Training the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals
The road to becoming a healthcare clinician involves significant preparation. In addition to classroom learning, hands-on, intensive clinical training is also required, which can include internships, rotations or residency, depending on the profession and phase of training. This practical experience depends on the willingness of seasoned clinicians to share their time and expertise through clinical supervision and preceptorships. A shortage of such supervisors and preceptors can cause serious bottlenecks in the training and preparation of new clinicians, leading to worker shortages overall.
To learn more about these issues, the MDH Healthcare Workforce Survey gathered data from physicians, physician assistants (PAs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and registered nurses (RNs) and mental health professionals about their experiences providing clinical training to learners. (Note that mental health professionals will be the focus of a future article.)
Figure 1: Share of MN Providers Who are Providing Clinical Training to Learners
Physicians were most likely to report providing clinical training (71.6%), followed by mental health professionals (65.5%), advanced practice registered nurses (53.8%), and physician assistants (43.9%). Registered nurses were least likely to report providing this training (28.2%). Figure 2 shows where this training is most likely to be occurring.
Figure 2: Share of Each Profession that is Training Learners, by Rural/Urban and by Independent Organizations/Organizations that are part of a Larger System
The survey also found that availability of providing training differed by practice setting. Physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses, working in urban large-system settings (for example, Mayo, Essentia, or HealthPartners) were more likely to provide clinical training. Physicians and APRNs working in rural independent organizations were also more likely to provide clinical training. Practice settings did not influence whether PAs or RNs provide clinical training. RNs were roughly equally likely to be providing clinical training regardless of their practice setting.
The survey also asked providers “in your opinion, what do you think could encourage more providers to provide more clinical training to learners?” The majority of responses indicated that some sort of individual-level incentive (such as extra pay, a reduced schedule [without lowering pay], and/or recognition) would be helpful. Others also noted that the documentation burden—either of supervising learners specifically, or of working in healthcare in general—was prohibitive.
Finally, quite a number of respondents pointed out that broader workplace culture changes would be extremely helpful or even necessary. As one physician noted, “Clinicians are paid using a productivity model. It takes time to train students/residents, which reduces our ability to see patients, which reduces our income. Thus, although I love teaching, it’s a huge financial hit.”
Nurses voiced similar preferences even though the work pressures were different. Many commented that a reduced patient load or an increase in pay would be very helpful because it is difficult to keep up with the workload even without a trainee. “Better training/learning is done when there is time to teach and not running to keep up with no time for teaching moments/conversation,” said one nurse.
Expanding Minnesota's health care workforce requires more than recruiting students into training programs. It also depends on supporting experienced clinicians who make it their mission to train the next generation. Balancing productivity demands while protecting teaching time, reducing administrative burdens, recognizing teaching contributions, and aligning staffing models with educational responsibilities could help expand clinical training capacity and strengthen Minnesota's future workforce.
Watch this space for further analyses and an in-depth look at post-graduate training for mental health professionals.
For additional details related to the listings below, please visit ORHPC Healthcare Funding.
Indian Health Grant
Program Description: The Indian Health Grant Program, authorized in Minnesota Statute 145A.14, provides assistance to eligible applicants to furnish clinical health services, including culturally informed preventive, medical, dental, and/or mental health care services, for American Indian people that reside off reservations.
Eligible entities include: Tribal Nations and nonprofit entities providing clinical health services to American Indian people that reside off reservations, with preference given to Tribal Nations and nonprofit organizations that were created for and specifically focused on serving American Indians.
Application Close Date: Sept. 3, 4:30 p.m.
Mental Health Safety Net Grant
Program Description: Minnesota Statute 145.929 authorizes the Commissioner of Health to award grants to support eligible mental health providers who serve uninsured youth under age 21. Funds will be awarded each year proportionally among all eligible programs, based on the total number of uninsured patients under the age of 21 served.
Eligible applicants: Provider organizations that are either:
Additionally, eligible applicants must offer free or reduced-cost mental health care to low-income patients under the age of 21 with a family income below 275 percent of federal poverty guidelines and who do not have health insurance coverage.
Application Close Date(s):
- Letter of Intent Deadline: Aug. 27, 4:30 p.m.
- Application Deadline: Oct. 23, 4:30 p.m.
Minnesota State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)
Program Description: Minnesota’s State Loan Repayment Program (MN SLRP) aims to improve population access to outpatient clinic-based primary health care by assisting underserved communities with recruitment and retention of primary care providers.
Eligible Licensed Health Professionals: OB/GYN, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Dental Therapists, Registered Dental Hygienists, General and Pediatric Dentists.
Minimum Service Obligation: 2 years.
Annual Repayment Amount: In order to receive loan repayment, a clinician must agree to practice either full-time or part-time as a primary care clinician (see Eligible Clinicians) for a minimum of two years at a program-approved site located within a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
2026/2027 Application Close Date: Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m.
VA Debt Management Program - Overview Session
Date: July 21, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Format: Virtual (Microsoft Teams)
This online session provides an overview of the VA Debt Management Program, which partners with Suicide Prevention services to help eligible Veterans experiencing financial stress during periods of elevated suicide risk. Participants will learn about program eligibility, the referral process, coordination between Suicide Prevention and the VA Debt Management Center, and available debt relief options.
Register for the VA Debt Management Program Overview Session.
VA Benefits Explained for Healthcare Partners
Date: Sept. 28, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Format: Virtual (Microsoft Teams)
This training provides an overview of VA benefits and resources and is designed to help health care professionals better understand how to support Veterans in accessing the services they have earned. Participants will leave with practical knowledge to confidently guide Veterans through the benefits process.
We encourage you to share these opportunities widely within your organization and professional networks. These trainings may be especially beneficial for:
- Leadership Teams
- Social Workers
- Care Coordinators
- Case Managers
- Nurses and Nurse Managers
- Behavioral Health Staff
- Patient Navigators
- Community Health Workers
- Veteran Program Coordinators
- Those working directly with Veterans or supporting Veteran Care
Register for the VA Benefits Explained for Health Care Partners session.
Rural EMS Mental Health Summit
Invest in Yourself. Invest in Your Team.
Date(s): Aug. 10-12
Location: Breezy Point Resort, Breezy Point, MN
Join EMS colleagues from across Minnesota for this interactive, small-group summit designed to provide practical tools for managing stress, building resilience, strengthening workplace culture, and supporting long-term wellness in EMS. Attendance is limited to approximately 40 participants to encourage meaningful discussion, peer learning, and networking.
We hope you'll join us as we invest in the health, resilience, and long-term sustainability of Minnesota's EMS workforce.
Presented by the Minnesota Ambulance Association in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health and led by the WGH Group, this 1½-day summit will focus on:
- Mental Health and Wellness
- Burnout prevention and stress management
- Emotional resilience
- Leadership and workplace culture
- Trauma exposure and recovery
- Boundaries, self-care, and relationships
To Register: Email off...@mnems.org with the following information:
- Name
- Ambulance service or organization
- Registration type (supported registration or sustaining registration)
Health Care Homes Sustainability Summit
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Convening healthcare executives, providers, health plans, finance professionals, and policy makers
Join health care leaders from across Minnesota for the inaugural Health Care Homes (HCH) Sustainability Summit!
Virtual, one-hour sessions will feature dynamic speakers and panelists committed to sustaining high-quality, high-value primary care. There is no fee to participate. Upon completing a single registration, participants will be registered for all three sessions and will receive individual calendar invitations for each. Attendance at all sessions is encouraged but not required.
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New RHIhub Innovation Guide
The Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub), in collaboration with the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, has released the “Practical Guide to Supporting Innovation in Rural Health.”
The guide explores how rural communities can build on their local expertise, strong partnerships, and existing assets to create innovative solutions that address their unique healthcare challenges.
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