Why precept with Northwestern?
Why precept with Northwestern?
Why precept with Northwestern?
Your contribution to the training of Northwestern College PA students will help them become exceptional medical providers. Precepting enables you to make a lasting impact in the lives of students as well as the future of healthcare. Preceptors are uniquely positioned to mentor students in developing strong leadership, consulting, and communication abilities in addition to medical knowledge and skills.
Not only do preceptors guide and teach PA students, they equip them to strengthen their skills in history taking, physical examination, effective communication, physical diagnosis, succinct recording and reporting, problem assessment, and plan development, including a logical approach to further studies and therapy.
Preceptor eligibility
Any board-certified physician (MD/DO), PA, or NP can precept. The clinical instruction and mentorship preceptors provide is invaluable to the development of our PA students.
I have taken several students from the Northwestern PA program, and I am continually impressed by the quality of students they have sent me. It seems like each student is better than the next and they all exhibit an eagerness to learn and willingness to help out. Getting to precept students for NWC is such a blessing and joy! Kellie Den Hartog, PA-C | Avera Medical Group | Rock Rapids, IA
Preceptor, student, and program contributions + responsibilities
Preceptor, student, and program responsibilities
Preceptor, student, and program responsibilities
Examples of preceptor contributions to support student success:
- Orient students at the onset of the rotation with the site policies and procedures, and review the expectations and objectives for the rotation.
- Provide ongoing and timely feedback regarding clinical performance, knowledge base, and critical thinking skills.
- Supervise, demonstrate, teach, and observe clinical activities to aid in the development of clinical skills and ensure proper patient care.
- Delegate to the student increasing levels of responsibility for clinical assessment and management as appropriate to the student’s experience and expertise.
- Complete and promptly return the evaluation forms provided by the program reflecting on student knowledge and skills, as well as their improvement throughout the rotation.
- Promptly notify the PA program of any circumstances that might interfere with the accomplishment of the above goals or diminish the overall training experience.
- Maintain an ethical approach to the care of patients by serving as a role model for the student.
In addition to adhering to the standards of professional conduct outlined in the Clinical Handbook, students are expected to perform the following during their clinical rotations:
- Obtain detailed histories and conduct physical exams, develop a differential diagnosis, formulate an assessment and plan through discussion with the preceptor, give oral presentations, and document findings.
- Perform and interpret common lab results and diagnostics. Educate and counsel patients across the lifespan regarding health-related issues.
- Attend clinical rotations as scheduled in addition to grand rounds, lectures, and conferences, if available to them.
- Demonstrate emotional resilience and stability, adaptability, and flexibility during the clinical year.
- Track patient encounters and progress toward required experiences.
- Maintain a professional presence at all times.
- Facilitate the evaluation process for preceptors.
- Provide remediation, both academic and professional, to students in need.
- Address any concerns raised by students or preceptors.
- Conduct final evaluation of student skills for graduation.
Preceptor requirements by specialty
Preceptor requirements by specialty
Preceptor requirements by specialty
The resources below provide learning objectives, minimum required clinical experiences for students, and preceptor qualifications for each rotation specialty.
The resources below provide learning objectives, minimum required clinical experiences for students, and preceptor qualifications for each rotation specialty.
The resources below provide learning objectives, minimum required clinical experiences for students, and preceptor qualifications for each rotation specialty.
This is an 8-week rotation designed to educate students about the diagnosis, management, and treatment of health problems and preventative care across the lifespan in the primary care setting. Students will learn to address acute, chronic, routine, and preventative medical issues in this patient population. This rotation may include inpatient as well as outpatient settings and will expose students to different social and economic factors encountered in a community-based patient population. Students will work with clinical preceptors and the Director of Clinical Education to coordinate adequate student exposure to minimum requirements for diagnoses and procedures. Each student will complete this rotation course two times during the clinical year, at different clinical locations, to provide students with a range of experiences in the family medicine setting.
This is a 4-week rotation designed to educate students about the diagnosis, management, and treatment of health problems and preventative care of adult and elderly patients. This rotation may include inpatient as well as outpatient settings and will expose students to different social and economic factors encountered in a community-based patient population. Students will work with clinical preceptors and the Director of Clinical Education to coordinate adequate student exposure to minimum requirements for diagnoses and procedures.
This is a 4-week rotation designed to give students an introduction to the evaluation and management of surgical patients. Students will spend time in both the inpatient (hospital and operating rooms) and outpatient (clinic) environments and will work with patients seeking pre-, intra-, and post-operative care and counseling. Students will work with clinical preceptors and the Director of Clinical Education to coordinate adequate student exposure to minimum requirements for diagnoses and procedures.
