Preceptors and volunteer clinical faculty offer students individual perspectives and hands-on experience in a variety of health care settings and specialties. The cumulative effect of what these volunteers impart plays a significant role in the care any health system delivers.
- Clinical preceptors are integral to the future of nursing.
- They volunteer their time and energy, using education and training in an effort to assure that the profession grows and thrives.
- They provide students with learning experiences that prepare them for the role of expert care provider.
- Preceptors can advance their career by becoming a UCSF volunteer faculty, participating in CE opportunities, and collaborating on projects within the School of Nursing.
- UCSF recently transitioned to a BSN Entry to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) pathway. We are excited to bring preceptors along this journey and to gain new preceptors. In this FAQ resource, we answer preceptors' questions about this transition.
- For more information, contact Clinical Placements Supervisor Tammy Ryan.
Why I Precept
What Makes a Great Preceptor?
Recognizing Our Preceptors
In honor of the critical contributions that preceptors make to advance student learning, the UCSF School of Nursing faculty are honoring one preceptor each month. The award recognizes an exceptional preceptor who consistently and effectively contributes to UCSF nursing students’ clinical education.
Alumna Julia Itsikson, MS '15, RN, AGCNS-BC, is a clinical nurse specialist in Stanford Health Care's cardiovascular medicine services. She is a volunteer faculty member and has precepts SON students for five years. "With [Itsikson], students gain exposure to and practice in all three spheres of clinical nurse specialist practice: direct care of complex patients, nurse and staff support, and systems innovation," says Astrid Block, MS, RN, GCNS-BC, associate professor and coordinator of the adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist specialty. "The quality of the clinical experience she facilitates for these students is unparalleled.”
“My rigorous academic and clinical training, along with the guidance of the exceptional preceptors during my graduate program, shaped me into a dedicated clinician committed to excellence,” said Itsikson. “It was very important for me to be able to become the next generation of the role model I’ve had during my training and to give back to my alma mater.”
"Julia is an exceptional CNS whose deep knowledge and clinical expertise are evident in everything she does," says Matt Baskwell, a former preceptee. "She consistently takes the time to explain complex concepts in a way that is both practical and easy to understand. Julia is patient and approachable. She creates a positive learning environment where questions are welcomed, and growth is prioritized. Her dedication to providing a meaningful, hands-on experience truly sets her apart as a preceptor.”
Read about other recipients of the School of Nursing Preceptor Awards.