NP Preceptor Burnout: Why It Happens and What We Can Do About It

If you talk to any nurse practitioner preceptor these days, chances are you’ll hear a mix of pride and exhaustion. Many preceptors truly love teaching, but they also carry heavy clinical and administrative loads. Between seeing patients, documenting, supervising students, and managing obligations outside work, something often gives. That something can be their energy, creativity, and motivation to mentor.

Preceptor burnout is real. It hurts not only the individuals but the entire NP education system. When experienced mentors feel depleted, it impacts students, schools, and the profession as a whole. Let’s look closer at what causes burnout, how it shows up, and how we can all help prevent it.​

What Burnout Looks Like for NP Preceptors

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It builds slowly, often beneath the surface. A preceptor may start cutting back on teaching hours, canceling student days, or limiting new placements. They may become quieter in the clinic, skip debriefing sessions, or show visible signs of fatigue. It’s not that they no longer care; they’re simply running on empty.

A recent U.S. study of nurse preceptors found that about 28 percent of respondents reported experiencing burnout. Interestingly, nearly all participants, 96.7 percent, still said they enjoyed precepting, showing how passion for teaching often coexists with exhaustion. (Based on what I see in the NP forums, I would bet that burnout number is even higher.)

Another national survey of health professional preceptors across the United States reported that 58.2 percent felt precepting contributes to their burnout, while 41.8 percent self-identified as experiencing burnout directly. Respondents represented 49 states, underscoring that this is a nationwide concern rather than an isolated problem.

These numbers show that NP preceptors are not alone in their struggle. When burnout is ignored, it doesn’t just affect one person. It disrupts the consistency and enthusiasm that students rely on, turning what should be an inspiring learning environment into one that feels rushed, tense, or emotionally drained.

Why NP Preceptor Burnout Is Rising

There isn’t a single cause. It’s a mix of professional, emotional, and systemic pressures. Most preceptors are already stretched thin before taking on a student.
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• Heavy workloads: Many preceptors carry full patient panels, often seeing 20 to 25 patients per day. Adding a student might mean more documentation, more discussion time, and constant multitasking.
• Documentation burden: EHR systems are meant to streamline care, but often increase charting time. Teaching while staying on top of electronic notes can feel impossible.
• Limited compensation or recognition: A large percentage of NP preceptors receive no financial incentive or protected time for mentoring. Their motivation often comes purely from passion, which is hard to sustain without acknowledgment.
• Administrative frustration: Credentialing, affiliation agreements, and compliance forms can feel endless. The logistics of onboarding each student can take weeks, eating into time they could spend on patient care.
• Lack of institutional support: In some healthcare systems, precepting isn’t formally recognized in performance reviews or advancement opportunities. That leaves many preceptors feeling invisible.

Time and workload consistently rank among the top reasons providers decline to take students. As noted in the article 9 Reasons Providers Don’t Want to Precept, many clinicians are already managing full patient panels, extensive documentation, and administrative responsibilities. When these pressures build up without adequate support, exhaustion follows, and burnout becomes the natural result of those same demands.

How Burnout Impacts NP Education

When preceptors reach burnout, it has a ripple effect. Students often describe the experience as walking on eggshells, unsure when to ask questions or worried they’re a burden. Feedback becomes minimal, teaching moments disappear, and the joy of learning fades.

On a larger scale, burnout deepens the ongoing preceptor shortage. When mentors stop taking students, schools scramble to fill placements, and NP students face graduation delays. It’s a cycle that keeps repeating unless the underlying issue of preceptor fatigue is addressed.
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In a growing field like nurse practitioner education, where thousands of new students enroll each year, this is not a small problem. Without healthy, supported preceptors, clinical education simply cannot function.​

What Schools and Programs Can Do

NP programs have significant influence over how preceptors experience teaching. Simple, thoughtful actions can make a major difference in reducing fatigue and building long-term partnerships.
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• Simplify onboarding. Reduce paperwork for students and preceptors, automate approvals, and make it easy to say yes. Schools that streamline credentialing see better retention of clinical sites. (We are HAPPY to take this burden from students or schools by the way. We are experts at this!)
• Communicate consistently. Keep students and preceptors informed about course requirements and objectives, evaluation expectations, and student readiness. Surprises create stress. I can’t believe how often students don’t know this info. And, after a review of their 98 page manual, I can understand their confusion!
• Offer real recognition. Certificates, CEU credits, letters of acknowledgment, or small stipends go a long way. Publicly celebrate preceptors’ impact on graduation outcomes.
• Train faculty to support both students and preceptors. Faculty should check in regularly and offer solutions, not just oversight or denial letters. Let’s help students succeed the first time. 
• Be flexible with scheduling and requirements. Understand that preceptors (and students) also have lives, families, and other priorities. 

When schools treat preceptors as partners instead of resources, burnout becomes much less common.​

What Students Can Do to Help

Students might not realize how much they influence their preceptor’s experience. A thoughtful, dependable student can make a preceptor’s day smoother and more enjoyable, while an unprepared one can unintentionally add to their stress.
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• Come to the clinic prepared. Review common diagnoses, medications, and procedures before you start your rotation. Find out what else to bring and resources to download.
• Respect time. Arrive early, avoid last-minute schedule changes, and communicate clearly if issues arise. Stay the whole shift unless your preceptor clearly and honestly tells you otherwise. 
• Be proactive. Offer to start patient histories, prep charts, or summarize visits. Initiative shows maturity.
• Stay curious but respectful. Ask questions at appropriate times and show appreciation for every teaching moment.
• Express gratitude. A simple but sincere thank-you note at the end of a rotation can mean more than you think. Don’t forget the staff!

These small efforts show professionalism and empathy, two qualities that not only make your rotation better but also remind your preceptor why teaching matters. Many of these same principles apply to students as well. For a deeper look at student preparation, check out Common Mistakes NP Students Make During Clinical Rotations.​

How Matching Services Can Make a Difference

Finding, screening, and supporting preceptors is a huge task, and many burn out because they’re doing it alone. Professional matching services like PreceptorLink/AMOpportunities help reduce that pressure by managing much of the behind-the-scenes coordination. We can help, whether you are an individual student or a school! 

PreceptorLink’s process includes verifying credentials, ensuring alignment with program requirements, and maintaining communication between all parties. That structure creates smoother placements and helps prevent burnout caused by administrative overload.

When preceptors feel supported and valued, they’re more likely to stay engaged and keep mentoring. It’s not just about filling clinical spots. It’s about protecting the longevity of those willing to teach.​

Final Thoughts

Preceptor burnout is more than exhaustion. It’s a warning sign that the system needs to change. When those who teach future nurse practitioners begin to pull back, the ripple effect reaches students, schools, and ultimately, patient care.

Burnout doesn’t have to be inevitable. With recognition, collaboration, and shared responsibility, it can be reduced in real, lasting ways. When schools listen, students take initiative, and services like PreceptorLink help with the logistics, preceptors can return to what they do best: teaching and shaping the next generation of healthcare providers.

To every NP preceptor balancing patient care and mentorship, thank you. Your role is the bridge between classroom learning and real-world practice. Your commitment keeps the profession moving forward. And when you feel supported, the entire NP community thrives.

At PreceptorLink, we’re committed to helping you stay inspired, appreciated, and connected. Whether you’re a student searching for a clinical site or a preceptor looking for support, we’re here to make the process easier, more respectful, and sustainable for everyone involved.

About The Author

Lynn McComas is the Chief Nursing Officer at AMOpportunities and Founder of PreceptorLink. She is a recognized expert in precepting nurse practitioners and advanced practice provider students and has been matching preceptors since 2014.

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.​