office or facility.

For each clinical course, a student is assigned to a clinical faculty member. The faculty member will conduct at least one site visit, virtually. The goals of this site “visit” are to ensure the student is meeting competencies. The assigned faculty member is also available as a resource to the preceptor, should you need anything!

In addition to the site visit, preceptors will also provide a formal assessment at mid-point and end point of the semester. Final assessment includes written evaluation on a document provided by the School of Nursing.

You should contact Reagan Dovel, Graduate Clinical Placement Coordinator, with any questions or concerns regarding clinical rotations or precepting. Reagan can be reached via email at radovel@unc.edu