Preceptors
Who is a preceptor?
A preceptor is a practicing health professional that teaches others. For example, a preceptor could be a physician, nurse, midwife, or physician assistant that teaches students in the clinic. A preceptor is a role model, helping to prepare students for their career in medicine, teaching best practices, and motivating students to be actively involved in patient care.
I’m not a preceptor, but I want to be!
If you are interested in being a preceptor for the Indiana AHEC Network, we encourage you to reach out to us, and we can walk you through the steps to become a preceptor.
If you have never precepted a student before, or you have but would like to learn more, there are many resources available to help preceptors learn best practices and tips for teaching.
Resources for Preceptors
General Resources:
American Association Medical Colleges Medical Education Portal:
Open-access journal of teaching and learning resources for all health professions
The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Preceptor Portal:
Includes short videos about best practices for clinical teaching, as well as resources
Indiana University School of Medicine Faculty Development
American College of Nurse-Midwives Preceptor Resources
Mastering the Preceptor Role: Challenges of Clinical Teaching
Catherine Burns, PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN, Michelle Beauchesne, DNSc, RN, CPNP,
Patricia Ryan Krause, MS, MSN, RN, PNP, & Kathleen Sawin, DNS, CPNP, FAAN
Coaching & Mentoring Students:
Choosing When to Advise, Coach, or Mentor
Karen Marcdante, MD & Deborah Simpson, PhDMentoring and Coaching in Medicine
Richard L. Byyny, MD
Feedback:
Feedback vs. evaluation: Getting past the reluctance to deliver negative feedback
Keith Baker, MDProviding Difficult Feedback: Tips for the Problem Learner
Jamee H. Lucas, MD & James R. Stallworth, MD
In the clinic:
The One-Minute Preceptor
Jon O. Neher, MD & Nancy G. Stevens, MD, MPHCharacteristics of Effective Clinical Teachers
Tamara L. Buchel, MD & Frederick D. Edwards, MD