Subject: Academic Affairs

Policy: Role and Expectations of Preceptors as an Extension of Undergraduate Program Clinical Faculty

Revised: Spring 2026

Effective date: June 1, 2026

Review date: Spring 2029

Responsible Party: Level 1: UAAC, Level 2: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

 

Introduction and Purpose:

Use of clinical preceptors with undergraduate nursing students may be an appropriate option for MRJCON nursing practice courses. Use of clinical preceptors provides a consistent one-to-one relationship throughout the semester which presents an effective environment for clinical learning. The preceptorship experience is a collaborative process involving the faculty, preceptor, and student.

Policy:

Per Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Standard II-G (2024), Montana State Board of Nursing (MSBON) Administrative Rule 24.159.665, clinical preceptors are academically and experientially qualified for the specific population-focused area of practice; have the expertise to support student achievement of expected outcomes; and may be used to enhance, but not replace, faculty-directed clinical learning experiences for the NRSG 498 Professional Internship course, or as approved by the campus director. When using preceptors, faculty members adhere to university policy and remain responsible for:

  1. Ensuring safe, accessible, and appropriate student supervision based on client health status, care setting, course objectives, and student level of preparation.
  2. Ensuring appropriate preceptor qualifications and scope of responsibility.
  3. Ensuring preceptor competency related to assigned area of clinical teaching and willingness to serve as a role model and educator to the student;
  4. Ensuring preceptor orientation to the role and program expectations and evaluation for continued performance; and
  5. Providing the lecture and laboratory portions of the course.

Definitions:

Per MSBON Administrative Rule 24.159.301, the following definitions will further guide the role and expectations of clinical preceptors in the MRJCON undergraduate BSN programs:

  1. Competency: Performing skillfully and proficiently the functions that are within the role of the licensee, and demonstrating the interrelationship of essential knowledge, judgement, and skills.
  2. General Supervision: Provision of guidance by a qualified nurse for the accomplishment of a nursing task or activity with initial direction of the task or activity and periodic inspection of the actual act of accomplishing the task or activity.
  3. Direct Supervision: the supervisor is on the premises and is quickly and easily available.
  4. Immediate Supervision: the supervisor is on the premises and is within audible and visual range of the patient.
  5. Preceptorship: Supervised training in the role, population focus, or specialty area of BSN practice.

Procedures:

Preceptor Qualifications

Undergraduate program preceptors are qualified health care professionals who collaborate with faculty to facilitate and supervise student clinical learning experiences in a faculty approved clinical setting.

Preceptors for the undergraduate nursing programs will meet the following qualifications:

  1. Hold active unemcumbered RN licensure in Montana.
  2. Attended and graduated from a nursing program/ institution that is nationally accredited.
  3. Hold at least a BSN degree with a minimum of one year experience preferred.
  4. May not be related to or in a relationship with the undergraduate nursing student.

 

Selection of Preceptors

  1. MSU works to place students in a collaborative manner to identify potential preceptors and experiences where the students hopes to obtain clinical experiences.
  2. An initial meeting is scheduled to explore clinical placement for the NRSG 498 Professional Internship. All clinical sites and preceptors must be approved by the campus placement coordinator or NRSG 498 faculty of record.
  3. Preceptors are required to provide a Preceptor Data Form to demonstrate educational preparation, experience, current licensure, and national certification, if applicable. This documentation is verified by the NRSG 498 faculty and stroed in the designated NRSG 498 cloud-based storage folder. ASN prepared preceptors may be considered with department head oversight.
  4. The clinical placement coordinator or NRSG 498 faculty will confirm current clinical contracts with agencies.
  5. Clinical contracts and associated preceptor paperwork must be completed in its entirety for the student to start the clinical rotation.

 

Preceptor Orientation of Role and Expectations

  1. Preceptors are oriented to their role by the NRSG 498 faculty of record. The preceptor is expected to:
    1. Introduce the student to the practice setting, including the policies and procedures.
    2. Assist the student in a systematic approach to clinical problems and medical record keeping.
    3. Assist the student with role progression. The student spends minimal time in a strictly obervational role.
    4. Review and co-sign client record.
    5. Introduce the student to medical record keeping format.
    6. Engage the student in critical thinking and problem-solving discussions.
    7. Engage the student in discussions regarding long-term management issues, helping the student determine reasonable follow-up plans.
    8. Demonstrate consistent and appropriate use of referrals and community referral strategies.
    9. Discuss own practice model in terms of time management, communication, and priority setting.
    10. Demonstrate cost-effective/ cost-conscious approach to patient care.
    11. Engage the student in discussions of philosophical positions regarding client autonomy (including interactions and decision-making).
    12. Demonstrate client advocacy.
    13. Demonstrate a commitment to collaboration with clients and other providers.
    14. Provide a formative and summative evaluation of the student. At the end of the semester preceptors complete and evaluation of the student.
  2. Orientation of preceptors will include an overview of the assigned clinical practice course including clinical objectives, clinical hours, evaluation forms, competencies with student is expected to achieve, responsibilities of the preceptor, review of student handbook, and required documentation.

 

Evaluation of Preceptors

  1. Each semester students are required to complete a preceptor evaluation and clinical site evaluation.
  2. Assigned faculty make site visits to the clinical agency to observe both the student performance as well as the preceptor-student interaction.
  3. Each semester, assigned faculty complete a preceptor evaluation and clinical site evaluation which are stored in the designated NRSG 498 cloud-based folder.

 

Internal control considerations, if applicable: