Clinical placements are experiences that fulfill clinical course objectives and develop practice competencies. While in "clinical" students build on their knowledge while learning to collaborate effectively with preceptors, clinical teams and patients/clients. Students are expected to come to clinical prepared to engage in patient care using current, evidence-based resources, demonstrate openness to feedback and follow-up on recommendations to improve clinical performance.
Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion (APNI) students are required to complete 600 clinical hours in their pre-licensure "immersion" year. During the immersion year clinical placements/hours take place each quarter.
Doctor of Nursing Practice students who enter the program as an RN and APNI students who have successfully completed their pre-licensure year, are required to complete a minimum of 600 advanced practice clinical hours. This is typically 150 precepted hours per practicum course spread over 4 quarters. An additional 400 hours are required to complete the DNP Project for a total of 1,000 advanced practice clinical hours for the DNP degree.
In the APNI pre-licensure year, clinical placements will often be site-specific and formatted in a cohort model. Clinical hours may also include simulations designed for realistic, clinical practice at the Clinical Performance Lab. Typically, students will complete around 30 hours in the Summer quarter and then increase to about 150 hours in the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. In an effort to provide students with experiences in Gerontology, Pediatrics, OB, and Urgent Care settings, placements and schedules can vary widely. Site locations might be as far north as Everett and as far South as Tacoma. Students are expected to provide their own transportation and be available in the evenings and sometimes on one weekend day if necessary to fulfill clinical hour requirements each quarter.
During the years of DNP program when students are practicing with an RN license, clinical placements become active practice and students are matched in a 1:1 setting with an advanced practice preceptor. Students will see patients/clients under observation. The placements are coordinated by your Track Lead Faculty and the Senior Clinical Placement Coordinator. Students may be placed anywhere in the state of Washington within 150 mile radius from the Seattle University campus.
Students who enter the program as an RN and APNI students who have successfully completed their pre-licensure year, complete one year of on-campus doctoral courses before beginning advanced practice clinical placements in their chosen area of study.
To learn more about when your clinical placements will take place refer to the Program of Study for your track. Clinical placement courses may be referred to as Integration, Clinical Practicum, or Transition courses in the program of study.
The clinical placement experience will vary depending on your area of study and by clinical site, but the structure is relatively similar.
Preceptor are volunteers who serve as a mentor and role model for students. In this role they agree to provide the following:
The assigned Clinical Faculty serves as mentor and role model for students, both teaching and assisting them throughout their clinical. Clinical Faculty are required to meet weekly with students in clinical seminars. Faculty should communicate regularly with students and also be responsive and collaborative in identifying and resolving problems that may arise in clinical. In most tracks, the Clinical Faculty will make one site visit per quarter to meet with and observe the student and formally evaluate the student's performance.