Goal 3 In Support of Students and Preceptors

In 2019, Frontier Nursing University formed the Clinical Outreach and Placement unit to support students during the clinical portion of their program. Clinical Outreach and Placement Director Stephanie Boyd leads a team that includes three clinical advisors and a clinical services coordinator. The unit aids students by providing assistance and resources for locating clinical sites. It also provides support and customer service to preceptors, answering their questions and troubleshooting challenging situations.

Stephanie Boyd

The Clinical Outreach and Placement unit encourages students to be proactive and creative in their search for clinical sites. Sharing tips and success stories, they hope to inspire students to take the initiative and get an early start on identifying a clinical site.

“Students have a dedicated team of staff and faculty who work with them every step of the way,” Boyd said. “The majority of our students will tell you that talking about the clinical site identification process earlier and more often is such a benefit to them.”

The success of early planning with students might also be part of the solution to identify and create an even larger network of preceptors. Boyd’s team, which monitors a nationwide preceptor database, is particularly focused on increasing the number of FNU alumni who share their knowledge by precepting Frontier students. The process to do so began by developing the infrastructure, which includes Clinical Services Coordinator Brittany Bachman, who provides one-on-one support to preceptors, helping them navigate the process of precepting.

FNU preceptors are surveyed annually to gain insight into their experience precepting a Frontier student. Cumulative data, along with individual narrative responses, help Boyd and her team identify areas of improvement. The survey results, which are overwhelmingly positive, also serve as an additional way to promote and encourage potential preceptors who might have reservations about the time, process, or overall experience of precepting. Every year, an issue of the FNU Quarterly Bulletin, which is mailed to over 10,000 recipients every quarter, as well as being available to read online, has a special section dedicated to precepting. This multipage section includes some of the survey data, answers to frequently asked questions about precepting, features on preceptors and their experiences, and basic information on how and why to precept.

In addition to recruiting FNU alumni to become preceptors, the university is also giving added attention to a grassroots effort to encourage students to think about giving back after they graduate. Giving back can take many forms, including gifts of money or, in the case of precepting, gifts of time and expertise.

FNU Assistant Professor for Midwifery and Women’s Health

Dr. Kendra Faucett, DNP, CNM, CNE, FACNM, addressed the 2022 graduates during the commencement ceremony. She encouraged them to give back and reminded them that they are eligible to precept one year after their graduation date.

“You all know the importance of having great preceptors to help train and mentor Frontier students,” Dr. Faucett said. “Sharing your time and expertise through precepting is incredibly rewarding.”

The primary reward comes in the form of helping students learn and develop their skills, of course, but a fun secondary reward is the Featured Preceptor of the Term recognition. Each term, Boyd’s team selects a preceptor to recognize based on nominations from students and faculty.

Whether assisting students or preceptors, the key element in the work of the Clinical Outreach and Placement unit is communication. Team members manage booths at national nurse practitioner and nurse-midwifery conferences where they engage and inform potential preceptors. The team also plans to start sending quarterly e-newsletters to active preceptors as a means to keep the lines of communication open and to share key information with those preceptors.

“The majority of our preceptors tell us they precept because they want to give back to their profession,” Boyd said. “The survey responses indicate preceptors feel very supported by FNU. As we increasingly share this information, I am confident that our alumni will want to pay it forward to the next generation of students by answering the call to precept as soon as they are eligible.”

Frontier Nursing University’s Department of Clinical Outreach and Placement strives to serve both students and their preceptors. All preceptors are surveyed by FNU to learn about their experience precepting a Frontier student and to learn how to create the best possible experience for all parties involved. In 2022, a total of 746 preceptors responded to this survey. This is what they had to say about their experience as preceptors for FNU students.

How satisfied were you with your experience serving as a Preceptor for an FNU student?

Very Satisfied: Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied

Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

How well prepared did you feel the FNU student was when they began their clinical experience with you?

Do you feel supported by FNU if you have concerns or issues while precepting?

Did you find the process for setting up your Preceptor Profile information easy to understand?

How likely will you serve as a Preceptor for an FNU student again?

2022 Preceptor of the Term Honorees

Robin Argyle, FNP, Falls Community Hospital and Clinic in Marlin, Texas

“[Robin] is a firm yet loving guide who constantly pushes you to grow into what she knows you can be.” – Michelle Hoang, FNU student

“As a preceptor, you get to have a hand in shaping the future of healthcare,” Argyle said. “There are many voices out there trying to silence NPs. Teaching students to stand up for themselves and the profession is worth any bit of time precepting takes.”

– Robin Argyle, FNP

Shannon Conley, FNP, Big Sandy Health Care in Prestonsburg, Kentucky

“She loves teaching and serves the community by sharing her knowledge with future providers so they may go on to serve their communities.” – FNU graduate Channa Arnett, FNP.

“I really enjoy watching students grow and gain confidence in their knowledge and skills. They begin as nervous students — unsure of where to start — then gradually grow into an independent provider. It makes me proud to know that I have taken a part in developing a competent, confident, and caring nurse practitioner.” – Shannon Conley,

Megan Ferguson, CNM, Alpenglow Women’s Health in Wasilla, Alaska

“She has instilled confidence, encouraged education, and nurtured growth in me as I transition from nurse to nursemidwife.” – Megan Webb, FNU student

“We need to raise these next generations of practitioners to love and grow their practice so that we can continue to listen to women and provide the care all women deserve.”

–

Megan Ferguson, CNM

Freda Hubbard, APRN, Greenview Medical Group in Bowling Green, Kentucky

“I know that I will be a much better FNP due to her diligence and guidance throughout this learning process. I can only hope to one day be a preceptor like Freda. She is truly a blessing to future nurses and nurse practitioners alike.” – Amanda Moore, FNU student

“I wanted to give back to my profession. By working with students, I can be a part of their growth.” – Freda Hubbard, APRN