Nurse Practitioner Students have One Big Issue

Many students are unable to find Clinical Preceptor sites to train for their practicums credits hours. This is a part of their requirements for their graduation. If this very important requirement is not met, they will be forced to withdraw from the NP program and end up paying their federal loans they had obtained to pay for their school's tuition and not be able to complete their NP and masters' degree.

NP programs require that students complete clinical hours before they can graduate, yet there has been no provisions for the schools to provide financial assistance in finding preceptor sites for the students' preceptor sites.

There is a growing problem where NP students are forced to find their own clinical site and clinical preceptor.

NP students now, on their own, must find their own clinical preceptor placement sites, which can be extremely expensive, time-consuming and stressful!!

"First, It's impossible to find sites that will accept me. especially with my work schedule, study schedule and taking care of my family needs, when will I find the time and funds to secure a preceptor site by myself?"

It's sad for these students who have had to drop out of school due to lack of clinical sites.

Additionally, we understand that competition for clinical practicum sites is almost impossible now. especially when there are very limited spots available and only for SHADOWING, not even direct patient management. in addition, the preceptors now are dont have the time to teach as they have to process their patients timely in order for them to bill. We don't expect see any improvement for new sites.

This is precisely why we designed this program – to meet the needs, a placement location for their clinical practicums, to provide time to teach hands-on the fundamental clinical skills for their patient management and to at the same time, and to satisfy the graduation requirements.