Compassionate mentors
With grit and a growth mindset, preceptors play an essential part in a nurse’s development
By Ted Gregory
Photos by Erik Unger
As nursing students progress through their studies, they reach a crucial juncture that often is the most challenging of their educational journey: clinicals, when they put what they’ve learned in the classroom into practice.
That’s when a preceptor steps up and plays an essential part in a nurse’s development.
“It’s among the most important roles that we have in preparing our students,” said Mary McNamara, associate dean for innovative partnerships and faculty practice at the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.
Experienced working clinicians, preceptors graciously “pay it forward” by volunteering to work with students, McNamara added. “They accept our students, mentor them, and build their clinical competence and critical thinking skills.”
That vital one-on-one interactive relationship provides students with exemplary role modeling and important growth throughout clinicals.
In April, McNamara and Karen Berg Helfgot, director of strategic health care partnerships, hosted almost three dozen preceptors for a free workshop and celebration at the Health Sciences Campus to align their training with Loyola Nursing’s curriculum. The events underscored how important the preceptors are to fostering high-caliber nursing professionals and advancing Loyola Nursing’s mission.
McNamara and Berg Helfgot described the workshop as "an opportunity to develop preceptors as co-educators," "share our pedagogy," and help preceptors "be part of the Loyola community."
“First and foremost, we want them to know that they are a vital part of our team,” McNamara said, “that we couldn’t do it without them.”
The workshop offered current, new, and aspiring preceptors group discussions, breakout sessions, and hands-on activities during which participants could earn valuable Continuing Education credit.
The evening’s celebration recognized nine Outstanding Preceptor award winners chosen by students and faculty.
“It’s been a great refresher and an opportunity to network,” said Evelyn Perez, who has been precepting for more than 30 years.
Perez, who works at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, said she has been a preceptor with Loyola for 15 years and enjoys working with Loyola Nursing students. She has hired two of them.
“They’re dedicated, very warm, knowledgeable” students who regularly become top performers, Perez said.
Preceptor Megan Bravo, a women’s health nurse practitioner, said she “learned a lot” at the workshop by hearing the perspectives of other preceptors on a range of topics, including the best way to handle challenging situations and the most
effective ways to guide students experiencing trouble in the clinical environment.
Loyola Nursing alum as preceptor
Preceptor and registered nurse Eric Juds, BSN ’21, works as an emergency department nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. His Loyola Nursing education
instilled a deep sense of cura personalis—care for the whole person—that plays a crucial role in his nursing approach.
“A lot of our job in the emergency department is managing the emotions of people who come in here,” he said. “Cura personalis reminds you to not just treat what’s in front of you. It gives you an understanding to walk a step in the patient’s shoes, to understand that it’s another day on the job for you but could be potentially someone’s worst day. So we need to be as accommodating as we can be.”
As a preceptor, he appreciates having extra hands in the emergency department and views his role as a preceptor as passing along his positive experience being precepted.
He also said Loyola Nursing students and alumni distinguish themselves. “They’re very composed people and have a competence that radiates from them,” Juds said. “They know what they’re doing in the fundamentals. I’m just giving them pointers here and there and helping where I can.”
‘Willingness to find good’
Loyola Nursing preceptors identify with the University’s Jesuit-centered mission, Berg Helfgot said. In fact, McNamara said, nurses choose to precept Loyola Nursing students in part because of the school’s commitment to the whole person and social justice.
“Our preceptors are drawn to mentorship, are compassionate, curious, and have a growth mindset,” she said. “They’re open to learning from their students as much as the students are open to learning from them. They just have a lot of grit and
a willingness to find good in situations. We’re incredibly fortunate to have them.”
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PRECEPTOR FOR LOYOLA NURSING?
Our preceptors must meet these requirements:
• Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant— Masters-prepared or higher
• MD and DO providers can also serve as preceptors
• Minimum of two years clinical experience
• Active licensure in Illinois
• Possess the knowledge, attitude, and skill characteristics of a successful preceptorFor more information, contact SONGradclinical@luc.edu
With grit and a growth mindset, preceptors play an essential part in a nurse’s development
By Ted Gregory
Photos by Erik Unger
As nursing students progress through their studies, they reach a crucial juncture that often is the most challenging of their educational journey: clinicals, when they put what they’ve learned in the classroom into practice.
