Preceptor Profile: Brian Caldwell

Brian Caldwell is a preceptor for nurse practitioner students at the UR School of Nursing. Here, he reflects on his experience:

What activities do your students conduct?

My students conduct themselves while in my clinical as part of the team. The Advance Practice Provider (APP) students conduct themselves in a professional manner and adhere to the code of nursing ethics and ICARE values. The APP students conduct self-reflections on their clinical learning experiences on a weekly basis. They focus on effective communication, displaying patient-family centered care, and also ensuring respectful communication and collaborating with the interprofessional team members to ensure safe effective treatment/care planning interventions.

My Advance Practice Provider students conduct interviews (chief complaints, perform H&Ps, HPIs) and ensure they are gathering a thorough and organized history. They will adapt interview practices based on the patient's co-morbidities and psychosocial considerations while ensuring patient family privacy and confidentiality.

Students conduct assessments, demonstrate critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning within the decision-making process, and learn to complete a review of systems (focusing on pertinent positive and negative findings, initial head to toe assessments/ focused assessments). They can start formulating their differentials of normal vs abnormal findings and diagnoses. They will be able to prioritize patient and family centered needs while addressing health promotion and maintenance needs. Students will be able to verbalize and conduct appropriate diagnostic tests and their rationales while utilizing the most up to date scientific evidence that will also be cost effective but relevant to patient centered needs. Students are able to consider when and why to refer out to other providers (most often in the nursing home they are discussions). Students will conduct organized and succinct patient reports and utilize the technology to record the patient's data while utilize medical terminology correctly in a professional meaning.

Why do you choose to precept?

I choose to precept because it is an honor and privilege to lead, educate, mentor, and advise future advance practice nurses in our wonderful profession. When I was approached to precept future advance practice providers it was an honor but humbling to know that I can give back to the University who helped and continues to guide and lead my career as a nurse practitioner/educator. I precept to give back to our wonderful profession by educating, mentoring, and guiding students to achieve their goals and future endeavors.

What advice would you give to new nurse practitioners?

Ask a lot of questions, know your resources and guidelines, and find mentors who will push you to the next level.

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