For many nurse practitioner (NP) students, finding a preceptor can feel like one of the most challenging parts of their educational journey. With schools frequently placing the responsibility of finding preceptors on students, it’s no wonder forums are full of questions about the best way to secure clinical placements.
Back when I was an NP student, it was easy. You just asked a colleague. But things have changed. There are One of the most frequently asked questions I see on nursing forums is: “Should I pay a preceptor directly or use a preceptor matching company?” Both approaches have their merits, but ultimately, the decision depends on various factors, including availability, budget, and the quality of the preceptorship experience.
Let’s take a closer look at both options.
Option 1: Paying a Preceptor Directly
Paying a preceptor directly can seem like a straightforward solution. You cut out the middleman and, theoretically, have more control over your preceptor selection and the financial arrangement. This option may work well for students who have access to a network of potential preceptors and prefer handling the communication themselves.
Advantages:
- Direct Negotiation: Students can negotiate terms directly with the preceptor, which may lead to more flexible payment arrangements.
- Control Over Selection: By not going through a third party, students can vet potential preceptors themselves and select those they feel best match their learning needs.
- Potential Cost Savings: Some students might assume that bypassing a matching company saves money. However, it may also have some real disadvantages.
Disadvantages:
- Time-Consuming: Finding a preceptor can be incredibly time-consuming, especially when you have to balance coursework, work, and other responsibilities. You may spend hours cold-calling clinics and searching for available providers.
- Uncertainty: Without a formal agreement in place, there’s a risk that your preceptor may cancel or reschedule, leaving you scrambling to find a replacement at the last minute.
- Quality and Reliability Risks: Unfortunately, there are cases of "fake" preceptors—individuals who claim they’ll take students but disappear after receiving payment. This is particularly risky when dealing directly with preceptors without a reliable third party to vet them. Be EXTREMELY wary of offers through WhatsApp. Red Flag Warning!! I’ve seen this posted on forums, and students have no recourse.
- Limited Quality Control: Since preceptor quality varies widely, students may not know the teaching style or experience level of the preceptor until they are already committed.
- Paperwork Management: Students will be responsible for paperwork management. Depending on the school, this can be extremely challenging! Tracking down signatures is one of the hardest jobs!
- Collecting Preceptor Information for Submission: It’s a lot of work to collect the business name, emails, phones, licenses, board certifications, resumes, and practice info to make sure it matches your school requirements.
- Money Conversations With Your Preceptor: Ugh. Talking money with a preceptor can be uncomfortable. You don’t want to “pay for a pass.”
Option 2: Using a Preceptor Matching Company
Preceptor matching companies like PreceptorLink® exist to take the stress out of finding a clinical preceptor. These companies maintain a network of vetted preceptors and handle much of the legwork to ensure you have a confirmed placement that aligns with your school’s requirements.
Advantages:
- Correct Placement: With a preceptor matching company, students can search for a preceptor that meets their school requirements. (Make sure you KNOW your school’s requirements.)
- Vetted Preceptors: Here at PreceptorLink®, we have personal relationships with our preceptors. Relationships are key! We vet our preceptors by connecting with them personally, reviewing preceptor information, and collecting credentialing documents such as licenses, certifications, and resumes. This helps ensure that you are paired with a qualified, experienced mentor. And you have everything you need to submit! (Not every company does all of this with their preceptors, so please check it out carefully!)
- Protection Against Scams: PreceptorLink® provides peace of mind by guarding against “fake” preceptors. You never have to worry about someone taking your money and disappearing.
- 24/7/365 Access: Some companies, like PreceptorLink®, offer platforms where students can view preceptor information at any time, ensuring students have full visibility into clinical experience options.
- Credentialing Document and Contact Information Collection: All information is collected for the student, so that they can just submit everything at once.
- Consolidated Information: All contact details for the site and preceptor—phone numbers, addresses, business names, and emails—are kept in one place. This includes legal agreements, preventing the headache of sorting through emails for important documents.
- Paperwork Sent for Signature: Some schools require students to obtain signatures on documents. We will do this for you.
- Support Throughout the Process: Our team provides support throughout your clinical rotation, ensuring that if issues arise, you have someone to turn to for solutions.
- Review Preceptor to Ensure Fit for Your Class/Program: If you send us your school manual and class, we will review it for you to ensure our preceptor should work for you!
Disadvantages:
- Cost: Preceptor matching services come at a price that may be higher than what you’d pay a preceptor directly. However, this cost reflects the time savings, reliability, and guaranteed placements that the service offers.
- Availability in Certain Areas: Depending on your location, it might be difficult to find a matching service with preceptors available nearby. Though many companies work nationwide, local shortages can still be an issue.
- Don’t Know Your Match Ahead of Time: You are going in a little blind, which can be disconcerting. Try to get as many details as you can on your potential preceptor.
The Bottom Line: Which Is Right for You?
Ultimately, the decision between paying a preceptor directly or using a preceptor-matching company comes down to your personal needs and circumstances.
If you have a strong network of healthcare providers and have the time and energy to manage your own clinical placements, paying a preceptor directly might work out.. However, if time constraints, uncertainty, and quality assurance are concerns, using a matching company like PreceptorLink® could save you significant stress and ensure you get the best possible learning experience.
FIND NURSE PRACTITIONER PRECEPTORS with PreceptorLink®
At PreceptorLink®, we understand the challenges that NP students face when searching for preceptors. That’s why we’ve spent over a decade building a vast network of high-quality, vetted preceptors to match you with the right clinical experience.
Our mission is to simplify the process, so you can focus on what matters most—your education and future career as a nurse practitioner. FIND NURSE PRACTITIONER PRECEPTORS today with PreceptorLink®, and let us take the guesswork out of securing your clinical rotation.
