Selection Criteria for FNP Clinical Preceptors

FNP students engage in clinical practice under the guidance of a qualified clinical preceptor. The mandatory preceptor/student ratio (direct supervision) is 1:2. Students are highly recommended to spend the majority of their clinical experience with Family Nurse Practitioner preceptors. At minimum students are expected to spend 135 hours with a Nurse Practitioner preceptor. Students should review FNP Site & Preceptor Guidance (Appendix J) to review requirement details and recommendations prior to selecting their preceptor and site for approval.

The clinical preceptor must be:

Formally educated for professional practice:
A preceptor is a board certified NP, MD or a DO who, while employed by a clinical facility, is assigned to directly supervise a student’s clinical education for the duration of a formal course designed to prepare registered nurses to transition to advanced practice nursing.
Possess clinical expertise appropriate to accomplish the goals of the preceptorship and has at least one year of work experience at or above the level of licensure of the student’s program.
Possess board certification in area appropriate to the education of a Family Nurse Practitioner student. (Effective May 2022 all preceptors must be board certified.)

Clinical preceptors may be used to enhance faculty-directed clinical learning experiences, but not to replace faculty. A clinical preceptor shall be approved by program administration and:
Be actively involved in clinical practice.
Once the Office of Field Experience receives preceptor licensing, credentialing, CV/Resume and certification information, the documents are sent to the Program Director who reviews and provides final approval or denial of the preceptor. The approval process time varies between 4-16 weeks on average depending on the type of review and if it involves external site approvals/verification.
Preceptors may not be a spouse, domestic partner, or first degree relative of the student.
Preceptors may not be direct supervisor.
The assumption for any clinical placement is that the student will be able to communicate with the patient directly or via language line or a dedicated translator other than the preceptor.