Dr. Deborah Boateng (UWM ‘ 16), originally from Ghana, retrained as a nurse after moving to the United States because she has a passion for helping others. Within a few years, she pursued her Doctor of Nursing Practice at UW-Milwaukee because she wanted to be more involved in the care of her patients as an advanced practice prepared nurse.
You can often find Boateng actively mentoring a UWM student while meeting with her clients. She has been practicing at Outreach Community Health Centers, Inc., on 2nd and Capitol in Milwaukee, for the last four years. Through her work, she maintains a strong commitment to the nursing profession’s continuity. In the previous three years, Boateng has consistently precepted UWM students explaining, “if I were not to do this, I am denying an individual the opportunity to become a nurse practitioner which could affect access to health due to shortage of Primary Care Providers.”
Boateng enjoys the interactions with students and watching them grow and learn as practitioners. She also finds it essential to stay abreast of the latest knowledge in nursing teaching and learning.
Dr. Boateng suggests others consider precepting UWM Nursing students because:
- Precepting is an enriching experience for the mentor and student;
- There are a lack of preceptors in the area;
- By precepting, you are giving back directly to UWM College of Nursing and
- We all have an obligation to mentor the future workforce.
Boateng closes by saying, “I want to remind our alumni that after just one year, you know plenty to take on precepting a student and understand that sometimes you learn as you go.”
UWM College of Nursing can help answer any questions you have on precepting. For more information on becoming a preceptor, please contact the program director where your interest aligns: RN to BSN, Master of Nursing, or Doctor of Nursing Practice.