College of Science and Health > Academics > School of Nursing > Student Resources > Requests, Policies & Procedures > Preceptor/Mentor Requests

Preceptor/Mentor Requests

To request a preceptor or mentor for a clinical experience, all DNP, Post-Graduate certificate, and RN to MS students must complete the steps outlined below. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate this process and submit all required materials.

Requirements:

  1. All preceptors MUST have at least 2 years of work experience in the track speciality.
  2. NP track students must have a licensed NP, MD, or PA. For more information, please see below FNP and AGNP Clinical Guidelines.
  3. Nursing administration track students must have a MSN or higher prepared nurse working in an administrative role.
  4. Nursing education track students must have:
    1. A MSN or higher prepared nurse working in the student's specialty area of practice for the Role Transition course.
    2. A MSN or higher prepared nurse working in nursing education for the practicum course.

In your initial contact with a potential preceptor/mentor, it is a good idea to discuss the following:

Request the information you will need to complete the preceptor/mentor survey

Each preceptor/mentor will be reviewed by the program director, so save yourself some time by assuring they meet the standards up-front!

Complete the preceptor/mentor survey. Please ensure that you have the following information before you begin: 1) The contact information, credentials, and RN license number of the preceptor/mentor, and 2) the full name and address of the site you are requesting.

The student must demonstrate full compliance with all health requirements as outlined by the School of Nursing. All documentation must be uploaded to the Castle Branch document locker. For more information, consult the student guide regarding health requirements.

Upon completion of the previous steps, the staff of the School of Nursing must confirm the following before a student can be cleared to attend a practicum experience:

  • An active and inclusive affiliation agreement exists between DePaul University and the health care organization named in the Preceptor/Mentor Request Form.
  • The preceptor/mentor meets the minimum qualifications of the role.
  • The preceptor/mentor maintains active, unencumbered RN licensure.
  • The preceptor/mentor agrees to perform the required duties and responsibilities of the role.
  • The student demonstrates full compliance with the health requirements of the School of Nursing.
The student takes no action during this step. Once all of the above have been confirmed, the student will receive a memo from the School of Nursing clearing him or her to attend the practicum experience.

The School of Nursing recommends that students begin looking for a preceptor two quarters in advance of their practicum experience. Finding the right preceptor / mentor and initiating the conversation can take time. Furthermore, affiliation agreements with outside agencies can often take between 1 and 6 months to negotiate. Although DePaul University already maintains many such agreements, especially in the Chicagoland area, new agreements must be negotiated between the legal counsel of both organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Just ask! Many affiliation agreements bar us from posting our relationship in a public forum, so we unfortunately cannot store a full list on this website. Send an email with your query to the Post-Licensure Student Success Coordinator here. If you feel confident that you will be requesting a preceptor/mentor at a specific health care organization, we can even get the ball rolling on a new affiliation agreement, if needed.

The Post-Licensure Student Success Coordinator is your best contact for all questions related to preceptors/mentors and the practicum experience. If you have questions about submitting your documentation, or would like to find out where you are in the process of receiving your final clearance to attend your practicum, you can submit a query via email here. 

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