by Matt Batcheldor
Three nurses at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have been selected in the inaugural group of Preceptor of the Year Awards by Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN):
- Lindsay Miller, MSN, RN, NE-BC, was chosen as VUSN Nursing & Health Care Leadership Preceptor of the Year. Miller is associate nursing officer for the Surgery, Dermatology and Orthopaedics Patient Care Centers.
- Galileo MacInnis, MSN, RN, AGACNP-BC, was selected as VUSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (Intensivist Focus) Preceptor of the Year. MacInnis works as a nurse practitioner in the Burn Intensive Care Unit.
- Bree Osborne, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC, was picked as VUSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Preceptor of the Year. Osborne is a nurse practitioner in Thoracic Surgery.
Galileo MacInnis, MSN, RN, AGACNP-BC
“VUSN started the Preceptor of the Year Award in 2021 to recognize the outstanding and exceptional contribution our preceptors make to teaching students in the clinical or practice setting,” said Brian Widmar, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, CCRN, CNE, associate professor of Nursing at VUSN.
“There are so many fantastic providers who have committed to VUSN and our students and share their time and expertise every year.”
Nurses are eligible for the award if they are preceptors who have committed at least one year of service to VUSN or precepted at least two students in VUSN specialty programs,” Widmar said. The award is not limited to nurse practitioners, but recipients must be approved by VUSN specialty faculty to precept students in the specialty from which the award was given.
“I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to these three exceptional nurses,” said VUMC Executive Chief Nursing Officer Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, NE-BC. “Precepting the next
generation of nurses is one of the most important things we do. It is crucial to the mission of both the Medical Center and the School of Nursing. I am excited about this new recognition.”
VUSN offers nine nurse practitioner options, a nurse midwifery program and two non-clinical tracks — the Nursing and Health Care Leadership and Nursing Informatics programs. Widmar said the School of Nursing hopes to recognize one nurse preceptor from each area yearly.
Preceptors play a crucial role in the future of nursing, he said.
“The practice experience is such an important part of a student’s preparation as an advanced practice nurse,” he said.
“Our preceptors exemplify the highest standards of practice, and truly are remarkable examples of the impact we can make as advanced practice nurses upon the health of our society. They are role models of leadership, professionalism and expert caring to our students. They help students apply theory to practice, and they help inform our teaching.
“Our preceptors are our partners in preparing the nursing workforce to meet society’s health care needs now and in the future. It’s great to be able to recognize them for the amazing work they do and their commitment to VUSN and to our students,” Widmar said.
