Precepting in health professions education in Minnesota: motivators and inhibitors

Precepting is an essential component of health professional educational programs, yet barriers exist for the recruitment and retention of preceptors. Our goal was to determine the incidence of precepting by physicians, physician assistants (PAs), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Minnesota; whether the incidence of precepting varies by region or work setting; and to identify the factors that motivate or inhibit precepting.

A survey study of physicians, PAs, and APRNs in Minnesota from February 9, 2023 through March 6, 2024. The survey was conducted at the time of health care professional (HCP) license renewal to determine the incidence, work setting, region, motivators, and inhibitors of healthcare precepting. The primary outcome was the incidence of precepting with other variables being work setting, region, motivators, and inhibitors.

A total of 18,021 health care professionals were surveyed including 12,530 physicians, 3,073 PAs, and 2418 APRNs. The response rate was 97.4%. Across all professions, work settings, and regions the incidence of precepting was 67% (APRNs 70.7%; physicians 68.2%; PAs 61.2%). Precepting was more common in rural (73.6%) versus urban areas (66.9%); and at hospitals (75.6%) versus clinics (61.5%), long-term care (56.7%), or community settings (58.2%). The main motivators for precepting were intrinsic (because they enjoyed it and/or had a personal desire to serve the profession). For those that did not precept, the most common reasons were having no time in their schedule and not being paid to precept.

The majority of HCPs in Minnesota precept learners. The sites with the highest proportion of precepting were rural clinics and urban hospitals. Intrinsic factors were the major reason given for the decision to precept, with extrinsic factors playing a minor role in these decisions, but a major role for those that did not precept. Our results suggest organizational solutions could enhance the recruitment of preceptors.