Precepting with Purpose: Rachael Tikum Reflects on the Mobile Health Training Project

As its nurse-led Mobile Health Training Project (MHTP) concludes this semester, Seton Hall's College of Nursing is highlighting the impact of the federally funded initiative supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The four-year grant expanded access to primary care in Newark, New Jersey, while providing nurse practitioner students with clinical training on a mobile health unit.

Rachael Tikum, D.N.P., A.P.R.N., a nurse practitioner with Newark’s Department of Health and Community Wellness, mentored students throughout the program. “I still remember my first few students, watching them walk into clinic, nervous but eager and then seeing their growth over time as they began to trust their instincts and find their voice as clinicians,” Tikum said. “Being part of that transformation is incredibly rewarding.”

Under Tikum’s guidance, students in Seton Hall’s Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program gained hands-on experience delivering primary care services, conducting patient assessments and providing health education to underserved populations with limited access to health care.  

She noted that some of the most rewarding moments come when students begin to apply their classroom learning in practice. “What I enjoy most is those ‘light bulb moments,’ when a student suddenly connects the dots between textbook knowledge and real patient care,” she said. “Their curiosity and fresh perspectives make the experience a true partnership in learning.”

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner student Gabrielle Ciraco reflected on her clinical experience with Tikum as her preceptor.

“Working under the guidance of Dr. Tikum allowed me to imagine my future as a nurse practitioner,” Ciraco said. “Her clinical expertise, thoughtful approach to patient care and generous mentorship set a standard I aspire to. Witnessing the love and trust her patients have for her ignited a deep sense of excitement and purpose in me as I step into this profession.”  

Tikum said her commitment to precepting stems from the mentorship she received early in her own nursing career. “The mentors who supported me made a lasting impression and I wanted to provide that same support to future nurse practitioners,” she said. “What keeps me engaged is seeing students grow — not just clinically, but professionally — developing confidence, compassion and a strong sense of responsibility toward their patients.”

As the MHTP grant concludes, Seton Hall University recognizes the impact the mobile health unit has had on medically underserved communities in Newark. Through the initiative, patients received essential health screenings, education and ongoing support. The College of Nursing is especially grateful to dedicated preceptors like Tikum, who made the project possible while also mentoring the next generation of nurse practitioners.

Categories: Health and Medicine