PA preceptors play a key role in teaching PA students pertinent on-the-job skills they’ll utilize throughout their career. They’re especially important in our field because the clinical year makes up half of our education and that’s when a lot of students gain most of their hands-on experience! Preceptors are a crucial part of this training process and, as a result, in educating future PA clinicians.
Given the impact preceptors will have on your professional development, it’s important to have a good working relationship with them—and to understand there are certain rules of etiquette to follow during rotations.
So you can get the most out of your clinical year, we’re going to go over some tips that’ll help you work with clinical preceptors in a smooth, professional manner. We’ll begin by taking a quick look at some of the key details of the role itself. What is a PA preceptor, and why do they take such an interest in training future PAs?
What is a PA Preceptor?
Clinical preceptors are licensed healthcare professionals who guide the training of students and new practitioners in a clinical setting. Most clinical preceptors don’t get any kind of compensation for their work. While some PA schools have started offering stipends to entice clinicians to take students, many large hospital systems don’t allow employees to accept them and other preceptors simply choose not to accept a stipend. They do it because they want to give back to the profession by educating future clinicians!
It’s important to remember that preceptors aren’t only there to educate. They also have their own job to do. As a clinical student, it’s key to be mindful of and appreciate the sacrifices and dedication that goes into being a PA preceptor.
8 Tips for Interacting With Your PA Preceptor
Given the impact preceptors can have on your development as a PA, it’s important to form a good working relationship with them.
Standard good advice for students in their clinical year includes:
1. Show up early.
You never want to make your preceptor wait around for you, so timeliness is extremely important. This is something to remember not only on your first day, but throughout the entire rotation.
2. Be sure to stay engaged throughout your clinicals.
This isn’t just to make a good impression, but more importantly, for your own benefit and the benefit of your future patients. Staying off your phone is an easy ask.
Of course, a lot of students have PA apps on their phone, which can be great aids when it comes to clinical decision-making. You can still use them! Just be sure to communicate with your preceptor so they know why you’re on your phone. And don’t utilize your phone for nonclinical purposes.
3. Don’t pull out study materials when there are things to do.
We all know the clinical year ends with the PANCE, not to mention the multiple end of rotation exams throughout the year. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed and for your rotation to start to feel daunting in the face of all the other things you need to get done.
While you should never pull out study materials when there are things to do, it’s absolutely appropriate to study during lunch or any other downtime you have. Outside of those windows, try and focus on the rotation and enhancing your clinical knowledge.
Establishing a study schedule that organizes your time outside of rotations can be really helpful in making your life more manageable and productive.
4. Take the rotation seriously.
Give each rotation your best, no matter your level of interest. That’s important even if you’re going into clinical year with a specialty already in mind.
It’s wonderful to find your passion, but remember that all areas of medicine are crucial to learn. Perhaps you want to go into a subsurgical specialty and are dreading your psychiatry rotation. If so, don’t take that time and experience for granted. It’s likely you’ll see some of everything in clinical practice.
Remember that one of the best parts about being a PA is the ability to change specialties in the future. You never know where life will take you, so I encourage you to soak up all experiences with an open mind. You may find that you like something more than you thought you would!
5. Ask questions, but at the right time.
Preceptors expect you to have questions—in fact, they usually encourage them. However, you’ll need to be mindful of how you ask them. For starters, if the question is easily answered with an Up-To-Date search, I recommend writing it down to look up later.
As an example, let’s say you want to know the mechanism of action of the medication your preceptor prescribed, write that down and look it up when you get home. In contrast, if you know the mechanism of action and still want clarification on why that medication was chosen, that’s a great question to ask!
If you do ask a question, make a note of your preceptor’s answer. You never want to ask the same questions repeatedly.
Lastly, be sure to avoid asking questions during a patient interaction. Save your questions for a more appropriate time.
6. Never argue with your preceptor.
There will likely come a time when you disagree with your preceptor’s management. Maybe they’re prescribing augmentin in a situation where you were told amoxicillin was more appropriate. Maybe they give a Z-Pak to a patient who you think has viral sinusitis.
Whatever the case may be, questions are appropriate, but argument is not. Their clinical decisions often come from years of experience, and you’ll inevitably see differences between what the PANCE would want you to do versus what your preceptor chooses to do. Recognizing these differences is crucial in your academic and clinical success.
With that being said, if you have any significant concerns regarding your clinical experience, these should be taken to your school’s clinical coordinator or your advisor to be addressed.
7. Your preceptor doesn’t have to be the only person you learn from.
Remember that your clinical preceptor is only one part of your educational experience. There are often many other people you’ll meet on your rotation who can teach you so much. This includes physicians, nurses, and technicians.
I remember that once during my critical care rotation, I was able to spend a shift with a respiratory therapist. During this time I learned so much about ventilator management that I still think back to. Whether it’s having a nurse walk you through IV placement or a scrub tech showing you the ropes in the operating room, these experiences are invaluable and I encourage you to pursue them.
8. Sending a thank you at the end of your rotation is appropriate.
It’s absolutely unnecessary to give your preceptor any kind of gift following the rotation. However, I highly recommend writing a thank you card. It shows gratitude for your experience, while also leaving a lasting impression that may be helpful if you reach out in the future for any reference request or letters of recommendation.
Final Thoughts
I can’t emphasize enough how important clinical preceptors are, especially for PAs. In many ways, they’re the educational backbone of your clinical year. Always remember, these are professionals dedicated to the future of our field, and they do their work without pay in most cases. Keep these tips in mind for interacting with them while you’re on rotations, and your clinical year will go smoothly. Best of luck out there, and be sure to reach out if you have any questions!
