Preceptor Turnover Mid-Practicum

You have spent weeks building a relationship with your preceptor, understanding their expectations, and finding your rhythm at the practicum site. Then comes the news: they are leaving. A new job opportunity, a family situation, organizational restructuring, or any number of reasons can suddenly remove your primary supervisor mid-practicum. The mentor you were counting on will not be there to guide you through the remaining weeks or months.

Preceptor turnover during practicum is disorienting and anxiety-provoking. Your carefully laid plans seem upended. But transitions, while challenging, can be navigated successfully with the right approach.

Immediate Steps

When you learn your preceptor is leaving, request a meeting before their departure. Use this time to discuss your ongoing projects, clarify documentation of your work, and ask who will supervise you going forward. Get their perspective on how to continue successfully without them.

Ask for introductions. Your departing preceptor can facilitate relationships with colleagues who will support you. A warm handoff from someone trusted is far more effective than introducing yourself cold. If possible, have transition meetings that include both your outgoing and incoming supervisors.

Gather the information you will need. Ensure you have access to project files, understand where documentation lives, and know the status of everything you were working on. Get contact information for key stakeholders on your projects. Your departing preceptor's institutional knowledge leaves with them; capture what you can before they go.

Communicating with Your Academic Program

Contact your practicum coordinator immediately. They need to know about the change and can help ensure your learning objectives remain achievable. They may need to formally approve a new preceptor or adjust your learning agreement.

Document everything. Keep records of your hours, completed work, and progress toward competencies. If questions arise later about whether you met requirements, this documentation protects you. It also helps a new supervisor understand what you have already accomplished.

Discuss contingency plans with your program. In some cases, preceptor departure may require changing practicum sites entirely. Understanding your options early allows you to make informed decisions rather than reacting under pressure.

Building New Relationships

Approach your new supervisor as a fresh start rather than a disruption to continue. They have their own style, priorities, and expectations. While you should share context about your ongoing work, be open to their direction rather than insisting things continue exactly as before.

Invest in relationship building even though your time together will be shorter. Schedule an orientation meeting to learn about their background and expectations. Share your learning objectives and what you hope to accomplish. First impressions still matter, even in transitions.

Demonstrate flexibility and self-direction. New supervisors often appreciate students who require less intensive guidance, especially if they are taking on supervision responsibilities unexpectedly. Show that you can maintain progress independently while still being responsive to their input.

Managing Project Continuity

Review all ongoing projects with your new supervisor. Priorities may shift with different leadership. Projects your original preceptor championed might become less important to the organization. Be prepared to adjust your work focus while still meeting your learning objectives.

Identify what can be completed before the transition takes full effect. If you can bring projects to natural completion points, you start fresh with your new supervisor rather than carrying forward work they did not initiate.

Be patient with the learning curve on both sides. Your new supervisor needs time to understand your work and capabilities. You need time to understand their expectations and communication style. Give the new relationship space to develop.

Protecting Your Learning Experience

Stay focused on your competencies and learning objectives. Regardless of who supervises you, these requirements remain constant. If the transition threatens your ability to complete required work, advocate for yourself early rather than hoping things work out.

Look for unexpected opportunities. Transitions sometimes open doors. A new supervisor may have different projects, connections, or perspectives that enrich your experience. What feels like a setback can become a chance to diversify your learning.

Build relationships broadly at your site. The more colleagues who know your work and capabilities, the more resilient your position becomes if further changes occur. These relationships also expand your professional network beyond any single preceptor.

Finding Meaning in Disruption

Organizational transitions are a constant in public health work. Staff turnover, reorganizations, leadership changes, and shifting priorities are normal rather than exceptional. Your experience navigating preceptor departure prepares you for similar situations throughout your career.

The adaptability, resilience, and relationship-building skills you develop during this challenge are valuable beyond the specific circumstance. Future employers will appreciate hearing how you successfully managed through a difficult transition during your training.

While preceptor turnover is never welcome, it does not have to derail your practicum experience. With proactive communication, flexibility, and focus on your core objectives, you can emerge with your learning goals met and valuable new skills in managing change.