 PreceptorLink® owner and founder, Lynn McComas, DNP, ANP-C, shares her latest perspective in the newly published KevinMD article, “What If Medicine Had an Exit Interview?” In this powerful piece, Lynn explores the quiet and often overlooked reality of clinicians leaving the profession—and the silence that follows.
Drawing from her experience in healthcare leadership and provider support, Lynn challenges the system’s tendency to move on without reflection when a clinician resigns. She poses a critical question: what could we learn if we simply asked why they left? From missed birthdays and moral injury to chronic understaffing and the erosion of identity, Lynn sheds light on the emotional and systemic weight many providers carry before making the decision to walk away. Her article encourages healthcare leaders to look beyond “burnout” and examine what’s truly driving clinicians out of the field. As someone deeply invested in provider well-being and the future of healthcare, Lynn believes we must stop viewing these exits as isolated events and start treating them as data points for real change. 👉 Read the full article on KevinMD here. Let’s stop scrambling to replace the clinicians walking out the door and start listening to them first.
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 By Lynn McComas, DNP, ANP-C I review a lot of resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and I notice a significant variation in the way my colleagues list their titles. Sometimes it’s right, but many times it’s wrong! Let’s face it—our profession makes it very confusing, and some people list everything they can think of listing! The NP Alphabet Soup of credentials! Yes, it’s confusing, so let’s review it! Properly listing your credentials as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) isn’t just a formality—it reflects your hard work, your qualifications, and your professionalism. Whether you’re signing a prescription, updating your resume, or creating a business card, there is a correct and recommended format. And yes, it matters. Getting this right can make a difference in how employers, patients, and peers perceive you. The Recommended Order of NP CredentialsBoth ANCC and AANPCB recommend listing credentials in this order:
What Not to Include After Your NameLet’s stop the over-stuffing! Here are some things to leave off:
Why Is This So Confusing?Because, unfortunately, there’s no national standard for how NPs should list credentials across all contexts. That’s because:
So what are we juggling?
Real-World Credentialing ExamplesI’m all about “real-world education,” so let’s walk through what it should look like depending on where you live and what certification you hold: Example 1: Lynn McComas – California, ANP-C
Example 2: FNP in Florida – MSN-prepared, certified by AANPCB
Example 3: FNP in Texas – DNP-prepared, certified by ANCC
Example 4: PMHNP in Washington – MSN-prepared, certified by ANCC
Example 5: AGACNP in Florida – DNP-prepared, certified by ANCC
Example 6: Pediatric NP – MSN-prepared, certified by PNCB
 How Should You List Your Credentials on a Resume?On your resume, you’ll want to do both:
In Practice: What You Should Use and Where
A Few Quick Tips
Bottom Line There’s no “one-size-fits-all” way to list NP credentials—but there is a right way based on your state, your certification, and your context.
Keep it:
And please, please, please, ditch the extra fluff. You worked hard for your title. Accurate credentialing isn’t about showing off. It’s about clarity, professionalism, and patient safety. Represent your title the way it was meant to be. About Lynn Lynn McComas is the CEO and founder of PreceptorLink and a recognized expert in precepting nurse practitioners and advanced practice provider students. With over two decades in primary care, Lynn has served as a coach, advisor, mentor, and preceptor for countless healthcare professionals, including NPs, nurses, and medical assistants. She co-founded a successful skills and procedures business and speaks nationwide on NP-related issues. Lynn is also a regular contributor on LinkedIn, KevinMD, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @preceptorlink, X @LynnMcComas, and her blog, where she addresses the growing NP and PA professions and the urgent need for preceptor sites. Her unique perspective, shaped by her business, clinical, and educational experiences, positions her as a key voice in tackling preceptor shortages. Lynn is committed to driving change—through a paradigm shift in NP education, reducing barriers, offering preceptor incentives, and advocating for reforms within the profession.  As the founder of PreceptorLink® and a practicing Adult Nurse Practitioner, I usually focus on helping students succeed, not on responding to blog posts. But after seeing our name repeatedly used in comparison articles from other companies, I felt it was time to speak directly to the students and preceptors who trust us.
