Students, Preceptors, and Faculty: The important trifecta and the future of advanced practice providers

Students, Preceptors, and Faculty: The important trifecta and the future of advanced practice providers

By: Terri Schmitt PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP
Executive Director, NPACE

There is a precious trifecta in advanced practice education not often enough acknowledged, the triad of APP students, faculty, and preceptors. Without these three, the future of all advanced practice would be nonexistent. Careful nurturing and support of all three is critical to not only the future of the advanced practice profession, but to patients and the future of healthcare itself. We need students, faculty, and preceptors to help heal what ails healthcare.

I was reminded of the above importance by an interruption of everyday grind through a recent anonymous text… “Is this Dr. Schmitt that used to teach at (insert specific university here)? I ask because I was a former student, and I wanted to reach out and thank you for your impact on my education.” The honest truth is it took me a moment to filter through the many faces of students coupled with a few more facts from them to jog my memory, but the importance of the moment and her kindness in reaching out was not lost on me.

APP faculty, the impact you have on each and every student you teach is a great responsibility. The impact of educators on the future and practice of students is a force like no other- it molds, shapes, and can uplift and empower if well wielded.

Students, you are the future of the profession. In the midst of all that is not working in healthcare, you are who will change the system. Your work will be hard, you must be proactive, but you also must seek out the best and most challenging academic education for yourself now and throughout your career in continued professional development. Clinical science changes quickly. We need you now, more than ever, to be committed to the profession.

Preceptors are a critical pillar in building future APPs. Regardless of the education model, preceptors are the backbone of APP education. Classroom faculty teach foundational and theoretical knowledge, but preceptors teach practical and hands on knowledge in real time bridging the gap from theory to actuality. NP preceptors rarely receive for their time, besides additional paperwork and demands, and yet they continue to serve.

NPACE recognizes all three of these crucial groups! We have launched a new Student, Faculty, and Preceptor Resource page. In this page you will find great information like links to resources, free lectures and podcasts on our YouTube channel, great skills learning where you can practice skills you need on-repeat, and the latest on our limited faculty and student scholarship conference seats.

Finally, we want to invite all students, preceptors, and faculty to join us at a special live event in November in Orlando, FL where we are proud to work with our partner APEA who will provide a 2-day live certification review on site, food, exhibit hall, and a chance to bring your preceptor or faculty with you to enjoy the conference!

Check out our special pricing for students, faculty, and preceptors and find out more details visit our student and faculty page here!

Thank you to preceptors for serving new APPs.

Thank you to faculty for dedicating your career to fostering new APPs.

Thank you to students for having the drive to seek out advanced education and working hard to help improve healthcare.