How to Find the Right Nursing Preceptor: Tips from Maryville Advisors and Graduates
What to know about finding a preceptor at a glance:
- Maryville University offers preceptor placement assistance to help nursing students navigate the process of finding a preceptorship.
- The best way to start your search for a preceptor is to explore your network — colleagues, former coworkers, social media connections, and classmates.
- Start your search early, and do your research to find the right preceptor for your goals and interests.
- Not all nursing degree programs offer preceptor placement assistance, but your advisors and faculty can serve as a great resource.
One of the most important aspects of your nursing education is your preceptorship. This real-world clinical opportunity can help you build and practice the vital skills you’ll use in your nursing career, and it provides the opportunity to expand your professional network or familiarize yourself with areas of nursing that you may not otherwise have explored.
But for many learners pursuing their degrees or certificates in nursing, finding a preceptorship can be a difficult hurdle to overcome.
While some colleges and universities, such as Maryville, offer preceptorship assistance, many do not. So it’s important to know where to start your search — and how to make sure you’ve found the right fit for you.
Keep reading to get tips on finding a preceptor from seasoned Maryville nursing graduates and expert student support advisors.
“You’d be amazed with how many people would be a resource for you if you just start with people that you know, that you work with, or that you see every day.”
— Jazmin A., student support advisor
How do I find a preceptor for my nursing education?
Finding a preceptor can prove to be a hurdle for some nursing students. But as a nurse pursuing further education, you likely already have access to resources that can help you turn this potential challenge into an opportunity.
At Maryville, our advisors are experts in helping nursing students find proper preceptor placement, and our graduates know what it takes because they’ve successfully completed their preceptorship experiences. Here are some of the tips they offered to help you find and get the most out of your preceptorship.
The earlier you begin, the better your chances of success
As with many things, earlier is better for your preceptor search. Starting early helps ensure potential preceptors haven’t already committed to helping other learners, gives you more time to find a perfect fit, and reduces the stress you may feel if you postpone your search.
Starting your search as early as possible also ensures you can reach out to potential preceptors professionally, giving them adequate time to consider your request and respond. This means you’ll have plenty of time to follow up, keep the communication moving, and gather information, should the need arise.
Start with your professional and social network
As a working nurse and a student, you may already have access to the best and quickest resource for finding a preceptor: Your network.
“I always say start with your circle,” recommends Jazmin A., one of our student support advisors for our online nursing programs. “You’d be amazed with how many people would be a resource for you if you just start with people that you know, that you work with, or that you see every day.”
In other words, ask the people you know from work, from networking events, or through social networking platforms like LinkedIn whether they know of any opportunities — or if they may be willing to serve as preceptors themselves.
Note that there are rules and regulations that govern who can and cannot serve as your preceptor. For example, your preceptor cannot be a relative, a direct supervisor, a direct report, or your current healthcare provider.
This may limit some of your closest options, but it also gives you the opportunity to dig a bit deeper and potentially make new connections or explore areas you might not have considered otherwise.
“I always say start with your warm market and then move out from there,” says Danielle H., a student support advisor for Maryville’s online nursing programs. “I love to see when students reach out to somebody that they may not have thought that they would vibe with or somebody that they may not have reached out to before, and they get into that preceptorship and they end up loving it. I’ve had students who have gotten jobs from those particular situations.”
“I love to see when students reach out to somebody that they may not have thought that they would vibe with or somebody that they may not have reached out to before, and they get into that preceptorship and they end up loving it.”
— Danielle H., student support advisor
Use your nursing program’s assistance resources — if available
If you’re having trouble finding preceptor placement through your network, you might be able to explore options through your nursing program.
According to Danielle, “utilizing the preceptor mentorship program that Maryville offers” is a great starting point for learners who have hit a wall in their search. Due to high demand — and because of the networking benefits intrinsic in attempting to find placement yourself — the preceptor placement assistance isn’t intended to be a first resource. But Maryville offers this service as part of its comprehensive support of learners in all phases of their nursing education.
“Of course, if they need it, Maryville also provides preceptor mentors to secure preceptors if needed,” Jazmin says.