That’s when a preceptor steps up and plays an essential part in a nurse’s development.
“It’s among the most important roles that we have in preparing our students,” said Mary McNamara, associate dean for innovative partnerships and faculty practice at the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.
Experienced working clinicians, preceptors graciously “pay it forward” by volunteering to work with students, McNamara added. “They accept our students, mentor them, and build their clinical competence and critical thinking skills.”
That vital one-on-one interactive relationship provides students with exemplary role modeling and important growth throughout clinicals.
In April, McNamara and Karen Berg Helfgot, director of strategic health care partnerships, hosted almost three dozen preceptors for a free workshop and celebration at the Health Sciences Campus to align their training with Loyola Nursing’s curriculum. The events underscored how important the preceptors are to fostering high-caliber nursing professionals and advancing Loyola Nursing’s mission.
McNamara and Berg Helfgot described the workshop as "an opportunity to develop preceptors as co-educators," "share our pedagogy," and help preceptors "be part of the Loyola community."
“First and foremost, we want them to know that they are a vital part of our team,” McNamara said, “that we couldn’t do it without them.”
The workshop offered current, new, and aspiring preceptors group discussions, breakout sessions, and hands-on activities during which participants could earn valuable Continuing Education credit.
The evening’s celebration recognized nine Outstanding Preceptor award winners chosen by students and faculty.
“It’s been a great refresher and an opportunity to network,” said Evelyn Perez, who has been precepting for more than 30 years.
Perez, who works at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, said she has been a preceptor with Loyola for 15 years and enjoys working with Loyola Nursing students. She has hired two of them.
“They’re dedicated, very warm, knowledgeable” students who regularly become top performers, Perez said.
Preceptor Megan Bravo, a women’s health nurse practitioner, said she “learned a lot” at the workshop by hearing the perspectives of other preceptors on a range of topics, including the best way to handle challenging situations and the most
effective ways to guide students experiencing trouble in the clinical environment.
Loyola Nursing alum as preceptor
Preceptor and registered nurse Eric Juds, BSN ’21, works as an emergency department nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. His Loyola Nursing education
instilled a deep sense of cura personalis—care for the whole person—that plays a crucial role in his nursing approach.
“A lot of our job in the emergency department is managing the emotions of people who come in here,” he said. “Cura personalis reminds you to not just treat what’s in front of you. It gives you an understanding to walk a step in the patient’s shoes, to understand that it’s another day on the job for you but could be potentially someone’s worst day. So we need to be as accommodating as we can be.”
As a preceptor, he appreciates having extra hands in the emergency department and views his role as a preceptor as passing along his positive experience being precepted.
He also said Loyola Nursing students and alumni distinguish themselves. “They’re very composed people and have a competence that radiates from them,” Juds said. “They know what they’re doing in the fundamentals. I’m just giving them pointers here and there and helping where I can.”
‘Willingness to find good’
Loyola Nursing preceptors identify with the University’s Jesuit-centered mission, Berg Helfgot said. In fact, McNamara said, nurses choose to precept Loyola Nursing students in part because of the school’s commitment to the whole person and social justice.
“Our preceptors are drawn to mentorship, are compassionate, curious, and have a growth mindset,” she said. “They’re open to learning from their students as much as the students are open to learning from them. They just have a lot of grit and
a willingness to find good in situations. We’re incredibly fortunate to have them.”
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PRECEPTOR FOR LOYOLA NURSING?
Our preceptors must meet these requirements:
• Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant— Masters-prepared or higher
• MD and DO providers can also serve as preceptors
• Minimum of two years clinical experience
• Active licensure in Illinois
• Possess the knowledge, attitude, and skill characteristics of a successful preceptorFor more information, contact SONGradclinical@luc.edu