Ah, the age-old quest to find ways to annoy your clinical preceptor - a noble endeavor indeed! While I don't condone such behavior, this is a REAL list of things that preceptors have reported. Granted, most students are not like this. Most are great, but you may see some of these things if you precept enough students! Please avoid these things so you don’t drive your clinical preceptor to the brink of madness. 

1. Arrive Fashionably Late. 
Show up to your clinical rotation 10, 15, or even 30 minutes late every day. After all, who needs punctuality in the medical field? Your preceptor will be thrilled to start their day with the delightful surprise of your tardiness.

2. Dress to Impress... the Wrong Way! 
Forget about wearing professional attire; opt for something more whimsical. A Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops combo will surely make a memorable impression. Plunging neckline or mini-skirt will be sure to keep patients attentive and cause a stir with the office staff!

3. Question Everything. 
Never miss an opportunity to question your preceptor's orders, diagnoses, or treatment plans. Make sure to do it loudly and in front of the entire medical team for maximum impact. And don’t forget the eye-roll or dismissive comment. 

4. Interrupt, Interrupt, Interrupt.
Don't let anyone finish a sentence, especially your preceptor. Jump in with your thoughts, irrelevant anecdotes, or the latest trending meme. Conversation skills are overrated, anyway.

5. Google It All.
Why rely on your preceptor's extensive medical knowledge when you have Google at your fingertips? Constantly fact-check them during rounds, citing the first search result you find.

6. Never Take Notes.
Who has time for jotting down important information? Just wing it and rely on your photographic memory (if you have one). Your preceptor will be in awe of your abilities… or not.

7. Overshare Personal Details.
Ensure your preceptor knows your entire life story, from your pet hamster's dental problems to your Aunt Martha's knitting hobby. They'll appreciate the diversion from actual medical work.

8. Forget About Hygiene.
Personal hygiene is for the weak. Show up smelling like a dumpster on a hot summer day, and you'll be unforgettable, albeit not in a good way.

9. Take Really Long Lunch Breaks.
Lunchtime is for napping or making TikTok videos, not for discussing cases or learning from your preceptor. Take excessively long lunch breaks. Come back late again.

10. Constantly Complain.
Complain about everything - the workload, the hours, the patients, the drive, the coffee in the break room, and the fact that you have to wear pants. Your preceptor will surely admire your positivity.

11. Disdain Their Patient Population.
For your peds (or whatever) rotation, mention that you "hate peds and are only doing this rotation to check off the box.” This will really motivate your preceptor to teach you about his/her passion and profession! 

Okay, we hope this is more funny than truthful to you! Obviously, it's crucial to maintain professionalism and respect when working with clinical preceptors and colleagues. Building a good relationship with your preceptor is essential for your education and future career, so be sure to demonstrate your dedication and commitment in a positive and respectful manner. Who knows, they might provide a good reference or be on the other side of the interview table someday.
Stay tuned! Next, we’ll flip this topic on its head and talk about things that Preceptors do that make life particularly hard on students!

As the nurse practitioner owner of PreceptorLink®, I've always held a keen interest in the nuances and changes happening in our industry. Owning a business gives you a vantage point to see things not just as an individual, but as part of a broader community. Combining my longtime background as a clinician with the role of a business owner, I have a unique perspective. Today, I'd like to share with you some intriguing insights that I believe will resonate with our entire profession.

Our team at PreceptorLink® values feedback immensely. Every bit of praise, concern, or suggestion helps us recalibrate our efforts to serve you better. A significant part of our mission is to exponentially grow the number of available and willing clinical preceptors for APRNs and NPs. With this aim in mind, we routinely send out surveys to all our clients, assessing their satisfaction with our services and inquiring about their willingness to precept in the future.

One pattern has emerged from these surveys that I find both enlightening and somewhat alarming. After reviewing numerous student surveys, we've noticed a direct correlation between their experience with preceptors and their future intent to precept. Specifically, students who expressed dissatisfaction with their preceptor or clinical rotation were considerably less inclined to consider precepting in the future. 

