Hello, Fellow NPs, APRNs, and advocates of the NP/APRN profession!

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.