I feel at a “loss” this week.

My student NP is finished with her rotation, after a three-month tenure in our Internal Medicine office...and I really miss having her as a student. She did a wonderful job in that time...even though she was her worst critic. Patients loved her, and she was an excellent role model of what an NP should be.

Overall, I absolutely LOVE precepting students. They keep me “fresh,” making sure that I am up-to-date on the latest guidelines for everything...teaching me new things that I may not know. Even though I try to read journals and updates faithfully, the world is ever-a-changin’...and it’s difficult to keep up with the ensuing mass of articles and research that comes out on a monthly basis, as well as work full-time and have a family. I enjoy watching the process of learning...from novice to a more experienced provider. Hopefully, I am helping each student along the way...fostering the learning process and encouraging learning in a positive environment.

I still remember my most positive experiences as a student...and my worst ones. The best rotations were when my preceptors allowed me to do the visit on my own, then had me report to them, sharing my observations and assessments, allowing me to formulate my plan-of-care. If my own plan was lacking, they added to it. Then we would go in to patients together and spell-out the plan. By the end of the rotation, I was able to do this on my own, and my preceptors would only add nuances that I had missed.

The worst experiences? Well...those were providers who “took over.” Those who did not allow creative thoughts or processing as a student. Or ANY thoughts other than their own. Or, my personal least favorite diagnosis--”psychosomatic complaint”--which described every 40- or 50-some year old female in my own Internal Medicine rotation...from a physician who NEVER addressed these women’s underlying depression and anxiety. No matter that these women had real physical symptoms stemming from their untreated psychological issues. I think I saw him write ONE SSRI Rx during the three months that I was there...and NO referrals for counseling. Hmph.

So, for those of you who precept students, please remember the joy AND the fear that they bring to your clinical site. They are our future providers...and we owe it to them to foster a wonderful experience...to show them what our profession TRULY is.

Thank you, K., for reminding me of that truth.

Kim Spering is a family nurse practitioner who currently works at Brndjar Medical Associates, P.C., a family practice in Emmaus, PA.  Her past experience includes the fields of medical/surgical ICU, open heart/trauma ICU, labor and delivery, nursing education, nursing supervision, and as a nurse practitioner in both family practice and OB/GYN settings.  She currently serves as a NP preceptor for her graduate school alma mater, DeSales University, as well as for local baccalaureate programs.  She is passionate about patient education and helping patients understand that they are ultimately responsible for their own health.  She also firmly believes that the public needs to be educated on the value of NPs and PAs in meeting the health care needs of the next decade and beyond. In her free time, Kim enjoys family vacations with her optometrist husband, Mark, and her two sons, Matthew and Connor.

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