Undergraduate (BSN) Nursing Practicum Manual:

Section 1: Introduction

Welcome to the practicum component of Walden University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion (BSN) program. This manual describes the structure and timing of the practicum courses and the policies students must follow to be successful. 

This manual is intended to provide BSN students with the practicum information they need, regarding policies and procedures, as well as to serve as a reference for the practicum preceptors and others involved in the practicum.

This manual refers to the Walden University Catalog and the Walden University Student Handbook for specific information on university policies and courses.

Special Note to RN to MSN Students: Students in the RN to MSN program complete a portion of their practicum requirements at the bachelor level. RN to MSN students should also refer to the MSN Practicum Manual for guidance related to their graduate practicum experiences.

This document does not create a contract to provide any particular service or benefit.

Note: Walden University reserves the right to make program changes, as needed, to ensure the highest quality program.

The BSN program at Walden University is designed to promote Walden University’s vision, mission, and ongoing commitment to social change. These guiding principles serve as a framework for the program curriculum and outcomes and are included here as a reference.

Vision

Walden University envisions a distinctively different 21st century learning community, where knowledge is judged worthy to the degree that it can be applied by its graduates to the immediate solutions of critical societal challenges—thereby advancing the greater global good.

Mission

Walden University provides a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change.

Social Change

Walden University defines positive social change as a deliberate process of creating and applying ideas, strategies, and actions to promote the worth, dignity, and development of individuals, communities, organizations, institutions, cultures, and societies. Positive social change results in the improvement of human and social conditions.

Vision

The College of Nursing will be recognized for its preeminent programs and innovative educational approaches that prepare distinguished graduates to advance the greater good of global communities.

Mission

The College of Nursing, dedicated to excellence in nursing education, provides programs to transform diverse nursing professionals into champions of change who will improve health outcomes and advance health equity.

Goals

The College of Nursing strives to:

• Empower diverse nursing professionals through academic advancement that enhances personal growth, professional development, clinical reasoning, and the desire for life-long learning.
• Create an inclusive teaching and learning environment where students expand on their existing professional nursing knowledge, to improve workplace and healthcare outcomes.
• Provide educational approaches that addresses the complex needs of adult learners and support academic quality and integrity.
• Prepare learners as scholar practitioners to use evidence-based practice that exemplifies and supports professional nursing standards.
• Prepare professional nursing leaders who are empowered to promote positive social change for individuals, families, and populations by addressing the social determinants of health locally, nationally, and globally.

At the end of the BSN program, students will be able to:

1. Utilize technology and information systems to communicate, and support decision making for safe practice.  
2. Use evidence, based on the sciences, humanities, and research, to guide nursing practice across a diverse health-illness continuum in a variety of healthcare communities.  
3. Evaluate the implications of policy on healthcare disparities including issues of access, equity, affordability, social justice, and social needs in healthcare delivery.  
4. Demonstrate effective cooperation, coordination, and collaboration with interprofessional partnerships in delivering diverse and inclusive quality care to patients, families, and communities.  
5. Implement collaboration across the healthcare system to provide population health nursing care to improve access to quality healthcare and equitable health outcomes.  
6. Demonstrate leadership and accountability by expanding the contributions of nursing and committing to professional development, social change, and personal wellbeing.  
7. Apply person-centered assessment skills across the lifespan based on social determinants of health, development, and culture to provide quality evidence-based nursing care. 

At the undergraduate level, the College of Nursing uses the following guidelines and standards to inform the curriculum and professional behavior:

• The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (AACN)
• Guide to the Code of Ethics for Nurses With Interpretative Statements (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2015)
• Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (ANA, 2015)
• Guide to Nursing’s Social Policy Statement (ANA, 2015)

The BSN program is offered in two different learning modalities:

Course-Based Modality

Traditional online courses are led by a Faculty-Instructor with a structured schedule and deadlines. Students spend a fixed amount of time within the online class following a term schedule and learning objectives.

Competency-Based Modality

The Tempo Learning® experience is competency-based, meaning that students progress by demonstrating knowledge of a subject by passing assessments after completing Learning Resources. Student progress is measured by the mastery of the demonstration of skills, abilities, and knowledge in a particular course. The experience provides for flexible schedules, where students set their own pace with the support of a Faculty-Instructor and an academic coach.

