Family Nurse Practitioner Program

Preceptor Opportunities

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Am I qualified to serve as a preceptor?
2. What is the process for becoming a preceptor?
3. What are the benefits of being a preceptor?
4. What is the purpose of the clinical practicum?
5. What will be my responsibility as a preceptor?

 

1. Am I qualified to serve as a preceptor?

If you are interested in becoming a preceptor for family nurse practitioner students, you will need to meet the following qualifications:

• A masters degree in nursing
• At least two years of experience as a nurse practitioner

2. What is the process for becoming a preceptor?

Preceptors of UIC College of Nursing students are granted an adjunct faculty appointment. Adjunct faculty are appointed by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees as unpaid employees of UIC. Once you submit a preceptor application with your CV, license, and certifications, you will be contacted by a UIC representative. All UIC employees must provide online information to UIC Human Resources (Nessie) and sign a brief letter of acceptance for the position. Once processing is complete, you will receive notification via e-mail, and, provided that an executed agreement between your agency and the University exists for student placement, you can begin accepting students.

3. What are the benefits of being a preceptor?

Not only are preceptors afforded the benefit of holding an adjunct faculty appointment with the University of Illinois College of Nursing, they are able to take advantage of many privileges available to UIC employees, including:

• access to the University library
• a University e-mail account
• access to programs, services, and promotions offered to UIC employees

4. What is the purpose of the clinical practicum?

The clinical practicum provides an opportunity for students to put theory into practice and develop their assessment and patient management skills. The FNP specialty option courses are listed below including all practicums with required clinical hours:

Course	Title	Cr.	Clinical Hours
NUSC 532	Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Practice	3	30
NUPH 539	Health Management in Primary Care I	3	--
NUPH 540	Clinical Practice in Primary Care I	3	135
NUPH 541	Clinical Practice in Primary Care II	2	90
NUPH 542	Health Management in Primary Care II	3	--
NUPH 543	Advanced Clinical Practice in Primary Care I	4	180
NUPH 544	Health Management in Primary Care III	3	--
NUPH 545	Advanced Clinical Practice in Primary Care II	4	180
NUPH 547	Population-Focused Interventions in Primary Care	2	--
NUPH 548	Practicum in Population Focused Interventions in Primary Care	1	45
NUSC 566	Family-Focused Health Management in Primary Care (Optional for MS; required for DNP)	3	--
NUSC 582	DNP Residency I: Direct Care Role	4	180
NUSC 583	DNP Residency II: Direct Care Role	4	180
Totals:	MS	28	660
	DNP	36	1020

5. What will be my responsibility as a preceptor?

As a preceptor, you are responsible for supervising and evaluating our FNP students in the achievement of clinical objectives outlined by their clinical courses. These clinical objectives include:

1. Conducts appropriate wellness, episodic, and follow-up history and physical exams, including necessary screening/diagnostic tests.

2. Formulates a differential diagnosis and problem list, including health promotion and disease prevention needs.

3. Develops an evidence-based management plan, including health promotion and disease prevention strategies.

4. Incorporates research evidence and family, community and cultural considerations into the patient encounter.

5. Promotes quality of care through the evaluation of patient clinical outcomes.

6. Begins developing collegial professional role as a nurse practitioner with the patient and health care team members.

During clinical practicum, students are expected to gain experience in skills and techniques that are selected components of FNP practice. Students observe and/or demonstrate these skills under your preceptorship, and you evaluate them after each rotation on their overall proficiency level in each of the clinical objectives. For more detailed information on your role, please see our FNP Preceptor Guide.