Clinical Preceptor Mentors the Next Generation of Nurse Practitioners

Kristine Sparks, D.N.P., A.G.P.C.N.P.-B.C., brings clinical excellence, empathy and a commitment to mentorship in her role as a preceptor for Seton Hall’s Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) program. An alumna of the College of Nursing, Sparks has mentored Seton Hall nurse practitioner students since 2014, shaping the next generation of providers with the same rigor, compassion and professionalism that defined her own training.

A nurse practitioner preceptor is an experienced clinician who mentors nurse practitioner students in the clinical setting. They guide students in patient care and clinical decision-making, and assist in students’ transition from theory to advanced practice. Students in Seton Hall’s AGPCNP program must complete 600 clinical hours in healthcare settings prior to receiving their degree.

“Precepting has been a genuinely rewarding experience for me,” Sparks shared. “Every student brings a fresh perspective, thoughtful questions and a desire to grow. Being able to guide them through the realities of clinical practice, decision-making, communication and the human side of care has been meaningful.”

Sparks is a family nurse practitioner at Kean University’s wellness center, where she provides primary care to the university’s student population and serves as a clinical preceptor for Seton Hall’s nurse practitioner students. Her background includes 11 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, and she has served as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve since 2020.

In 2024, Sparks, a mother of three, was deployed with the U.S. Army for seven months to serve as medical director of the Deployment Readiness Center at Fort Hood, TX, the nation’s third-largest military base. In March 2025, she returned to her position at Kean and resumed precepting.

Sparks’ commitment to students extends beyond teaching them clinical skills. She focuses on helping future nurse practitioners translate classroom learning into real-world care. “I love seeing the moment when things click for a student, when they connect textbook knowledge to a real patient and start trusting their own clinical judgment,” she said.

Remembering the mentors who influenced her own path, Sparks views precepting as a way to pay that investment forward. “What keeps me engaged is seeing students grow into capable, compassionate providers who will go on to care for our communities,” she said. “Knowing I play even a small part in their journey is incredibly fulfilling.”

Her decision to precept for Seton Hall is rooted in gratitude and pride. “I earned my Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree from Seton Hall, so I know firsthand the strength of the program and the high standards the College of Nursing sets,” Sparks said. “Seton Hall shaped me as a clinician and a leader, and precepting is my way of giving back to a school that invested so much in my growth.”

Alexandra Ebol, an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner student, completed her first practicum experience under the mentorship of Sparks and describes the experience as transformative.

“I enjoyed having my first nurse practitioner clinical rotation with Dr. Sparks. She is energetic and welcoming, and created a safe space for me to ask questions while also encouraging independence in practice,” Ebol said. “Her constructive feedback has strengthened my confidence as I work toward becoming a nurse practitioner.”

Joyce Maglione, Ph.D., ANP-BC, FNAP, program director of the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program, echoed that sentiment. “Kristine Sparks exemplifies the very best of clinical preceptorship,” Maglione said. “Her commitment to mentorship, her clinical expertise and her unwavering support of our students reflect the values of Seton Hall’s College of Nursing.” 

Categories: Alumni, Health and Medicine