Practicum 

The BSN practicum consists of courses that students take near the end of their program to develop knowledge, skills, and competencies in (a) population health nursing; and/or (b) leadership in quality and safety. Practicum assignments are integrated throughout each of these courses. In addition to the online classroom component, these courses include onsite practice experiences, which are applied learning opportunities in which students are required to propose a potential project in the practicum course. 

Practicum Site 

A practicum site is a health agency, school, work setting, or other settings in which students apply practicum experiences that are consistent with their education and training. At these practicum sites, students collaborate with nurses, nurse leaders, and other professionals in the community (such as, departments of health, school nurses, nursing leaders), as well as other professionals in the workplace or community settings.

Office of Field Experience

Walden’s Office of Field Experience in the College of Nursing is responsible for managing the practicum application process, ensuring that the student practicum meets program requirements, and supporting students through the practicum process. The Office of Field Experience staff are dedicated to supporting nursing students through the practicum process from the time students enter the program until their practicum is completed.

Field Experience Coordinators

Field experience coordinators are Walden employees who help students understand practicum policies and procedures. They answer questions about the practicum application process; review materials to help students ensure that they have completed all required application and documentation; and work collaboratively with the specialization coordinators and the program director throughout the practice approval process. Once practicum applications have been approved, the field experience coordinators ensure students are enrolled in their appropriate practicum courses.

Field experience coordinators are assigned to students by region. There are six Office of Field Experience staff members assigned to each region to assist and support students through the practicum application process. The staff are assigned by role, and each is responsible for reviewing the various components of practicum applications. The Office of Field Experience staff are assigned to the following roles by region:

• Nursing field experience coordinator: Responsible for ensuring the preceptor and practicum site meet the course requirements. This coordinator approves the Preceptor/practicum site section of the application and holds student appointments to provide support and guidance on preceptor and practicum site course requirements.
• Verification field experience coordinator: Responsible for ensuring students have completed the onboarding requirements. This coordinator reviews and approves the onboarding section of the application and reviews student accounts in CastleBranch and holds student appointments to provide support and guidance on onboarding requirements.
• Affiliation Agreement field experience coordinator: Responsible for facilitating the Affiliation Agreement process with nominated practicum sites. This coordinator holds student appointments to provide updates and information on Affiliation Agreements. Please note that the actual contract negotiation is completed by a contract administrator in the Office of Applied Learning Agreements at Walden.
• Assistant field experience coordinators: Multiple coordinators are responsible for reviewing applications to include license reviews, Preceptor forms, and professional liability insurance documents. These coordinators complete a degree audit to verify course prerequisites have been met. These staff members also process registrations for practicum courses.
• Support field experience coordinator: This coordinator is responsible for providing support for Meditrek®, including credentials, submitting applications, and uploading documents, such as time logs for graduate courses, patient logs for graduate courses, and evaluations.
• Field experience coordinator: Responsible for assisting students with the application process in general along with providing students support and guidance on searching for preceptors. This coordinator meets with students to provide support in searching for and identifying a site and preceptor nominee, understanding preceptor and practicum site requirements and addressing general questions about practicum.
• Field placement coordinator: Responsible for coaching and assisting students searching for preceptors and sites. This coordinator provides 1:1 coaching support in search for and identifying a site and preceptor. This coordinator works with students through the Practicum Pledge service.

The field experience coordinators are available to students via live chat, email, phone, and personal phone appointment. Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Field Experience and talk with a field experience coordinator early in their program for guidance and personal assistance.

Students may contact field experience for support via the Contact Us page.

Career Planning and Development 

Walden’s Career Planning and Development is one possible starting point for students to begin to learn strategies for networking. The Career Planning and Development website has a full range of resources focused specifically on networking, covering topics such as: 

•  Why is Networking Important?  
• Building Your Network 
•  Networking Tips 

 

Career Planning and Development also has an entire list of associations and professional development groups specific to nurses. 

Walden’s goal is to assist every student in identifying and securing a practicum experience that meets the requirements for their degree programs, while giving students flexibility to conduct their field experiences in locations and with preceptors that best meet their needs. 

