Preceptored Clinical Experience

Graduate nursing students complete required clinical learning hours with qualified clinical preceptors. Graduate nursing clinical practice requirements may be completed in the student's own community. All agency, preceptor, and site surveys should be finalized one month prior to beginning clinicals. The student is responsible for identifying preceptors and clinical sites in their own community. Preceptors may not be relatives or in a relationship with a student. Approval of selected preceptors and clinical sites must be obtained from faculty prior to beginning clinical hours. Students may be required to visit campus in order to demonstrate clinical competency. Faculty will also validate clinical competency through site visits and/or conference calls with preceptors and students. A completed written agreement with the agency (Memorandum of Understanding) is required prior to initiating clinical experiences. Preceptors should be board-certified in their specialty areas corresponding to the student’s specialty track. No clinical hours are allowed during university holidays or when courses are not in session.

Some students encounter difficulty obtaining a clinical placement for completing advanced practice clinical hours.  Please communicate this difficulty with the Clinical Liaison and Director of APRN Students - MSN, mjwakefiel@usi.edu We ask that you:

• Clarify that you have no opportunity to work with a preceptor at your place of employment.
• Send to us a list of organizations you have contacted. We will then not duplicate your efforts.
• Continue to communicate with us. Should you find a clinical placement, please be sure to let us know of your success.  

We will work with you to obtain a clinical placement; however, in identifying a clinical site, you may need to travel to reach this clinical opportunity.

Preparation Guidelines

The following guidelines and forms have been developed to prepare for the preceptored clinical experience. Students area expected to adhere to these guidelines in each preceptored experience.

Procedure and Timeline for Securing a Preceptored Clinical Experience
Students are responsible for identifying potential clinical preceptors in states or locations in which he or she is licensed to practice as a registered nurse. The following process and timeline includes the required documentation for an agreement between the preceptor and the University for students in clinical courses.

Timeline

January/ February for Summer and Fall Clinical Experiences

1. Print the Meeting with the Preceptor Checklist and the Preceptor/Site Survey. Review information that is to be given to the preceptor.
   
   
2. Identify a possible preceptor for the course in which you wish to enroll during the Summer (N618 Advanced Health Assessment) and Fall (Clinical specialty). The types of preceptors needed for each course are identified in Guidelines for Preceptor Selection by Course. The student is responsible for ensuring that all documents are finalized prior to the beginning of the clinical course.
   
   
3. The order for securing your initial preceptor is the same as you repeat the process for additional experiences throughout the last three or four semesters of your advanced practice education.
   
   
4. Preceptor packets are available online under “Clinical Requirements” for all clinical courses.

March and April prior to Summer and Fall Clinical Experiences

1. Meet with preceptor. Take the Preceptor/Site Survey, the Preceptor Packet, and a camera. Introduce yourself. Explain the need for clinical experience relative to your specialty.
   
   
   1. Provide the preceptor with your resume which has been updated each semester to reflect your education and experience.
   2. Review the contents of the Preceptor Packet with the preceptor in the following order: Program Information, Clinical Roles and Responsibilities, Information about Graduate Nursing Clinical Experience Preceptor Agreement
   3. If the preceptor indicates a willingness to provide this educational service complete the Preceptor/Site Survey with the preceptor or office manager.
   4. Take a picture of the preceptor at the facility in which you will practice. If possible have someone else take a picture of the two of you together.
      
      
2. Leave the Preceptor Packet with the preceptor asking that the Preceptor Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU, Agency Agreement) be signed and returned to the Nursing Program. Inform the preceptor that the clinical experience cannot begin until this from is completed and returned to the Graduate Nursing Program.
   
   
3. Email the completed Memorandum of Understanding, Preceptor/Site Survey, and the picture to Graduate Nursing, USI1Nursing@usi.edu
   
   
4. Communicate to the course faculty if there is no success in a preceptor or MOU contact.
   
   
5. Follow the course syllabi and faculty directions regarding course requirements relative to clinical experience.
   
   
6. DO NOT INITIATE CLINICAL PRACTICE until you have received confirmation by email that the preceptor agreement has been returned and has been accepted by the program. The Preceptor Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding must be approved and the picture received before you will be allowed to participate in a clinical experience as a student at the University of Southern Indiana, Graduate Nursing Program.
   
   
7. No clinical hours are allowed during university holidays.