Imagine walking into a doctor’s office or hospital and being treated by someone who has never actually touched a patient before. Sounds absurd, right? Yet, this could become a reality if we continue to push aside the hands-on training of our future health care providers.

This may seem extreme, but it reflects a recent message sent by HR to one of our most dedicated preceptors. (Parts of the message are redacted to protect the institution’s privacy.)

“I’m writing to clarify the role of students at our clinics: To clarify, this is a shadowing and observational experience … Students are not permitted to engage in any hands-on training or provide patient care at any time … No student—whether MA, RN, NP, PA—should provide patient care or be left alone with a patient.”

Sadly, I’m seeing this kind of thing more and more in requests for preceptors. Providers who only allow “observation” during clinical rotations should concern every patient, doctor, and health care facility. The question isn’t just how we’ll prepare the next generation—it’s whether we’ll prepare them at all. I am completely baffled by this. Are we really okay with future providers lacking the hands-on experience they need to safely and effectively care for patients?

These students aren’t just students—they are our future health care providers. They will be the ones taking care of our communities, treating our loved ones, and dealing with emergencies. Yet, despite how important they are, we’re not giving them the real-world training they need. Hands-on experience is crucial for their education.

But let’s be honest: Hands-on training isn’t just about learning skills—it’s about gaining the confidence and experience that comes from working directly with patients. This is where students learn to make quick decisions and connect with people in need. Without this training, we’re sending them out into the world half-prepared, and that’s not fair to them or the patients they will serve.

We understand the pressures to be productive, the limited resources, and the financial challenges that health care organizations and providers face. But when these concerns take priority over giving students real-world training, we’re heading for trouble. Do we want a future where providers know all the theory but lack the experience to make tough clinical decisions when it counts? This isn’t just an educational problem—it’s a patient safety issue.

Skipping this crucial training isn’t just bad for students; it’s bad for every patient they’ll eventually care for. We can’t afford to focus on short-term productivity at the cost of long-term quality. While efficiency and saving money are important, the quality of care we provide is paramount.

Imagine the consequences: providers who miss out on hands-on training may make avoidable mistakes, leading to patient suffering, legal issues, and higher costs for the health care system. This is a risk no one wants to take, but it becomes more likely if hands-on learning is pushed aside for short-term gains.

The health care system depends on having well-trained, confident providers who are ready to step into their roles and do the job right. We’re weakening that system by denying students these real-world experiences and putting future patient care at risk.

Health care facilities, doctors, and educators must come together to ensure that hands-on training remains a vital part of medical education. We can’t allow productivity concerns to overshadow our duty to properly train the next generation. Our future providers—and our patients—deserve better.

The next generation of health care professionals is counting on us to make their education a priority. Let’s not let them down.

Lynn McComas is CEO and founder, PreceptorLink, and a recognized expert in precepting nurse practitioners and advanced practice provider students. With over two decades in primary care, Lynn has served as a coach, advisor, mentor, and preceptor for countless health care professionals, including NPs, nurses, and medical assistants. She co-founded a successful skills and procedures business and speaks nationwide on NP-related issues.

Lynn is also a regular contributor on LinkedIn, KevinMD, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @preceptorlink, X @LynnMcComas, and her blog, where she addresses the growing NP and PA professions and the urgent need for preceptor sites. Her unique perspective, shaped by her business, clinical, and educational experiences, positions her as a key voice in tackling preceptor shortages. Lynn is committed to driving change—through a paradigm shift in NP education, reducing barriers, offering preceptor incentives, and advocating for reforms within the profession.