Clinical Preceptors20-21
Celebrating Clinical Preceptors
Clinical partnerships are one of the UW School of Nursing’s most critical resources in preparing the next generation of advanced practice registered nurses and advanced systems and population health experts. They have a deep interest in and commitment to our academic programs and demonstrate excellence in clinical practice and community service. We are grateful for our preceptors who provide an invaluable component of a student’s clinical education.
“Preceptors are the link between nursing generations; they pass the cultural and professional values that form the legacy of America’s most trusted profession,” said Executive Dean Azita Emami, MSN, BSN, RN, FAAN.
We’re proud to celebrate and honor our 2020-2021 clinical preceptors. Below they share what enjoy most about being a preceptor.
Robert Gould, MD – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track
“I like teaching the next generation of providers. I enjoy guiding students through thinking of differentials and how to come up with treatment plans that make sense. I enjoy the questions that they have and the perspective that they bring to the table, which allows me to grow in my practice as well.”
Emily Hilderman, DNP, ARNP – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Track
“I enjoy DNP students’ enthusiasm. I find it reinvigorating as it reminds me why I went back to school to be an ARNP. I love when students have an ‘AHA!’ moment – when they see a clinical problem in front of them and understand both what is happening and how they can apply their knowledge to help– it’s one thing to read about a condition, but another quite thing to see it in real life. My goal as a preceptor is to create these “AHA” opportunities for students to connect with diverse people, solve complex problems and help patients live their best lives.”
Kirsten Garner, BS, MSN, CNM, ARNP – Nurse Midwifery Track
“My greatest joy as a preceptor is watching students transition from being a nervous intern, who is scared to walk into a patient room, to being a confident and competent clinician who can run a clinic day on their own. The learning curve is so steep, and helping them reach the top of that curve is so wonderful.”
Sarah Hillebrand MSN, ARNP, FNP-c, AGNP-c – Family Nurse Practitioner Track
“I enjoy working with students who bring a fresh perspective to our work. Most students from UW DNP program come with a good variety of clinical experience and also want to discover how their experience and schooling integrate and apply in a public health setting. The match between students experience in their field, along with their academic curriculum bring a lot of value to our work here at Public Health Seattle King County (PHSKC). There is so much mutual benefit in doing this work with students! I really enjoy learning from them and seeing their contributions to our work.”
Nikki Behner, MPH, DNP, PMHNP-BC – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track
“I enjoy seeing the students’ excitement at positive mental health outcomes achieved after just a few visits and being placed on the right medications as well as having the benefit of counseling to help them learn to deal with their symptoms and other life problems.”
Hueling Chan – Population Health Nursing Track
“I appreciate the questions and different perspectives students bring, it helps us reflect and re-examine our practices and services.”
Helen Wong – Population Health Nursing Track
“I truly enjoy the collaboration, dialogue and mutual learning in our collective goal to serve community. Students bring new perspectives, innovation, the latest methodologies, and insights that are not only enriching to the work but also to myself, personally as well.”
Alicia Spiess, DNP, ARNP, PPCNP-BC – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care
“I enjoy watching students overcome their fears, learn and grow. I encourage my students to think critically and become more independent. Watching their transition from student to provider is most rewarding.”
Sara Rigel, MPH – Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
“I enjoy working with students who bring a fresh perspective to our work. Most students from UW DNP program come with a good variety of clinical experience and also want to discover how their experience and schooling integrate and apply in a public health setting. The match between students experience in their field, along with their academic curriculum bring a lot of value to our work here at Public Health Seattle King County (PHSKC). There is so much mutual benefit in doing this work with students! I really enjoy learning from them and seeing their contributions to our work.”
Karen Corlett, MSN, ARNP, CPNP-AC/PC – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care
“I very much enjoy the preceptor role. It is hard work….. having a running dialogue going all day long with explanations and defense of what you are doing and why. Then progressing to standing back, NOT talking, and letting the preceptee take the leading role in caring for the patient. It is so rewarding to watch a student or new graduate build their knowledge, gain confidence, and progress in their role acquisition to a nurse practitioner. There is nothing better than to watch a student getting their first job, progressing in their career, and going on to precept another NP student.”
Become a preceptor
Nursing students need high-quality, precepted clinical experiences on a quarterly basis as part of their education. Students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice spend four quarters in clinical placements, and one to three days per week each quarter, depending on the track and stage of their education. Through clinical placements, our graduate students have an extraordinary opportunity to learn and work alongside skilled mentors-preceptors through clinical rotations.
To explore a clinical partnership, clinical placements or precepting, please contact Professor Hilaire Thompson at 206.616.5641 or hilairet@uw.edu.