Precepting at VUSN

Preceptor Resources

Section Contents

Welcome

Thank you for being a preceptor or considering becoming a preceptor to one of Vanderbilt’s graduate level nurses. You probably remember an effective preceptor who guided you well. Being a Vanderbilt preceptor gives you the opportunity to impact future advanced practice nurses and make a difference in their lives and those of their patients.

Vanderbilt students come from around the country to be part of our Master of Nursing Prespecialty program, and students with BSN degrees can select from one of 14 nurse practitioner, nurse-midwifery and nursing informatics and leadership specialties.

With a history spanning over 100 years, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing has developed a solid reputation for excellence in nursing teaching, practice and research. The school is currently ranked as the #4 graduate school of nursing for its MSN and #15 for its DNP programs. Read more about Vanderbilt School of Nursing’s accreditations.

Preceptors are critical to our mission. You can help translate classroom knowledge and acquired nursing skills into advanced clinical practice. You’ll be training the next generation of advanced practice RNs to make a difference in communities nationwide.

Learn more about:

Helpful Resources

I precept to keep the NNP quality of care strong and ensure that NICU babies everywhere benefit from high quality and compassionate care. Collaborating with future colleagues during their clinical time is one of my greatest joys as a NNP.

Kolleen Amon Kolleen Amon
NNP Preceptor of the Year 2021

Specialties

  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Emergency
  • Family
  • Nursing and Health Care Leadership
  • Nursing Informatics
  • Neonatal
  • Nurse-Midwifery
  • Nurse-Midwifery/Family
  • Pediatric Acute Care
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Psychiatric-Mental Health (Lifespan)
  • Women's Health
  • Women's Health/Adult-Gerontology Primary Care

Benefits of Precepting

There are many reasons to precept. It’s an opportunity to teach and mentor your future colleagues, and it’s a way to give back to your profession. Often preceptors find that their own knowledge, skills and attitudes are enhanced through the precepting process. Precepting is also a way to enhance your practice and professional growth, and it can be a strong addition to your Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Specific benefits for precepting for Vanderbilt University School of Nursing include:

  • Access to free continuing education hours
  • Professional relationships with faculty
  • Access to online clinical materials
  • Ability to apply for adjoint faculty status and receive a host of courtesy benefits
  • Adjoint Faculty Status

    Thanks for your interest in VUSN adjoint status! To be considered for that status, you must be nominated by a current member of the VUSN faculty who you may know through precepting or other contact with the school. Once the faculty member accepts your request to nominate and Faculty Affairs receives notice of the nomination, we’ll reach out to you with how to proceed from there. VUSN adjoints must contribute at least 40 hours effort in the form of precepting or guest lectures, etc. and serve in a volunteer capacity.

  • Courtesy Benefits of Adjoint Faculty Appointments

    Vanderbilt University Email & Electronic Library Access

    As an adjoint faculty member of the Vanderbilt School of Nursing, you are eligible for a VUnetID. Obtaining a VUnetID enables you to have a Vanderbilt email account and to gain access to almost all Vanderbilt libraries’ online resources through VUNet, Vanderbilt’s network that includes health collections, journals and eResources as well as works of fiction and non-fiction from the Central Library’s collection.

    • Vmail is the University’s email service: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/email/
    • The Annette & Irwin Eskind Biomedical Library (EBL) is part of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Informatics Center, serving as the hub of the Medical Center’s information services and resources. With a staff of over 40, the EBL provides access to materials to support the patient care, health care education and biomedical research missions of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

    Process for Obtaining a VUnetID

    Please contact Alison Smith via email at Alison.m.smith@vanderbilt.edu to request your VUnetID. Once your request has been made, Alison will contact the IT department and they will send you an invitation email from NoReply@Vanderbilt.edu to complete the process. Click on the link in the email, fill out the form, and follow the instructions to activate your VUnet ID. Once activated, you may go to the VU web mail to get your email. For ongoing security purposes, please note that you must change your password once a year to maintain your account. Failure to do so will result in account termination.

    Vanderbilt University Identification Badge

    You must have a Vanderbilt University ID badge to physically visit an on-campus Vanderbilt University library. You can access trade/research journals, special collections and/or check out books at Eskind Biomedical, Heard Central, Divinity, Peabody and Science & Engineering, as well as other VU libraries. You must swipe your ID badge upon entering any of the library buildings to gain access. For more information, click here.

  • Education and Other Benefits at Vanderbilt School of Nursing

    VUSN Courses

    You accrue one half (1/2) credit hour of tuition for Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN) courses for every semester that you actively serve as a preceptor (up to a maximum of 3 credit hours). You may accumulate this benefit for up to five (5) years.

    VUSN Course Audit

    Audit of VUSN courses without cost is allowed with permission from the course faculty and on a space available basis. A course schedule can be requested from the University Registrar’s office by calling 615-322-3802. Since there is no record kept of your attendance and performance in the course, CEUs cannot be granted for courses audited.

