History

• Prior to 1995, NP preceptors could submit billing to Medicare for work done by nursing students. However, in1995, Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) regulations brought an end to this practice mandating that only work done by the NP preceptor could be billed to Medicare.
  
  

Preceptor Documents

• According to Susan D. Schaffer, a professor of nursing, there are three strategies a NP preceptor can employ to comply with the 1995 Medicare requirements. The first is that the NP preceptor allow the student to see the patient and document the chart, then the NP preceptor sees the patient and redocuments the chart.
  
  

Separate Files and Joint Assessment

• Professor Schaffer also recommends a separate file be kept by nursing students and the NP preceptor see the patient and document the chart, then teacher and student can meet to compare notes and resolve any differences. A third strategy has the NP preceptor and student nurse see the patient together and the preceptor documents the chart while the student makes notes in her own separate file.