Precepting at VUSN

Preceptor Expectations and Requirements

Section Contents

What Makes an Appropriate Clinical Experience?

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing seeks to partner with preceptors and sites that promote a safe and inclusive care environment for diverse, underserved and/or vulnerable communities. Your site should provide adequate patient volume and the appropriate patient type and mix for the specialty. In addition, your facility needs to offer appropriate preceptor/student interactions to meet role and population-focused competencies. Of course, of great importance is students’ ability to meet course learning objectives.

What Are the Different Roles?

In a student rotation, what are the different roles and responsibilities?

  • Preceptor
    • Orient the student to the site/agency and its guidelines/expectations.
    • Communicate with the student regarding learning objectives, progress and written evaluations.
    • Supervise, collaborate with and counsel the student in patient care activities.
    • Assist student in selecting an adequate volume of appropriate cases.
    • Communicate with faculty regarding student progress and any concerns.
    • Complete evaluation forms at specific intervals.
    • Protect student information according to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Contact faculty with any questions about FERPA or learn more here.
  • Student
    • Maintain professional behavior and demeanor in all clinical interactions.
    • Communicate learning objectives, progress and learning needs.
    • Collaborate with preceptor/agency to develop a schedule and communicate absences in advance.
    • Maximize learning by augmenting patient experiences with texts and other resources.
    • Protect patient information according to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
    • Submit assigned course work, complete clinical log* and participate in clinical conference/supervision..

    *If applicable

  • Faculty
    • Orient site/preceptor to student’s educational needs. Orient student to course.
    • Conduct virtual or face-to-face site visit to assess student progress towards learning goals.
    • Review written evaluations of student progress and communicate with clinical preceptor as needed.
    • Be available to preceptor and student to address any concerns which may arise.
    • Grade all student coursework.
    • Guide student towards learning objectives via clinical conference/supervision.
    • Protect student information according to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

I love to precept nursing students and new leaders and share all that I have learned as a leader.

Lindsay Miller Lindsay Miller, RN
Nursing Health Care Leadership Preceptor of the Year 2021

What Makes an Effective Preceptor?

Find Ways to Help Students Learn

  • Work with students to set realistic goals for learning, aligned with course objectives
  • Pace learning experiences
  • Foster development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Help students organize and prioritize work through both role-modeling and discussion
  • Help students see the “big picture” instead of focusing on tasks
  • Know students’ goals and objectives early in the experience

Understand the Course Requirements

  • Know overall time frame of the experience
  • Have a clear understanding of course objectives

Be Able to Evaluate Effectively

  • Evaluate whether students meet course objectives
  • Provide constructive feedback to students
  • Decide what evidence to write on the evaluation form
  • Develop a method to track student performance and progress

Interact Effectively With Students

What Qualifications Do I Need to Precept?

Each specialty has different requirements of its preceptors. Please find your specialty below for details.

  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

    AGACNP Qualifications

    • Licensed as MD, DO, PA, NP
    • Current licensure/certification
    • 1 year clinical practice experience
    • Current practice includes care of high acuity or clinically complex adult and older-adult patients

    Learn more about the AGACNP specialty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)

    AGPCNP Qualifications

    • Licensed as MD, DO, PA, NP
    • Current licensure/certification
    • 1 year of clinical practice experience
    • Current practice includes care of chronically and acutely ill adult and older-adult patients within the primary care setting.
    • Appropriate practice settings may include internal medicine, family practice, and specialty-focused outpatient care
    • Outpatient focus; no more than 30% of the patient population can be under 13 years old

    Learn more about the AGPCNP specialty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

  • Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP)

    ENP Qualifications

    • Licensed as MD, DO, PA, NP
    • Current licensure/certification
    • 1 year of clinical practice experience
    • Current practice includes preventative visits and chronic/acute primary care illnesses in an outpatient care setting, OR current practice in emergency care settings, including urgent care

    Learn more about the ENP specialty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

    FNP Qualifications

    • Licensed as MD, DO, PA, NP
    • Current, unencumbered licensure/certification in area of current practice
    • 1 year experience in current clinic environment
    • Current practice includes one or more subpopulations from lifespan (peds, adult, or gero) that are being seen for preventative visits and chronic/acute primary care illnesses in an outpatient care setting

    Learn more about the FNP specialty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)

    NNP Qualifications

    • MSN or higher in nursing
    • Board certified as an NNP
    • Minimum of 2 years of full-time employment as an NNP
    • MD/DO may serve as preceptors with faculty permission
    • Experience precepting other NNP students

    Learn more about the NNP specialty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

  • Nurse-Midwifery (NM)

    NM Qualifications

    • Commitment to mentoring midwifery students
    • Willingness to partner with Vanderbilt faculty to enhance student learning
    • American Midwifery Certification Board certification
    • State licensure in state of practice
    • 1 year of clinical practice experience
    • Practice in one or more of the areas of core midwifery practice including primary, gynecologic, antepartum, intrapartum or postpartum care
    • Clinic policies consistent with Centers for Disease Control guidance
    • VUSN Nurse-Midwifery Preceptor Guidelines

    Learn more about the CNM specialty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

  • Nursing and Health Care Leadership Specialty (NHCL)

    NHCL Qualifications

    Learn more about the NHCL specialty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

  • Nursing Informatics Specialty (NI)

    NI Qualifications

    • MSN degree
    • 2 years of clinical experience in an informaticist role
    • Preceptors can have a graduate degree in a field other than nursing if they have a current leadership role in medical or nursing informatics
    • Active RN license
    • VUSN Nursing Informatics Preceptor Guidelines

    Learn more about the NI specialty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care Specialty (PNPAC)

    PNPAC Qualifications

    • APRN Preceptors: PNP-AC certification is preferred
    • PNP-PC is allowed under extenuating circumstances when PNP-AC is not available and if the PNP-PC preceptor has established practice experience in acute care
    • MD or DO boarded in pediatrics
    • APRNs must be certified/licensed 2 years prior to serving as preceptor
    • Two years of clinical experience in current specialty and one year in the current job/specialty

    Learn more about the PNP-AC specialty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care Specialty (PNPPC)

    PNPPC Qualifications

    • APRN Preceptors: PNP-PC certification is preferred; FNP working in pediatrics also appropriate
    • MD or DO boarded in pediatrics
    • 1 year of clinical experience in current specialty
    • Appropriate practice setting may include general pediatrics, specialty-focused outpatient care and newborn nursery.

    Learn more about the PNP-PC specialty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

  • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (LIFESPAN) (PMHNP)

    PMHNP Qualifications

    • APRN Preceptors: ANCC certification as a PMHNP or PMHCNS
    • 1-year clinical experience
    • Physician preceptors: Acceptable preceptors include MDs and DOs board-certified in psychiatry or addiction medicine
    • Psychotherapy preceptors include: Master's level or higher mental health providers. For example, social workers, professional counselors and psychologists
    • Current practice settings: Inpatient, outpatient, C/L in medical hospitals, ERs, private practice

    Learn more about the PMHNP specialty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

  • Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHGRNP)

    WHGRNP Qualifications

    • Certification in one's specialty
    • 1 year clinical experience
    • Acceptable preceptors include: WHGRNPs, NPs certified in other specialties, CNMs, MDs, DOs, PAs

    Learn more about the WHGRNP specialty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing