Johnson Memorial Health Services (JMHS) was pleased to host nurse practitioner student Nicole Higel-Backes. Jill Christie, Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC), is mentoring Higel-Backes while she completes her preceptorship at JMHS.
A preceptorship provides a mentoring experience in which a practicing provider gives personal instruction, training, and supervision to a student. Individuals in an FNP program must complete up to 700 clinical hours in conjunction with courses covering key topics such as primary care for adolescents and adults, pediatric primary care, and advanced physiology.
Higel-Backes is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Family Nurse Practitioner at SDSU and will graduate in summer 2018. She was excited to receive a preceptorship at JMHS. She said “Working with Jill has been great. She demonstrates professionalism and clinical expertise and is also willing to share her knowledge.”
Christie values her role as a mentor. She said “The clinical experience is an essential component of their education. The on the job training introduces them to the realities of the job and the important role FNPs play in healthcare.”
Christie has had many students in clinical rotations at JMHS. She is well known in her field for being a great mentor/teacher as well as an extremely knowledgeable nurse practitioner.
For more information on preceptorships please contact Cori Bothun, Clinic Manager at 320-769-4393.