La Salle University Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Education Program

Clinical Preceptors

Students are responsible for making all preceptor arrangements once they are accepted into the La Salle WOCNEP. All clinical preceptors must be approved by La Salle Program Directors. We recommend you make arrangements early in the program early (during the early fall semester). Some preceptors charge for their preceptor services. Ask this question early in negotiations. Any financial charge or arrangement is the responsibility of the student. The La Salle WOCNEP does not get involved in student-preceptor relationships except to verify if preceptors meet the required credentials and to verify that required clinical hours and competencies are met.

Qualifications for clinical preceptors include:

Current registered nurse licensure in the state of nursing practice.
Education: Bachelor’s degree or above with major in nursing or bachelor’s degree in another field with documentation of BSN equivalent competencies in: health assessment, community health nursing, leadership and management, research and statistics.
Certification: hold WOCNCB tri-specialty certification (CWOCN); or hold WOCNCB specialty certification in specialty in which they precept; or hold certification through national nursing organization or national nursing credentialing center in the specialty in which they precept.
Clinical experience: at least one year full time practice after certification.
Teaching experience: completion of preceptor workshop (or other structured learning program) to include principles of adult learning, clinical teaching strategies, and clinical evaluation methodology or evidence of prior preceptor or clinical nursing educator experience.
Current malpractice insurance or coverage.

The La Salle University WOCNEP is available to assist students with preceptor selection. Once a student selects an appropriately credentialed preceptor, the La Salle University WOCNEP must be notified with full contact information so that an application and information manual can be forwarded to the preceptor. The Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences will forward a contract to the preceptor’s organization or business separately.

Clinical preceptors must submit an application to the WOCNEP that is reviewed by WOCNEP personnel. In addition, preceptors are required to monitor and expedite contract processing in their organizations. Contracts usually require substantial negotiation time so early processing of clinical preceptor application and contract acquisition is highly recommended. No student may precept with a clinical preceptor unless he/she has been approved as meeting qualifications and a contract has been signed with the organization or business.

The clinical preceptor’s manual contains information about the roles and responsibilities of various parties, curriculum content, clinical objectives, program requirements and several evaluation forms. Students very often use more than one preceptor. Often it is a primary preceptor for wound and ostomy care with another preceptor for continence. However, students may use one preceptor if he/she can evaluate learning goals attainment in wound, ostomy, continence care. The National WOCN Society Accreditation Committee mandates a minimum of 160 hours of clinical instruction spent with fully credentialed preceptors. La Salle WOCNEP students complete 160 hours of preceptorship.

Please note that student and clinical preceptor financial negotiations occur independently of the La Salle WOCNEP. Students generally pay the preceptor/institution directly for clinical instruction. Fees for clinical preceptors vary based on geographic location and institution.