Elmhurst University Department of Nursing and Health Sciences is in search of nurses in a variety of disciplines to become preceptors. Preceptors are valuable health care providers who share their experiences and help mentor nursing students by providing real-world learning opportunities and experiences in a clinical setting.
As an Elmhurst preceptor, you will be working with nursing students who have been educated at the highest level of academic excellence. You’ll help students launch their second career in nursing and give back to the profession in which you received mentorship. In fact, many preceptors describe a feeling of pride in giving back and find that there’s nothing quite as satisfying as paying it forward.
Elmhurst University’s Department of Nursing and Health Services is dedicated to increasing diversity in nursing and takes pride in providing educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Our distance Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) and Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice (MENP) programs are immersive educational experiences that are delivered by a passionate, supportive faculty who values personal growth, human rights and social justice.
Our students are bright and engaged achievers who want to reach their full potential, and all aspects of our academic programming are designed to foster their success. That’s why we believe preceptors are an extension of our team and play an essential role in the education of our students.
Shape the Next Generation of Nurses
Our distance ABSN and MENP programs are designed for individuals who want to change careers and become a bachelor’s or master’s prepared entry-level nurse. We welcome you to share your expertise and experience to help precept and mentor our distance ABSN and MENP nursing students by providing real-world learning opportunities within your practice.
Accelerated BSN Curriculum Sample
Opportunities are available to support students for up to 667 clinical rotation hours.
Focuses on theories, principles and processes for adult populations experiencing common health problems within priority areas of care. Emphasis is on nursing care of the older adult. A systems framework is used to discuss clinical prevention and patient-centered care for select chronic care issues, including end of life. Introduces methods for evidence-based decision making to support the role of provider of care. Beginning leadership skills and ethical practice in promoting optimal care outcomes in acute and community-based systems are fostered. Includes supervised laboratory experiences and clinical practicum.
Focuses on theories, principles and processes for care of adults from diverse populations experiencing select acute, chronic and complex health problems. A systems framework facilitates integration of knowledge from previous nursing and science courses. The roles of provider and designer of nursing care are developed. Application of evidence-based methods for use in decision-making support basic leadership skills and ethical practice in promoting optimal outcomes. Includes a supervised clinical practicum in a variety of settings.
Focuses on theories, principles and processes related to care of the child from infancy through adolescence within the context of family. Using a systems framework, delivery of family-focused nursing care emphasizes clinical prevention, health promotion and health restoration. Influences of genetics, environment and social policies on family and child health nursing roles are considered. Provider, designer and manager of care roles are developed. Basic leadership skills and ethical practice are fostered in a supervised clinical practicum in a variety of settings.
Focuses on theories, principles and processes related to reproductive health from early to older adulthood within the context of family. Using a systems framework, family-focused patient-centered care addresses perinatal, women’s and men’s health. Clinical prevention, genomics and end-of-life issues are examined. Provider, designer and manager-of-care roles in ethical practice with vulnerable populations are developed. Basic leadership skills are demonstrated through values clarification and conflict management in family-centered clinical decision making and management of care outcomes in a supervised clinical practicum in a variety of settings.
Focuses on synthesis of theories, principles and processes in nursing roles of provider and designer/manager/coordinator of care in complex health care systems. Care for diverse groups of patients with multisystem health problems is addressed. Emphasis is on increasing autonomy and collaborative leadership in interprofessional teams, ethical practice and achievement of safe and quality care outcomes. Includes practice in a supervised clinical practicum.
MENP Curriculum Sample
Opportunities are available to support students for up to 835 clinical rotation hours.
Examines knowledge, skills and attitudes essential to professional nursing practice with individuals, families and populations across the lifespan. Clinical reasoning skills for the professional nursing role are developed using the concepts of quality, safety, evidence-based practice and patient-centered care within the health-illness continuum. Ethical principles and social determinants of health are introduced as a framework for professional nursing practice. Clinical practicum/lab provides opportunity for application of these concepts as a provider of care in a variety of health care systems.
Focuses on theories, principles and processes for the adult population experiencing health problems within priority areas of care. A systems framework is used to discuss clinical prevention and patient-centered care for select care issues. Utilize knowledge of illness and disease management to support evidence-based decision-making as a provider of direct care. Beginning leadership skills and ethical practice in promoting optimal care outcomes are fostered in an advanced nursing role.
Examines patient and family-centered nursing care for select conditions and health alterations specific to reproductive-age women, newborns, children and families across the health-illness continuum. Students develop the professional roles of provider and designer/manager/coordinator of nursing care using an evidence-based approach. Clinical practicum builds on previous knowledge, skills and attitudes and provides opportunity for application and synthesis of course concepts in a variety of health care systems.
Examines patient and family-centered nursing care for select psychiatric/mental health conditions across the health-illness continuum. Students develop the professional roles of provider and designer/manager/coordinator of nursing care using an evidence-based approach. Clinical practicum builds on previous knowledge, skills and attitudes and provides opportunity for application of course concepts in a variety of health care systems.
Designed as a capstone experience to synthesize knowledge and skills of professional nursing practice developed through the program and integration of the clinical nurse leader role. Focuses on clinical leadership in lateral integration of care at the point of care to promote optimal outcomes. Residency is a precepted clinical immersion experience. Residency supports implementation of clinical nurse leader role functions including advocate, health professional, team manager, information manager, system analysis/risk anticipator, clinician, outcomes manager and educator. Designated clinical faculty maintain frequent communication with students and assume responsibility for assessment and evaluation of student clinical experiences and competencies.
What Are the Benefits of Precepting?
Many nurses become preceptors for the rewards of sharing their expertise and knowledge and for the satisfaction of seeing nurses develop professionally. Elmhurst students are experienced, committed and quality professionals you can trust to provide exceptional care for your patients.
Other benefits of precepting include:
- Teaching new students is your opportunity to pay forward the dedication of your own preceptor.
- Teaching reinforces and strengthens your own knowledge.
- Students are taught the most up-to-date clinical best practices, so sharing knowledge when precepting is often a two-way street.
Precepting is your opportunity to shape a new generation of nurses, influence real change in health care and give back to the profession.
Contact Us
Your support of our students and programs is greatly appreciated. If you or someone you know may be interested in precepting, please contact: info@placement.keypathedu.com
Preceptor FAQs
A preceptor is an experienced licensed practitioner who provides professional instruction and supervision during clinical practice and facilitates the application of theory to practice for nursing students
- Registered Nurse (B.S.N. or M.S.N) and licensed in the state precepting
- Minimum of 2 years work experience as a licensed R.N., depending on state precepting
- Holds a current C.P.R. card
- Carries professional liability insurance either from their employer or on their own
Preceptors have opportunities for immediate feedback as well as a more formal assessment of student performance in the form of evaluations.
The time commitment varies by program and by rotation.