This is a 4-week rotation designed to give students an introduction to the evaluation and management of behavioral and mental health conditions. This rotation may include inpatient as well as outpatient settings and will expose students to different social and economic factors encountered in a community-based patient population. Students will work with clinical preceptors and the Director of Clinical Education to coordinate adequate student exposure to minimum requirements for diagnoses and procedures.
This is a 4-week rotation designed to educate students about the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of emergency, urgent, and non-urgent medical problems that present to the emergency department. Students will work with clinical preceptors and the Director of Clinical Education to coordinate adequate student exposure to minimum requirements for diagnoses and procedures.
This is a 2-week rotation designed to educate students about the preventative care, diagnosis, management, and treatment of health problems in women’s health. Students will learn to address acute, chronic, routine, and preventative medical issues in this patient population. Students will provide prenatal and gynecologic care to patients. This rotation may include inpatient as well as outpatient settings and will expose students to different social and economic factors encountered in a community-based patient population. Students will work with clinical preceptors and the Director of Clinical Education to coordinate adequate student exposure to minimum requirements for diagnoses and procedures.
This is a 2-week rotation designed to educate students about the diagnosis, management, and treatment of health problems and preventative care of pediatric patients, including newborns, infants, children, and adolescents. Students will learn to address acute, chronic, routine, and preventative medical issues in this patient population. This rotation may include inpatient as well as outpatient settings and will expose students to different social and economic factors encountered in a community-based patient population. Students will work with clinical preceptors and the Director of Clinical Education to coordinate adequate student exposure to minimum requirements for diagnoses and procedures.
Students will work with the Director of Clinical Education to select from a variety of specialty and sub-specialty practice sites.
Preceptor handbook + resources
These tools have been developed by the PAEA and are valuable resources for guidance. These proven methods have been shown to make the preceptor experience as efficient and rewarding as possible.
Preceptor benefits
Preceptor benefits
Preceptor benefits
In appreciation for the valuable time and clinical instruction preceptors provide, preceptors are eligible for several Northwestern College benefits, including a Northwestern College staff ID and the following additional benefits:
In appreciation for the valuable time and clinical instruction preceptors provide, preceptors are eligible for several Northwestern College benefits, including a Northwestern College staff ID and the following additional benefits:
In appreciation for the valuable time and clinical instruction preceptors provide, preceptors are eligible for several Northwestern College benefits, including a Northwestern College staff ID and the following additional benefits:
- AAPA Category 1, Credits for PAs and NPs.
- Following completion of a preceptor rotation, please complete the Preceptor Program Reporting & Evaluation Form.
- Potential AMA or AAFP CME for MDs and DOs.
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) high-weighted improvement activity points for eligible preceptors.
$1,000 Northwestern College PA Preceptor Scholarship available to participating clinic employees or preceptors.
In appreciation for precepting a Physician Assistant student, Northwestern College offers a $1,000 tuition scholarship. The scholarship may be applied by the preceptor or clinic site employee toward undergraduate or graduate tuition.
- Preceptor: The PA preceptor, spouse or dependents of the preceptor may apply a $1,000 scholarship to be used within 12 months of the precepting student’s placement. Limit of one per year.
- Clinical site employees: Permanent employees working at least 20 hours per week at the physical location of a student’s clinical rotation are eligible for a one-time $1000 scholarship to be used within 12 months of the last day of the precepting student’s placement.
To apply for this scholarship, please connect with Rick Loutsch, Director of Clinical Education at [email protected].
Facilities who train NWC PA students will be invited to network with current and graduating students for employee recruitment.
Preceptors who accept two or more students in a clinical year (August-July) are eligible for the title of Clinical Faculty Member. Clinical Faculty receive the following additional benefits:
Preceptors who accept two or more students in a clinical year (August-July) are eligible for the title of Clinical Faculty Member. Clinical Faculty receive the following additional benefits:
Preceptors who accept two or more students in a clinical year (August-July) are eligible for the title of Clinical Faculty Member. Clinical Faculty receive the following additional benefits:
Raider pass to Northwestern athletic, theatre, and music events.
Use of Rowenhorst Student Center fitness facilities.
15% discount at NWC Bookstore.
Food and drink discounts at NWC Cafeteria, Hub, and Learning Commons Coffee Shop.
Access to NWC library resources, including UpToDate and Access Medicine.
Access preceptor benefits
To receive access to your preceptor benefits, please complete and submit the NWC Employee/Contract form.
PA Clinical Team
Brilliant scholars. Committed Christians. Invested in you. That’s Northwestern’s faculty.
Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Northwestern College Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Northwestern College. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2034. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-historynorthwestern-college/.
Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Northwestern College Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Northwestern College. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2034. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-historynorthwestern-college/.
Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Northwestern College Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Northwestern College. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2034. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-historynorthwestern-college/.