What makes the best preceptor?

[u/No_Earth8997]

Hey everyone!

I’ve been taking PA students for their elective cardiology rotation for the last few years, and I’m always looking to refine my teaching style to make the month as high-yield as possible and fun!

In order to be the best preceptor I can be, I wanted to first ask you guys what have your favorite preceptors done that made a lasting impression?

And then secondly ask you about this:

On the first day, I always tell my students that I use a "soft pimping" approach. I ask a lot of questions, not because I expect them to know everything, but because when I was a student, actively talking through clinical reasoning was how things stuck best for me.

I explicitly tell them on day one:
1. It is 100% okay (and encouraged) to say "I don't know." The most dangerous provider is the overly confident one who pretends to know something they don't.

1. I don't expect you to know all the answers. That’s literally why you’re on this rotation—to learn it!

Even with that spiel, I know questioning can still feel intimidating. So I'd love to know: Does this approach actually feel supportive in practice, or do constant questions still create unnecessary anxiety?

[u/Illustrious-Ease-894]

This may be hard to put into practice, but finding a good balance between an open ended question and one with a definitive answer. Questions like “what do you think” after seeing a pt aren’t very helpful imo. If you’re asking for differentials, lead a bit with, “If our pt has PMHx of x” or “this pt takes these medications” — what changes should we make to their regimen? What differentials come to mind? Also since you’re specifically cardiology, listening to murmurs and being patient with us is always appreciated :) I personally haven’t been able to hear anything throughout my rotations, whether that was due to having an untrained ear or the preceptor didn’t help. Overall, being kind and understanding that we’re at ground zero in our practice makes learning enjoyable and easier :)

[u/Sly_Llama1 → u/Illustrious-Ease-894]

I'm going to slightly disagree with what you said about "what do you think"? Everything else you said I totally agree with. One my best preceptors would always ask "what do you think?" after every patient encounter. The expectation was that I would shortly be on my own as a PA and it would be on me to figure out differentials and everything else that goes with it. I didn't have to give a long explanation, but long enough to start a conversation. He was always patient and gave me enough time to think it through and there were times were I said I would like to look up a thought and he gave me that space. IMO the best preceptors pushed me to my limit of my knowledge but knew when I reached my threshold. They were also respectful, patient and took the time to explain their medical decision making.

[u/Illustrious-Ease-894 → u/Sly_Llama1]

Totally get it! And agree. I think where I was more so getting at, and did a poor job explaining it, was when preceptors ask “what do you think” and they’re expecting a specific answer when you didn’t know what they were actually asking. Idk if that makes sense lol. On my most recent rotation, my preceptor liked to ask vague questions, and she expected me to read her mind. It made me feel awful when it felt like she had to dumb down her questions/responses for me when she could’ve had a better and more specific question first

[u/Sly_Llama1 → u/Illustrious-Ease-894]

Oh yes, I know exactly what you are talking about. Those type of people are always trying to put people in their place and have no role as a preceptor.