Students in the BSN- DNP program complete a minimum of 1000 supervised direct patient care clinical hours. MSN-DNP students complete 500 supervised clinical hours. Clinical hours are distributed across practicum courses to support competency and development as a DNP. Direct patient clinical hours refer to hours in which direct clinical care is provided to individuals and families. Non-direct care hours will not be considered.
An interdisciplinary mix of preceptors and experiences provides students with the best clinical experience and preparation as a DNP. Practicum placements will be determined based on the student’s personal goals and prior academic and professional experiences. DNPs, MDs, DOs, and individuals from other disciplines who are credentialed and licensed to practice in their area of expertise and their area of practice is clearly relevant to meeting DNP competencies and scope of practice, may serve as preceptors.
All efforts are made to match students with preceptors within the student’s home geographical area, however this is not always possible. Students may be required to travel up to 90 minutes each way to complete their clinical practicum. Students assume all responsibility for travel to and from clinical practicum sites.
Students may request preceptor matching. All requests must be made to the FNP Program Coordinator or DNP Clinical Coordinator at least 20 weeks in advance of placement.
DNP Clinical Hours Tracking
The determination of appropriate clinical hours is at the discretion of the clinical faculty for the course and the FNP Program Coordinator/DNP Program Coordinator.
The following activities may be counted toward required practicum hours:
- Hours in which direct clinical care is consistent with the student’s goals and FNP/DNP core competencies.
- Time spent documenting in the patient’s medical record
- Telehealth
- International/national direct care experiences as part of a medical mission
- Attendance at an educational offering related to practicum goals and objectives (not to exceed 8 hours). Must have prior approval from clinical faculty
- Activities that are clearly relevant to meeting FNP/DNP competencies and scope of practice
The following activities may NOT be included toward required practicum hours:
- Travel time to and from practicum; or between clinical sites
- Requirements mandated by clinical agencies
- Course assignments (ex: completion of online discussion board for the course)
- Practicum class time
- Clinical preparation time
- Skill lab or physical assessment practice sessions
- Simulation/Objective Structured Clinical Evaluations
DNP Preceptor Eligibility
- The designated program/clinical coordinator approves all clinical preceptors. The following criteria are utilized in selecting appropriate clinical preceptors specific to the identified student and course outcomes:
- Evidence of current licensure and/or certification by the appropriate licensing/credentialing body to practice as an APRN, PA, or MD/DO.
- If placed with an DNP, the preceptor must have a clinical preparation and be certified as a nurse practitioner.
- Expertise in the designated practice area.
- At least 18 -24 months of experience in the clinician role in suitable settings.
- Interest in assuming the responsibilities of the preceptor role.
Student Responsibilities
- Complete all preceptor agreements prior to the start of the practicum.
- Discuss practicum objectives and personal objectives and learning needs for the course with the preceptor.
- Determine the schedule for the clinical experience, including days of week and hours per day. Submit clinical calendar via email to the student’s clinical faculty.
- Adhere to professional attire that is in accordance with clinical site requirements and Bellin College.
- Maintain professional behavior in the clinical setting at all times.
- Complete required clinical course paperwork and submit on time.
- Collect and enter patient encounter data in clinical log (Typhon) as required in each clinical course.
- Demonstrate increasing competencies and progressive independence in clinical knowledge and skills.
- Function in the role of the nurse practitioner under the supervision of the preceptor incorporating evidence-based practice guidelines and clinical site policies.
- Complete preceptor and clinical site evaluations at end of practicum.
- Attend all scheduled practicum experiences on time and prepared, completing all required clinical hours for each clinical course.
- Notify preceptor and clinical faculty as soon as possible if unable to attend clinical as scheduled and arrange make-up clinical day.
Students in the MSN -DNP program may not enroll for course credit and be paid for the same clinical hours. If a student is an employee of a site or has any other formal relationship with the site where s/he has been placed to complete DNP practicum as a student, roles must be clearly defined and separated, in writing and in advance of the placement, as follows:
- A course faculty must be assigned for each student.
- The student must have a designated preceptor as defined above.
- The course content and educational objectives for the student’s experience at the site must be provided to the preceptor.
- If a student is also an employee of the clinical site or has a formal relationship with the clinical site, the hours in which the student is functioning as an employee/in the other role versus the hours the student is functioning as a DNP student must be clearly defined.
- In order to avoid potential conflict between the site’s expectations regarding levels of productivity related to site objectives and the student’s use of clinical time to meet the DNP student objectives, a student may not bill for a service s/he provided while in a student role.
- The student’s preceptor of record - or an approved, temporary designee – must be on-site at the same time as the student.