    Use of Meeting Space

    For preceptors who live in or near Nashville, you can access Vanderbilt School of Nursing facilities. We will waive rental fees in Godchaux Hall, Frist Hall, the Nursing Annex and the School of Nursing Building. If you wish to schedule a meeting or workshop in one of these buildings, please call 615-322-4400. Be sure to identify yourself as adjoint faculty actively involved in School of Nursing activities during the current semester. Fees for security, media assistance and clean-up will be assessed for events scheduled after regular business hours.

    Books and Merchandise

    The campus bookstore (previously Barnes and Noble at Vanderbilt) is now Vanderbilt Bookstore, 2501 West End Avenue (across from Centennial Park), phone 615-343-2665. Receive 10% off all merchandise by presenting your Vanderbilt ID badge.

    Discount Programs

    Human Resource Services coordinates the Faculty/Staff Discount Program. Unless noted, the discount can be obtained by presenting your Vanderbilt ID badge at the time of purchase. For a list of participating businesses, click here. You must have a VUnetID and ePassword to access this site. You can direct questions about this program to the Human Resource Services: Employee Service Center at 615-343-7000.

I precept because I love to teach and I want to make a difference in medicine. We need good providers, and I would like to think I can contribute to that.

Katherine W. Jones
ENP Preceptor of the Year 2021

About Precepting

  • What Is a Preceptor?

    A preceptor is a health care professional who collaborates with faculty by facilitating and providing supervision for a student learning experience in a practice or systems setting.  A preceptor serves as a mentor and teacher while assisting the student to develop new competencies required for safe, ethical and quality advanced nursing practice or for a health care systems role. Preceptors support the student by setting expectations, providing appropriate learning opportunities, and providing effective feedback needed to achieve competence in the advanced nursing practice, nursing leader or nursing informatics roles.

    The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) provide definitions of preceptors and their contribution to nursing education:

  • Why Should I Precept a Student?

    Precepting is a challenging and rewarding experience. Working with nursing students is a way to give back and help shape the next generation of nursing professionals in your area of practice. You will play a vital role in educating your future colleagues by preparing them for practice through real-world experiences. Teaching is not just a learning opportunity for students; it's also a challenge that inspires you to grow and develop as a provider and as a leader. Read more about the tangible and intangible benefits of precepting.

  • Will I Be Paid for Being a Preceptor?

    VUSN preceptors are not directly reimbursed. However, there are many tangible benefits that come along with being part of the VUSN preceptor community, including:

    • You may fulfill requirements for recertification in your specialty. Many certifying bodies recognize preceptorship as evidence of continuing professional development. Please refer to your certifying body for specific information related to recertification requirements. VUSN will provide necessary documentation for your recertification application.
    • You will gain professional development as an educator and advanced nursing leader. This can be listed on your resume or curriculum vitae.
    • Preceptors are welcome to apply for adjoint faculty appointments at VUSN. These appointments carry VU-related benefits. Click here to learn more.
    • You will grow in your own knowledge, skills and professional practice.
  • What Are the Requirements for Being a Preceptor?

    Requirements to be a preceptor differ by nursing specialty, and may include the following:

    • Have an active, unencumbered health care provider license.
    • Be prepared at the educational level of the student’s degree program or higher.
    • Have at least one year of practice experience as a licensed health care provider.
    • Actively practice with a population or focus consistent with the student’s program of study.
    • Ensure that the practice environment provides student experiences sufficient for immersion in the role and achievement of practice competencies.
    • Other requirements as determined by provider role and specialty focus (please see Expectations and Requirements).
  • What Is the Process for Becoming a Preceptor for a VUSN Clinical Program?

    If your practice site is located within 150 miles of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, your location is within the “Middle Tennessee Area” or an “MTA” site. In this case, you will be contacted directly by our Clinical Placement Office (CPO). Our CPO will request a placement for our students and will work with you and/or your Practice Manager to complete an affiliation agreement to set up the clinical learning experience. After the agreement is finalized and executed, and after the student has met all school and clinical site compliance requirements, the student may begin to work with you.

    If your practice site is located outside of a 150-mile radius of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, your location is “outside of the Middle Tennessee Area” or an “OMTA” site. In this case, our student will contact you directly to request a preceptorship with you. Students may request the following information:

    • Your name and email address and preferred contact information
    • Your license number and a copy of your current curriculum vitae (CV)
    • The name and location of the practice site
    • The primary phone number of the practice site
    • Name, phone number and email address of the practice site manager or contract specialist (if applicable)

    After the student submits this information to our office, VUSN faculty will contact you to ensure that your practice environment is consistent with the student’s learning needs and objectives, and to answer any questions you might have. Once approved by faculty, the Clinical Placement Office will facilitate the approval of an affiliation agreement. After the agreement is finalized and executed, and after the student has met all school and clinical site compliance requirements, the student may begin to work with you.

