Preceptors

The Key Role of the Preceptor

The student arrives with the foundation for their career as a paramedic. Their initial clinical preparation has brought their  foundation together within a somewhat controlled treatment environment to develop their basic patient interactions, thought processes, and psychomotor abilities. During the clinical experiences and field internship, it will be the preceptor's responsibility to help educate, evaluate, critique, and positively influence the students. You will be their guide to a strong and effective development towards a career as a paramedic.

Lab Instructor Expectations

The lab instructor is an important part of the educational team. The lab instructor is tasked with teaching the hands-on psychomotor skills necessary to become an effective EMS provider. The lab instructor may be asked to:

• Teach specific skills required of an EMS provider.
• Participate in planning dynamic interactive lab sessions (simulations) and evaluating students.
• Lead small group instruction, an effective technique to reinforce or reteach specific skills and concepts maintaining reduced student to instructor ratios.

Preceptor Expectations

The preceptor is crucial to the success of the student. Under the guidance of the preceptor, a student will develop and refine their psychomotor skills and obtain valuable experience assessing and treating patients. 

Program integrity relies on fair and just evaluations, our community deserves the very best and it is our mission to prepare entry-level practitioners – not reward participation. Be fair, be honest, and please evaluate the student based on the performance you see today.

The preceptor agrees to:

• Assist the student in attainment of goals and objectives of the program
• Provide the necessary training, support, and mentorship to achieve program goals
• Review student performance and establish realistic expectations for the shift
• Monitor and verify hours spent with the student
• Communicate with faculty as needed and immediately report any student problem that develops
• Provide daily written evaluations of the student, along with periodic evaluations assessing overall progress and growth

Additional Expectations:

• Respect the opinions of your colleagues, remain neutral when students present comments, questions or opinions about other faculty, staff or preceptors.
• Do not counsel or aid students in circumventing institutional polices or regulations. When confronted with situations in which students have violated or circumvented established policy, the team member is obliged to refer the situation to the appropriate agency.
• Ensure that confidentiality is maintained with respect to all communications and records considered confidential. Unless the student gives written permission, information disclosed in the educational realm must remain confidential. 
• Recognize the limits of your training, expertise and competence and refer students in need of further expertise to qualified individuals possessing the appropriate qualifications.

Be fair, be honest and please evaluate the student on the performance you observed during the assigned period. Please don’t reward participation or have an unfair bias in your evaluations.

Do you have it in you?

A short preceptor course is required.

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