Walden commits significant human and technology resources to this effort. 

Faculty

Faculty serve as supervisors, in practicum courses, who monitor, instruct, provide feedback, and evaluate students to facilitate learning and skill development. Faculty oversee student coursework related to the practicum, as well as assign final grades.

Preceptors

Preceptors are qualified nurses, within a practicum site, who are responsible for guiding student practicum experiences and providing ongoing feedback on their practicum work (see Preceptor Requirements). 

•  Preceptors are qualified individuals employed by the practicum site. 
•  Preceptors are responsible for supervising students during their practicum experiences. 
•  Preceptors provide mentoring and guidance appropriate to student roles in their practicum sites, including orienting students to the facility, personnel, policies, and procedures; providing ongoing feedback about student progress in meeting practicum goals; and completing evaluations to assess student work during practicum. 
•  Preceptors provide students opportunities for role analysis, as well as the application of skills and knowledge. 
•  Preceptors and Faculty collaborate throughout the practicum experience to ensure that the student is meeting the practicum outcomes and performance objectives. This includes meeting with the student’s Course Faculty as required. 
•  Walden expects preceptors to be accessible to students and to provide guidance and feedback that promotes growth of knowledge, skills, and competencies consistent with Walden University educational goals, as well as with best nursing practices. 

Walden provides guidelines to the students on how to identify a qualified preceptor and practicum site that will provide them with a learning experience that satisfies program requirements and meets their specific needs and interests. 

Students

Walden students are adult learners who are capable of seeking educational opportunities to meet their personal and professional goals. Walden expects students to collaborate with Faculty but also possess the capability to be self-directed to meet educational requirements. Students work with Faculty, students and onsite Preceptors collaborate with other professionals in the community and other work settings, to ensure they obtain a well-rounded educational experience.

Students are expected to complete the following:

• Submit an application in Meditrek® for each practicum course to participate in a practicum.
• Develop a plan to meet course objectives and outcomes for the practicum.
• Seek supervision and assistance from the Faculty Member for project approval—and as needed—throughout the course.
• Prepare appropriately for each practicum.
• Act in an ethical, respectful, and professional manner at all times.
• Use acquired knowledge and skills for appropriate practicum.
• Arrive on time and be prepared for each practicum activity.
• Develop a clear and concise plan to meet course outcomes.
• Participate in online group practicum discussions with the Faculty Member and classmates.
• Seek—and be receptive to—regular feedback from the Faculty Member and preceptor on progress in practicums.
• Adhere to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines at all times.
• Maintain truthful and accurate records of experiences, submit original work, and adhere to academic integrity policies.
• Be adaptable and flexible learners.
• Evaluate the course, practicum, and Faculty.
• Complete, successfully, the practicum component of the course.
• Satisfy all applicable academic standards and course expectations.
• Notify Faculty and the Office of Field Experience, in a timely manner, if approved preceptor or practice site becomes unavailable for any reason.
• Notify the College of Nursing’ Office of Certification, Licensure, and Compliance of Compliance and Licensure, in a timely manner, if license becomes encumbered for any reason.

Additional Costs Associated with Practicum 

Walden wants all students to be aware of the costs associated with practicum, which may vary depending on several factors. Generally, students will incur and are responsible for paying costs associated with completing practicum. Examples of costs include, but are not limited to, the following: travel to/from practicum site; relocation costs; living costs during practicum; books; course materials; professional liability insurance; onboarding/administrative fees required by practicum sites; health insurance; costs associated with completion/renewal of onboarding requirements (e.g., immunizations, physical exam, CPR certification, HIPAA and OSHA training, etc.); state licensing fees; photo ID badge; additional onboarding requirements of practicum site; lab coat, if required by practicum site; stethoscope (NP courses); additional equipment costs; etc. 

Walden does not expect students to pay preceptors, practicum sites, or site placement agencies and discourages students from doing so, due to conflicts of interest that can arise. Students who enter into payment arrangements with preceptors, practicum sites, or site placement agencies do so at their own risk. 

Students with questions about costs associated with practicum should contact the Office of Field Experience.