Preliminary Planning for the Applied Practice Experience

Applied Practice Experience Essay
Student’s Name
College/University
Course
Professor’s Name
Due Date
1 What steps will you take to research and identify a community organization and community preceptor?
According to Michigan State University (2021), no standard methodology exists for identifying a practicum preceptor or the practicum agency/site. I will execute specific steps to research and find a community preceptor for my applied practice experience (APE). First, I will locate agencies where previous students completed their practicum through interactions with peers, faculty members, or job postings. Second, I will use the Find-a-Preceptor Database to search for practitioners willing to be preceptors. In order to complete the online search, it would be necessary to enter the U.S. Zip Code and the mile radius. Third, a general LinkedIn search for an individual who works at the site and whom I am interested in collaborating with will be crucial. Fourth, I will reach out to my professional network and individuals outside my professional network. This will include colleagues and co-workers (current and former), family and friends, health departments, local hospitals, and community health organizations. Lastly, I will send an invitation email to the list of existing, former, and possible community preceptors. Although this approach would be increasingly challenging, I will also reach out to practicing physicians who do not guide healthcare students (Minor et al., 2019). However, I expect only former and current precentors to respond to the invitation.
2 Describe your areas of interest and identify one possible site that you will investigate as a potential match for APE.
According to Michigan State University (2021), the issue and scope of the practicum should correspond to my career and educational goals. My areas of interest include creating solutions to address the escalating health outcome and access disparities in the United States (U.S.). Persistent health access disparities between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White Americans are well-established in research (Oh et al., 2020). Although healthcare access is recognized as a policy concern, Hispanics still experience more barriers when seeking medica...