Christina Biggerstaff, a family nurse practitioner, began her career as a health care technician in 1996 working with intellectually disabled adults. She obtained her Nurse Aide II license in 2004 followed by her Registered Nurse (RN) license in 2005. In 2013, Biggerstaff obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Appalachian State University and her Master of Science in Nursing in 2018 from East Tennessee State University. She currently works for Appalachian Medical – Health and Wellness in Drexel, N.C.
Biggerstaff decided that she wanted to become a nursing preceptor because when she was in school, students were expected to find their own preceptors. “You often had to look for preceptors a year ahead of time. I hated that and wondered if what I was doing with my life was really going to be worth it in the end. My preceptors were hard, they challenged me, they held me to the fire with my knowledge base. At that time, I did not appreciate it. But when I finished, I knew that it was going to shape my future. I hated the idea that someone could second guess their career path because of the lack of a preceptor, and I knew right then that I wanted to be a preceptor and I haven’t stopped since,” she says.
Reflecting on all the past students she has taken under her wing, Biggerstaff notes, “Rewarding experiences are a frequent occurrence. I love watching the knowledge that a student gains in class be used with the clinical skills they gain in practice. It’s extremely satisfying to watch a critical thinker continue to look at differentials that may unfold. One of my most memorable experiences was working with a student on a patient who had a diabetic ulcer and did not understand diabetes and wound care, primarily due to a bad past experience with healthcare and had not received any care for an extended period of time. Partnering with the student to provide care for this patient was a pivotal moment and forever changed this patient’s view of healthcare. I could never forget that.”
For years, Biggerstaff has encouraged her colleagues to pursue the preceptor role. “Why would anyone not want to precept? Being a preceptor gives you an opportunity to teach students about the practice and gives you a sense of ownership in your profession while allowing you to sharpen your existing skills,” she says.
June 2024
Anjie King has been a family nurse practitioner for 31 years and preceptor for UNC Wilmington nursing students for the past 10 years. King works for Wilmington Health and teaches as many as six students a year. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville and her Master of Science for Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner from East Carolina University.
Reflecting on her decision to provide guidance to future nurses, King explains, “I can remember when I was a young nursing student, and we would have nurse preceptors that would work at the hospital. Some of them were wonderful and so helpful and taught me so much and then there were others that were just mean and hateful. It was obvious that it was a huge burden to them that they were there. I always appreciated the ones that took the time to teach me and show me, so that was an impact that I wanted to give back,” she says.
King says of being a preceptor, “If you are not a preceptor or you don't have access to students, you are missing out on a golden opportunity. I have learned so much from my students including different ways of thinking and engaging with different personalities. They bring so much to the table in my practice, and I love that we have a university that is offering this program. I think it's wonderful.”
King emphasizes the importance of setting realistic expectations for students and the rewarding experience of watching her students have their own "aha" moments, such as finding a patient’s baby’s heart rate by themselves. “The ‘aha’ moment could be at any point. They are scared to death coming into the OBGYN world, but they’ll tell me that this is what they want to do, this is the kind of path they want to take. So, like a parent-child relationship, you are always happy to see them succeed, particularly if they want to follow in your footsteps,” she says.
Photo: Anje King (left) and DNP student Yelena Howell (right).
June 2024
Diane L. Parker, DNP, FNP-BC, APRN | Graduate Clinical Coordinator