So, you’ve begun your Preceptorship–or are about to. Like any new chapter in life, you likely have questions about what to expect moving forward.
Here’s what to expect when you’re precepting.
What is a Preceptor?
Preceptors are experienced, qualified clinicians whose role is to support and mentor you in preparation for caring for patients of your own. Equal parts teacher and coach, they’ll help guide you through your rotations and bridge the gap between theory learning and real-world practice.
What Will I Learn in My Preceptorship?
Over the course of your Preceptorship (the duration of which will vary depending on your program and specialty), your Preceptor will help you translate what you learned in the classroom into meeting clinical objectives and delivering quality care. This includes, but certainly isn’t limited to:
- Creating and maintaining care plans
- Task management and delegation
- Cluster care and caring for multiple patients independently
- Patient Advocacy
- Clearly communicating with patients and families, but also fellow staff and healthcare teams
As the growth of telemedicine continues to rise, it’s also crucial for students to have practice in delivering healthcare in virtual settings. Precepting programs like MomentMD allow students the opportunity to precept with physicians who provide telemedicine in their day-to-day practices.
How Do I Make the Most of My Preceptorship?
Like any professional development opportunity, you get back what you put in. To make the most of your Preceptorship, be sure to ask questions, request feedback to identify opportunities for growth, listen, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. After all, Preceptors are here to do just that!
Precepting is an important rite of passage. At MomentMD, we’re thrilled to be able to help students on their professional journeys and pair them with the best mentors to do it.
Interested in becoming a Preceptor yourself? Click here to view our current openings.
Anna Hochberger is an Emmy-award winning marketer and spearheads all marketing initiatives for MomentMD. She’s an Oxford comma enthusiast and proud third-culture kid.