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 manager Shey Jamtsho.
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 delighted to recognize exceptional preceptors who consistently and effectively contribute to UCSF nursing students’ clinical education.
Kelly Kim, MS, CPNP-AC, works in pediatric pulmonology at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals. "Kelly has been an outstanding preceptor for our Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (ACPNP) students for many years," said Brittany Christensen, PhD, DNP, APRN, specialty coordinator of the ACPNP specialty. "Kelly developed an integrative rotation that exposes students to a variety of management techniques and technological options for children with pulmonary conditions. She has also supported ACPNP students in a grant-based Pediatric Pulmonary Center traineeship.
“I was fortunate to have incredible preceptors during my training who helped to pave the way for me, so I am excited to have the opportunity to pay that forward to the next generation of nurse practitioners!” said Kim. “I am so impressed by how hard the students work while balancing school, work, and loved ones. It is not easy but it is worth it!"
Student Jodi-Ann Sampson, RN, said “Kelly was exceptional. She was incredibly knowledgeable and always provided a strong scientific rationale for the interventions we chose, as well as clear explanations behind her clinical assessments and decision-making. She had an outstanding rapport with patients and their families, and it was evident that everyone on the team looked to her as a leader and expert in her field. She was respectful of me as a student and made me feel like a valued member of the team. I was encouraged to actively participate in patient care, attend family meetings, and engage in discussions regarding diagnosis and treatment planning. She consistently guided my learning and helped deepen my understanding of a wide range of pulmonary diagnoses and treatment modalities."
Read about other recipients of the School of Nursing Preceptor Awards.