Goal 3 Build strategic relationships and partnerships with clinical sites and preceptors, focusing on rural areas. Precepting During the Pandemic
The pandemic forced a great deal of change in all walks of life. It changed how we shopped, socialized, traveled, worked, and went to school. FNU prides itself on being adaptable to the health care needs of the country and on preparing our students to be adaptable to the needs of the communities in which they work and live. That adaptability was tested in many ways. In-person Clinical and Frontier Bounds had to become virtual for the first time in University history. Modifications allowed DNP Quality Improvement projects to be conducted virtually (see story on page 8). Through it all, FNU and its students persisted. Enrollment remained strong and the number of students forced to go on hiatus was limited thanks to the university’s quick response to the pandemic and the financial assistance provided by the Student Emergency Fund (see story on page 24).
Audra Cave
Despite working daily on the front lines of the pandemic, FNU graduates also played their part to help the university continue to succeed. Many of these alumni, along with other health care professionals, made the commitment to not only continue their work but also to be a preceptor for an FNU student. The demand for preceptors is constant, even during a pandemic. On average, an FNU student utilizes three clinical sites in order to complete their requirements. In a typical term, the number of students in clinical courses and in need of preceptors totals anywhere from 800 to 1,000.
16
| 2020 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
FNU’s Clinical Outreach and Placement Unit helps both the students and preceptors navigate the process, even during a pandemic. “We have a large network of preceptors across the country,” said Director of Clinical Outreach and Placement Stephanie Boyd. “We maintain a Community Map that helps students identify preceptors close to them. We are continually growing our database and recruiting potential preceptors while making sure our existing preceptors understand how much they are valued and appreciated. We try to make the experience for both students and preceptors positive and hassle-free, but we’re also here to help when it’s not so smooth.” Precepting during the pandemic was anything but smooth. Many hospitals and clinics shut down or were limited to certain personnel, further limiting the options for students. They say necessity is the mother of invention and, while telehealth wasn’t invented during the pandemic, the breadth of its use grew significantly. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as the pandemic first took hold in the United States, telehealth visits increased by 154% during the last week of March 2020 compared to the same period in 2019*. This opened a door for some students, who were able to complete some of their clinical hours with their preceptor via telehealth. “For the students who have found a good situation with a preceptor, it has really been convenient for them to do telehealth from their own home,” said FNU Regional Clinical
