Preceptorships

Student Requirements

Prerequisites

Students must meet the following requirements to earn preceptorship credit beginning the spring term of their first year:

  • Successfully complete the first term of year one ND coursework.
  • Attend a preceptorship program orientation (offered during winter term of first year).

Required Hours

  • 216 total hours are required (240 hours for students who matriculated prior to fall 2015).
  • At least 145 hours must be completed with an approved naturopathic physician.
  • The remaining 71 hours (or 95 if the student matriculated prior to fall 2015) MAY be completed with other approved healthcare providers as listed below:
    • MD (Medical Doctor)
    • DO (Osteopathic Doctor)
    • DC (Chiropractic Doctor)
    • DPM (Podiatric Doctor)
    • PA (Physician Assistant)
    • NP, CNM (Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife)
    • DPT, PT (Doctor of Physical Therapy, Physical Therapist)
    • PsyD, PhD, LCSW, LPC, MFT (Clinical Psychologists only)
  • Students holding another medical degree (e.g., MD, DO, DC) are required to complete only 145 ND hours.
  • Typically, you may spend no less than nine hours and no more than 50 hours with the same preceptor. In rare circumstances, you may have a very short rotation of eight or fewer than eight hours. You are allowed no more than four rotations of eight or fewer hours. Students may choose to work more than 50 hours with the same preceptor, but will not receive credit for the extra hours unless a “Petition to Deviate” has been approved prior to working over 50 hours. Deviation petitions are normally only approved if the student has worked with at least four other preceptors and is in their final year of school. CURRENT HOUR EXCEPTION: until further notice, students may receive credit for up to 75 hours per preceptor without filing a Petition to Deviate. 
  • While preceptorship hours may be scheduled any time after orientation in the winter term of first year, students are formally registered for preceptorship hours in their required summer (five credits) and in spring of their final year (four credits) (five credits for students who matriculated prior to fall 2015).

Program Requirements

The following items must be completed in the CORE Clinical Tracker to receive full credit for a preceptorship. Video tutorials can be found on the CORE home page, with any questions directed to preceptorship@nunm.edu. Note that no credit will be given if all documentation is not completed by the deadline or if the preceptor was not approved prior to the start of the rotation.

Action item Due Date Responsibility
Communicate with potential preceptor and secure their agreement to work with them before submitting anything in CORE Before starting any preceptorship Student and Preceptor
Site Prospector Submission and receipt of approval notification Before starting any preceptorship Student
Preceptorship Hours Form (includes submission of Hours Tracking Template, and self-evaluation) As soon as possible following completion of preceptorship, and NO LATER THAN Friday, week two of the term following the term in which the rotation is completed. Student (NUNM and preceptor approval required)
Preceptor Evaluation As soon as possible after receipt of student’s submission of their hours Preceptor

1. Find a Potential Preceptor

Utilizing the Research Center in the CORE Clinical Tracker, identify a potential preceptor. You are also welcome to identify potential preceptors who are not in the Research Center, and request that they apply to become approved NUNM preceptors. Read preceptorship listings carefully and find a good fit for your goals. Contact the practitioner and discuss their availability for a preceptorship that will fit your and their schedule. Decide on your learning goals together and THEN complete and submit for pre-approval. When preceptors are part of this planning process, you have a much higher probability of a successful placement. Blind submissions of these forms almost never work and are off-putting to preceptors.

2. Site Prospector submission for pre-approval

Your preceptorship may not begin until you have submitted and received approval notification. Following the instructional tutorials in CORE, complete the Site Prospector submission, which includes listing your specific learning goals for the rotation. Once you receive notification of approval, you may begin working with your preceptor via the schedule that the two of you agreed to. The approval email comes with a link to an Hours Tracking Template. Download this form, and add the hours you work to it each day. 

3. Preceptorship Hours Form Submission

Within 1 week of finishing your preceptorship, go to Field Encounters and make a Preceptorship Hours Form Submission, which includes your completed Hours Tracking Template, and a self evaluation of your experience. Instructional videos for this are located on your CORE home page. It is recommended that you maintain your tracking log as you go through your rotation, and not leave it until the conclusion. List every date you worked in your preceptor’s office, the number of hours, and the number of patients with whom you had contact. 

Your preceptor will receive a copy of your submission, and must then approve your submission as well as evaluate your performance. The Evaluation from your preceptor is not a grade, but rather is formative feedback designed to provide you with information about where you are doing well and what areas require more study. Ideally, your preceptor has provided you with feedback along the way, prior to completing your evaluation. Help your preceptor by reminding them to complete this document by the due date so that you can receive credit for the rotation. You will be able to view the evaluation in your CORE Clinical Tracker.

Professionalism

It is expected that you will adhere to the NUNM Code of Conduct as delineated in the NUNM student handbook while participating in your preceptorship rotations. Students must demonstrate respect, compassion and integrity in all patient and professional interactions. It is your responsibility to contact the preceptor prior to the beginning of your preceptorship rotation to clarify your preceptor’s expectations.

Participation in Patient Care

You may participate in patient care at the discretion of your preceptor if they hold a valid license in their state of practice and are covered by malpractice/professional liability insurance. Otherwise, a student may only observe the preceptor in practice, and may not participate in patient care in any way, including the provision of medical or nutritional advice. If you do not maintain this standard, you will not be covered by NUNM’s professional liability (malpractice) insurance and your ability to practice medicine in the future might be jeopardized.

Professional Conduct

  • You should refrain from asking questions in the presence of a patient. Questions may be asked respectfully at a time when you are alone with the preceptor.
  • Students are not to give medical advice, comment on treatment in front of a patient, or offer unsolicited suggestions in the presence of patients unless explicitly instructed to do so.
  • Please refrain from taking notes in the presence of patients unless it for the expressed purpose of medical charting or otherwise approved by your preceptor in advance.
  • If you have “downtime” during your rotation, ask your preceptor how you can assist around the office, or if they have a research project they can assign you.
  • Never ask the preceptor for medical advice in regard to you, your family or friends.
  • Turn off your cell phone, and do not utilize it or any other personal devices without approval from your preceptor. If permission is granted, it should only be used for clinical purposes related to your rotation.

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory. Students should be at their sites on the dates and at the times as scheduled or assigned. Contact your preceptor if you are running late or if there is an unexpected absence. You should consider that this is your private practice. For example, your responsibility to your patients does not stop because there is an upcoming test. If you fail to notify the preceptor’s office within a timely manner, absences will be considered unexcused and you may be required to complete up to 10 additional preceptorship hours.

Dress Code

A professional appearance is required of all students. While on a preceptor shift, you should wear a clean, white, ironed clinic jacket with your student ID badge. Students are expected to adhere to NUNM Health Centers dress code and fragrance-free policy unless otherwise requested by your preceptor.