  • What Is the Process for Becoming a Preceptor for the Vusn Systems-Led Programs Such as Nursing Informatics and Nursing and Health Care Leadership
    • Students may identify their own preceptorship opportunities or faculty may assist with securing a preceptor and site.
    • The preceptor must have a master’s degree or equivalent.
    • Students may request the following:
  • What Are Vanderbilt’s Expectations of a Preceptor?

    Under your supervision and guidance, students are expected to obtain relevant competencies consistent with the program’s systems or advanced nursing practice role and populations served. Program faculty will provide you with resources that explain goals and competencies required for successful completion of the practicum.

    For example, for nurse practitioner and nurse-midwifery students, core competencies include obtaining health histories, performing physical exams, assessing and diagnosing patients and developing comprehensive patient treatment plans in collaboration with you. In addition, you will mentor students during the rotation and encourage practicum experiences of increasing complexity and a greater degree of autonomy, as appropriate for the student’s knowledge and experience.  You will complete student evaluations and faculty will regularly communicate with you regarding student progress.

  • What Kind of Time Commitment Is Required?

    Students enter clinical rotations with varying degrees of experience and confidence; you commit to working with our student to meet established competencies. Time committed to hands-on student interactions will vary based upon student expertise, experience and degree of autonomy. Students will require more in-depth mentorship in the initial phase of their practicum experience.

  • Am I Obligated to Precept a Student Every Semester?

    No, you are not committed to taking a student every semester. Our affiliation agreement in no way obligates you to have a student every semester. You can have students as often as you would like. Note: Our Nursing Informatics and Nursing and Health Care Leadership programs often utilize the same preceptor and practicum site for a student’s entire practicum experience.

  • Can Students Only Get Their Clinical Hours With One Preceptor?

    If you are a primary preceptor, the student is expected to either complete a majority of their practicum hours with you, or for you to be their primary resource. However, many sites with multiple providers may take advantage of the opportunity for students to spend at least some time with additional preceptors, which exposes the student to different perspectives and provides a broader practicum experience.

  • How Much Can a Student Be Involved in Patient Care, Treatment and Procedures?

    Students should take an active role in the practicum experience and should participate as a member of the team, contributing more fully as they gain knowledge and confidence in the role. As the practicum progresses, students should demonstrate greater autonomy in their ability to utilize data, to assess and prioritize problems, and to develop plans for change. You should continue to supervise all practicum activities and verify all student findings. Students should only participate in or perform activities appropriate for their scope of practice under your direct supervision.

  • Does VUSN Provide Malpractice Insurance?

    Yes, VUSN provides malpractice and liability insurance for all students. You are expected to have your own malpractice insurance, either an individual or employer policy. A copy of the student’s malpractice insurance can be provided by the Clinical Placement Office.

  • What Can I Expect From the NP Student?

    Our students are expected to be professional, punctual and prepared to perform in accordance with established standards of the practice. They should demonstrate the ability to manage progressively complex situations in accordance with academic progression.

    Students will develop a schedule to have approved by you. Students are expected to keep this schedule. They are expected to discuss all patients with you as you validate clinical findings. When possible, students can document patient visits in the medical record and have the documentation verified and co-signed by you.

  • Are VUSN Faculty Involved in the Student’s Practicum?

    Absolutely! Program faculty maintain regular contact with every clinical student through activities such as seminars, skills labs and simulation experiences. Systems students also maintain regular contact with VUSN faculty. Faculty monitor a student’s progress in a variety of ways which may include the completion of a practice site visit on-site or virtually. Additionally, faculty may contact you to check in and provide guidance, and you are encouraged to contact faculty with any concerns you may have regarding a student’s learning needs, performance or progression. While we ask that you evaluate the student’s performance during the practicum experience, VUSN faculty will determine the final course grade.

  • Does the Preceptor Grade or Evaluate the Student?

    You are asked to regularly evaluate the student’s progress in achieving identified competencies during the practicum experience. Your evaluation and feedback are important to student improvement and continued professional development. Preceptors do not determine the final grade for a practicum course, though your feedback is extremely valuable and vital to student success.

  • How Do Preceptors Evaluate Students?

    You will be asked to complete evaluations during the practicum rotation. Faculty will be communicating regularly with you regarding the student’s progress, through either direct contact or through evaluation surveys.

  • Whom Should I Contact if I Have Any Questions or Concerns While Precepting a Student?

    Faculty welcome the opportunity to speak with preceptors at any time. Our goal is to support you during the student’s rotation. If you have any concerns regarding a student’s performance or progression in meeting learning needs and competencies, you are asked to contact the student’s practicum faculty. If deficiencies are identified, the faculty will meet with you and the student to discuss learning needs, identify areas for remediation, and you will work together to develop a plan for improvement including follow-up and evaluation.

  • Can I apply for adjunct status?
    To be considered for that status you must be nominated by a current a member of the VUSN faculty who you may know through precepting or other contact with the school. Once the faculty member accepts your request to nominate and our department receives notice of the nomination, we’ll reach out to you with how to proceed from there. VUSN adjuncts must contribute at least 40 hours effort in the form of precepting or guest lectures, etc. and serve in a volunteer capacity.