However, it's crucial to add perspective here. This is not necessarily a reflection of the quality of the preceptors. In over nine years of preceptor matching, we've placed thousands of students, and, while we always strive for the best matches, not every student will have a “great” experience. Many elements can factor into this equation: fit, personalities, schedules, school issues, and communication, just to name a few. It's unrealistic to expect every student-preceptor pairing to be flawless. We've come to appreciate that every story has two sides. 

Ponder the implications of these findings. If our students of today, who are our potential preceptors of tomorrow, carry negative preceptorship memories, it could significantly impact the availability of future preceptors. This realization underscores the importance of ensuring students are matched with quality preceptors. It's not just about the immediate learning experience; it's about fostering a mentorship cycle crucial for our profession's growth and quality. This observation is not an indictment but an intriguing aside we've witnessed, which the profession might want to explore further.

Rest assured, our team doesn't take this lightly. Every piece of feedback, whether positive or negative, is thoroughly reviewed. We believe in looking at both sides of every story. It's not just about addressing student concerns but also about understanding the challenges and viewpoints of preceptors. We can help bridge gaps, mend misunderstandings, and facilitate growth by fostering open communication and creating a balanced environment.

In closing, I'd like to reiterate our commitment at PreceptorLink® to creating a nurturing environment for all. The students of today are poised to become the providers, mentors, and leaders of tomorrow. Let's ensure they have the best possible experiences, so they are inspired to give back to the community when the time comes. If we all work together, understanding the intricacies and influences of our actions, we can create a bright future for the NP profession.

Thank you for being an integral part of this journey. Your feedback, partnership, and trust are what drive us to do better every day.

Education remains the cornerstone of excellence for the ever-evolving world of nursing professionals. Over the past several years, Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) education has been reshaped by the rise of online education. Additionally, online education for APRNs has been reshaped by Online Program Management (OPM) companies. As with all innovations, OPMs have brought both opportunities and a set of unique challenges. Understanding this landscape can be crucial for nursing professionals seeking to upgrade their expertise or enter the field of advanced practice nurse.

The Rise of Online Program Management in NP Education
Online Program Management companies have become integral partners for many universities and educational institutions. The goal of an OPM is to help in the design, administration, and delivery of online courses and programs. Traditionally, NP/APRN programs have been bound by geographical limits. However, with the assistance of online education, institutions can now reach aspiring NPs/APRNs from virtually anywhere, thus broadening their student base and increasing accessibility.

Pros of OPMs in NP/APRN Education:
Expertise and Resources: OPMs bring technological know-how and resources, helping institutions launch sophisticated online platforms that might have been out of reach otherwise.

Marketing and Recruitment: With expertise in digital marketing, OPMs can attract a broader student base, enhancing enrollment and diversity.

Data Analytics: OPMs often utilize analytics to improve course offerings, tailoring them to students' needs and potentially improving outcomes.

Cons of OPM in NP/APRN Education:
Quality Concerns: With the rapid proliferation of online programs, there are concerns about maintaining the caliber and rigor, especially with NP education. As OPMs focus on scalability and profitability, there's a concern that the quality of education might be compromised. It's essential to ensure that online courses uphold the same standards expected for any quality NP educational model. 

Financial Implications: While OPMs can expand a university’s reach, some OPMs operate on revenue-sharing models, which might take a significant portion of tuition fees. This arrangement could potentially inflate tuition costs and raise concerns about online programs' cost and value proposition. 

Loss of Institutional Autonomy: Partnering with OPMs might mean relinquishing some control over course creation and management, potentially diluting the institution's unique value proposition. This could prove frustrating for faculty and students alike. 

The entrance of OPMs into the advanced practice nursing arena has amplified both the opportunities and concerns. As highly educated nursing professionals, it's imperative to approach online education critically, recognizing its strengths and limitations while still advocating for standards that uphold the esteemed tradition of the nursing profession. Ensuring the maintenance of rigorous standards, pushing for a blend of online and in-person experiences, and making informed choices about program selection will all play a part in leveraging the best options for the future of NP and APRN education.