Policy No. 433
Administrative Policies Affecting the School of Nursing
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Clinical Preceptors for Graduate Students

Date Effective
June 2008
Date Reviewed / Revised
August 2022
Program Level
Administrative

POLICY: 

The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing will identify, orient, assign and evaluate qualified preceptors providing supervision of students enrolled in Master’s, DNP and certificates. Identification, orientation, assignment and evaluation of preceptors will be consistent with Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing Regulations and/or Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC). and/or Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, and/or Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) and/or Pennsylvania Dept. of Education, APRN Standards from AACN, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS), and other relevant regulatory bodies, as appropriate. Preceptors will meet PA SBON regulation requirements for preceptorship.

PROCEDURE:

Preceptor Identification

  1. Potential preceptors for graduate students must be licensed, credentialed and/or certified in the appropriate specialty area.
  2. Potential preceptors must have adequate clinical experience to oversee graduate and certificate students as agreed upon by the School of Nursing and clinical agency.
  3. Preceptor needs to be educated at level of student or higher, according to PA SBON regulations.

Preceptor Orientation

  1. Identified preceptors will be oriented to their role and responsibilities including student oversight and evaluation.
  2. Identified preceptors will be oriented to their responsibilities including facilitating student learning and providing a safe place for students to practice.
  3. Identified preceptors will be oriented to School of Nursing policies with respect to student participation in clinical activities.
  4. Identified preceptors will be oriented to School of Nursing student learning outcomes, evaluation instruments and faculty contact information.
  5. Preceptors will be oriented to the overall student evaluation process. This will include the primary faculty asking for input on individual student outcomes from the preceptor. The primary faculty will be responsible for the final student evaluation.
  6. Placeholder for other criteria.

Preceptor Assignment

  1. Preceptors will be appropriately assigned to supervise students under the direction of the primary faculty and in conjunction with the clinical agency.
  2. Preceptor to student clinical ratios should be based on student level, patient acuity and the complexity of the clinical environment.
  3. Placeholder for other criteria.

Preceptor Evaluation

  1. Preceptors will be evaluated on a regular basis by the primary faculty and students.
  2. Preceptor evaluation results will be reviewed on a regular basis with feedback communicated to the preceptor or clinical facility by the primary faculty.
  3. Placeholder for other criteria.