Mentor the Next Generation of Nurse Practitioners

What is a preceptor?

A preceptor is a licensed clinician (Nurse Practitioner, Medical Doctor, or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) who mentors Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) students through their clinical rotations and provides constructive feedback.

What does a preceptor do?

As a preceptor, you will:

  • Provide a hands-on learning environment for your student
  • Offer feedback on your student’s clinical performance and patient interactions
  • Evaluate your student twice per semester

Do preceptors get paid?

UMass Lowell Solomont School of Nursing is pleased to offer our eligible preceptors a financial stipend, paid at the end of each semester.

What is a Clinical Education Partnership?

Clinical practices that offer exceptional and consistent learning experiences for our students are invited to enter into partnership with the Solomont School of Nursing at UMass Lowell. Preceptors at our partner facilities receive exclusive benefits such as increased financial stipends, transferable tuition vouchers, tailored recruitment opportunities and invitations to partner appreciation events. Learn more by emailing Anne_Apigian@uml.edu, the APRN clinical placement coordinator.

How do I become trained to be a preceptor?

Our preceptors are given access to a series of orientation videos produced by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). Additionally, our clinical faculty are available to answer any questions that may arise.

Which specialty areas do preceptors work in?

We place our students in the following clinical rotations:

  • Internal Medicine: Outpatient and ambulatory primary care or family/internal medicine
  • Pediatrics: Pediatrics office, school-based health clinic, or primary care practice with a sufficient volume of pediatric cases
  • Women’s Health Across the Lifespan: Family/internal medicine practice with a sufficient volume of female patients, OBGYN setting, college health center, or infertility clinic
  • Older Adult: Internal medicine practice with a sufficient volume of patients aged 65 and older, skilled nursing facility, long-term care, sub-acute care, rehabilitation, hospice, or assisted living

Will my precepting hours be documented?

Yes, at the end of each semester, you will receive a certificate documenting your total number of precepted hours, which is often used in recertification.

How do I express interest in precepting?

Contact the APRN clinical placement coordinator at UMass Lowell to find out more. Should you decide to become a preceptor, we will send you resumes of students likely to be a good fit to your practice, based on location and professional experience. The clinical placement coordinator will handle all the paperwork, and work with your office to get your student onboarded.

Resources for Preceptors

Nursing Practitioner Student Preceptors must complete and submit the following:

The above items are required by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), our accrediting agency.