Graduate Nursing
AdmissionsPracticum and Preceptor Guidelines
The clinical experience is part of the Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist program, students follow the process outlined below.
It may be necessary for the student to travel outside of his/her hometown in order to obtain clinical experiences which meet individual course objectives.
Graduate students may suggest/or request a potential preceptor or clinical site within the following guidelines:
- Students wishing to obtain their clinical experience within the Duluth/Superior area may suggest a specific clinical site to the faculty member. The student may not directly contact the potential preceptor or clinical site (SMDC system). All arrangements must be made via the Graduate Program coordinator once approved by the faculty member.
- Students residing outside the Duluth/Superior area or who wish to obtain their clinical experience outside the
Duluth area will be required to locate a clinical site within his/her chosen geographical location. All sites must be approved by the clinical faculty member. Students experiencing difficulty securing a site may contact the faculty member or Graduate Program Coordinator for assistance.
Students must have approval from the clinical faculty member, all contractual paper work completed, liability insurance and health requirements met prior to the start of any clinical experiences.
Process For Clinical Practicum And Preceptor Contracts for Master’s students:
- Clinical Practicum hours may NOT be conducted at the student’s place of employment (unless pre-approved by CSS clinical faculty in special circumstances) or at anytime during the student’s regular employment hours.
- Requests for clinical placements at SMDC or Mayo: the students and faculty determine the appropriate site, the faculty make the formal request to the Program Coordinator, who will then contact the appropriate person for the faculty.
- Requests to non SMDC or Mayo clinical sites: the student and faculty determine the appropriate site, then the student makes the request directly to the potential clinical site.
- Once the site is determined, the Program Coordinator makes the formal contact with the respective agency representative or preceptor including information regarding the goal of the practicum, course objectives and number of hours requested. The practicum is then negotiated with either the preceptor or agency representative as appropriate.
- Prior to any clinical experience students must have in place current liability insurance (NPs must have NP student coverage), current immunization information, CPR certification and RN licensure for the state in which the practicum occurs and a completed background check.
- Once the above agency agreement is signed, it is up to the student to contact the preceptor and negotiate clinical hours, and discuss clinical objectives.
- For CNS and NSM students once Preceptor Agreement is signed:
- Provide the course faculty and preceptor with a copy of their individual specialty Clinical objectives on the Practicum: Course and Clinical Objectives form and negotiate objective achievement with the preceptor.
- Practicum experiences are designed by the student in consultation with the course faculty and will depend upon the specialty area of interest.
- All the required approvals and paperwork must be completed and on file PRIOR to any clinical experience.
- All students must complete the Preceptor Agreement & Clinic al Log for each practicum experience/site for each semester. All data requested must be included. Hours must be verified by course faculty and preceptors. Return the signed form to course faculty and provide the preceptor with a copy. Failure to complete any portion of the log will result in incomplete course requirements and a delay in posting of a final grade. Use a separate form for each preceptor at each site.
- All students must provide each preceptor with an Evaluation of the St. Scholastica Student by Preceptor (CNS & Psych NP students) or Evaluation of the St. Scholastica Student by Preceptor (ANP, FNP and Gero students) form and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return to CSS Graduate Nursing Program. It is essential this form be completed. Extra forms can be obtained from the Graduate Nursing Portal online.
- All students must complete the Student Evaluation of Clinical Siteform. It is essential this form be completed. Extra forms can be obtained from the Graduate Program Coordinator
Process For Clinical Practicum and Preceptor Contracts for Post Master’s Doctoral students:
- A signed Preceptor Agreement is required for Post Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice students conducting clinical project in any organization. A summary log is not necessary.
Nurse Practitioner Tracks Faculty Clinical Site Visit
The purpose of the faculty site visit is to:
Evaluate student progress toward achieving clinical skill expectations. Assess overall growth toward professional development as an advanced practice nurse. Determine appropriateness of site for specific learning experiences. Provide faculty an opportunity to meet and confer with the preceptor and other clinic staff.
Faculty will do a minimum of one site visit per semester at either the primary clinical site or the secondary clinical site. For very distant students, the faculty may do evaluation via telephone contact if absolutely necessary and have students turn in samples of their written charts after ID of patient has been removed.
Faculty will make arrangements for the site visit with the student, who has the responsibility of advising the preceptor and clinical staff as to date and time.
On average, faculty will plan to spend 2-3 hours at the clinical site.
The student is responsible for coordinating with clinic staff and the preceptor the availability of a patient encounter during the planned visit time.
Faculty will observe the student throughout the patient/preceptor interaction. This includes collection of history, performance of physical examination, case presentation to preceptor and implementation of plan of care.
Students will have available pediatric charts and adult charts reflecting an overview of type of patient seen to date. Notes will be reviewed for organization, completeness and succinct presentation.
Following the site visit, faculty will spend time with the student to review and discuss the visit. Written feedback will be given utilizing a Clinical Progress Evaluation form. A follow-up visit will be arranged as necessary to monitor student progression.
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