Several blogs from companies like NPHub and PreceptorTree include PreceptorLink® in so-called reviews or comparisons. These are not objective resources. They are promotional content using our name to show up in search results and redirect students away from us. I want to walk you through the facts. No marketing tricks. Just real answers. Claim 1: “PreceptorLink is more expensive than other services. ”The truth: This is misleading and untrue. Here are the facts: We do not set the honorarium. Preceptors set their own rates. What we charge is based on the rate a preceptor decides is fair for their time, experience, and specialty. Then we add in our business expenses. So they do vary from preceptor to preceptor, but only because different preceptors charge different amounts. If a preceptor sets his/her rate too high for their area/specialty, we will let them know the “typical ranges.” Some change it, and some don’t. We never suggest a higher amount. We want rates to be as low as possible for students! But we also want the best rotation possible for the student, and sometimes that means a more expensive preceptor. Some services, like NPHub and Preceptor Tree, claim to have a low base price, but that’s true for every company. Then the prices increase depending on the specialty, location, or urgency. And despite their claim, Preceptor Tree is not transparent with their pricing. They do not publicly disclose their current pricing for clinical rotations. Be sure to read the fine print and ask whether their advertised rate includes all fees. With PreceptorLink®, you see the full amount up front. Claim 2: “PreceptorLink takes longer to place students. ”The truth: This couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, we are the fastest at placing, as demonstrated by our surveys. We are generally the fastest company in terms of placements, and we also assist with paperwork. At the same time, we want the right overall fit. Our team looks at every request that comes through and does our best to confirm preceptor availability, ensure it’s an appropriate fit, and communicate directly with students and preceptors. That extra care helps prevent issues like school denials, rotation cancellations, or last-minute confusion. While some companies may send a list of names, we focus on securing confirmed and accurate placements. Claim 3: “PreceptorLink isn’t as experienced as other services. ”The truth: We are the OG! PreceptorLink® has been supporting NP students for over a decade– since 2014! I’m an NP myself, and our entire process has been built on my knowledge and connections in the profession. Our team, including our Clinical Coordinators, is experienced in preceptor matching and is based in the U.S. hen you speak with us, you're speaking with someone who understands your school’s clinical requirements, not an offshore coordinator or call center. Some competitors rely on automated support, WhatsApp, or teams with no clinical background. That might work for selling products. It’s not good enough for your education. Let’s Talk About NPLinks and Preceptor Point We’ve had many students contact us who thought they had been working with PreceptorLink®, but they somehow connected to NPLinks, Preceptor Point, or NPHub due to name confusion or intentional links that mimic or say our name. Be careful what you click or reach out to! We’re not affiliated with any of them. If you’re unsure who you’re working with, please double-check. We’re always happy to confirm if you’ve submitted something to our site. What’s Really Going On with These Comparison Blogs? You may have seen blog titles like “PreceptorLink vs NPHub” or “Which Preceptor Matching Service Is Best?” written by the other companies themselves. Here’s what they’re doing: They use our name in blog titles, so they show up when you search for us. That’s a marketing tactic. It’s not meant to help you. It’s meant to get your attention and steer you away from us. And when you read those posts closely, you’ll notice the pattern:
How to Tell If You’re Reading Biased Info Here are a few signs the article you’re reading isn’t really a fair comparison:
Here’s What You Can Expect with PreceptorLink® We’re proud of how we do things — and we’re not afraid to be transparent.
We place hundreds of students each year and partner with schools across the country. And we don’t need gimmicks to prove our value, just facts. Still Deciding Which NP Preceptor Match Service Is Right for You? Choosing the right service is a big decision. Take your time. Do your research. But don’t make your decision based on blog posts written by competitors. If you’re comparing PreceptorLink® with NPHub, PreceptorTree, or NPLinks, I encourage you to reach out to all of us directly. Ask questions. Compare answers. See who truly listens. We’re confident in what we offer, and we’re always here to talk. Warmly, Lynn McComas, DNP, ANP-C Founder & CEO, PreceptorLink® About Lynn Lynn McComas is the CEO and founder of PreceptorLink and a recognized expert in precepting nurse practitioners and advanced practice provider students. With over two decades in primary care, Lynn has served as a coach, advisor, mentor, and preceptor for countless healthcare professionals, including NPs, nurses, and medical assistants. She co-founded a successful skills and procedures business and speaks nationwide on NP-related issues. Lynn is also a regular contributor on LinkedIn, KevinMD, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @preceptorlink, X @LynnMcComas, and her blog, where she addresses the growing NP and PA professions and the urgent need for preceptor sites. Her unique perspective, shaped by her business, clinical, and educational experiences, positions her as a key voice in tackling preceptor shortages. Lynn is committed to driving change—through a paradigm shift in NP education, reducing barriers, offering preceptor incentives, and advocating for reforms within the profession. |
About Lynn:As a longtime NP with a desire to help and make positive changes to her beloved profession, Lynn often writes opinion pieces about the NP profession. Archives
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