Where you study matters, and preceptorship placement assistance is an area in which this proves true. According to a study published in the Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, many programs — especially at the graduate level — lack a network of preceptors and may not offer direct assistance in finding placement. So during your program search, consider prioritizing nursing programs like Maryville’s that offer assistance in the event that you need a hand.
In addition to preceptor placement assistance, your program may offer resources that can help guide your search. For Maryville students, we have an online resource center that provides information, updated each semester, about topics like these:
- Timelines for required paperwork
- Clinical checklist
- Preceptor breakdown
- Clinical and course requirements
- How to submit site requests
- Fees and expenses you can expect
- Contact information to answer your questions
“Maryville was very supportive in me finding a preceptor. They gave me different websites to look for and things to use,” says Dwayne Bryant, a recent graduate of our MSN-Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program. He says these resources served as a great starting point that helped him find the perfect preceptor: “A lot of the stuff came from me researching it after I got their guidance and just persevering and trying to find a preceptor.”
Remember: Your preceptor is a resource
As a mentor and teacher, your preceptor is a valuable resource for your development in nursing. But in addition to giving critical supervision and education to empower you to thrive in the field, your preceptor might be able to help you even before you graduate.
If you have questions or need advice during your nursing education, your preceptor may have been in a similar circumstance and may be able to provide guidance. Cynthia Robinson, one of our Doctor of Nursing Practice graduates, says she was able to bounce ideas for projects and assignments off her preceptor that helped her succeed in the classroom. Her preceptor even helped with one of the biggest DNP requirements.
“She helped me actually create my DNP project,” Cynthia says. With her preceptor’s insights and assistance, as well as guidance from faculty and advisors at Maryville, Cynthia was able to pursue a DNP project that fit her needs and interests.
What requirements do preceptors need to meet to qualify?
While you have a wide array of options when it comes to choosing your preceptorship, it’s important to know that certain qualifications must be met for a medical or nursing professional to be an eligible preceptor.
These requirements might be difficult to keep track of, but your faculty or program advisors may be available to answer questions or help guide your search.
"Maryville assisted me in making sure that my preceptor was credentialed and could take me,” says Christal Price, a recent graduate of our psychiatric mental health NP program. “They really helped me through the process."
Here are some of the major qualifications, requirements, and considerations to keep in mind as you search for preceptor placement.
- Your preceptor must be an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), MD, or DO. Note that physician assistants (PAs) and nurse anesthesiologists (such as CRNAs) don’t typically qualify.
- For PMHNP students, qualifications can also include PMHNP, LCSW, PsychD, or PhD in Psychology.
- Your preceptor must be board-certified with unencumbered state licensure in the state in which they practice.
- Your preceptor must have a minimum of one year of experience.
- You may not select a preceptor who is related to you or to whom you report. Your preceptor also cannot be a direct work colleague or someone who evaluates your performance.
Note also that you should pursue a preceptor who can provide the necessary knowledge and experience to meet your course’s specific requirements and whose expertise aligns with your goals in nursing.
“Maryville assisted me in making sure that my preceptor was credentialed and could take me. They really helped me through the process.”
— Christal Price, 2025 graduate, PMHNP
Key takeaways: What to know when searching for a preceptor
Your preceptorship is a critical component of your overall nursing education, giving you real-world experience and direct mentorship from an expert in your field, but finding the right placement can sometimes be a challenge. Here’s what you should remember:
- Be sure to start your search early and maintain active communication with the professional(s) you’ve asked to be your preceptor.
- The best place to start your search is your network — professional, social, or online.
- If your search stalls, ask your faculty or advisors if your nursing program offers preceptor placement assistance.
- Double-check to make sure your chosen preceptor meets the requirements for the role in terms of professional qualifications and relationship with you.
Keeping the above tips and information in mind, you can find a preceptorship that helps prepare you to thrive in your career and fits your ambitions in nursing — or helps you discover new passions and interests in the field.
Earn your nursing degree with support for preceptor placement and more
Ready to go further in nursing? Start with Maryville. It’s our goal to ensure you get the most out of your nursing education with dedicated support from application through graduation. That includes help with preceptor placement — meaning you can focus on your education, not the stress of finding the right preceptorship.
If you’re ready to take the next step, discover how Maryville can help you be brave and pursue your educational and professional goals. Check out our online nursing degrees and certificates, or schedule a call with an advisor to learn more.