Nursing Practicum Manual:

Section 2.3: Program and Practicum Requirements: Specialty Programs for Master of Science (MSN) and Post Master’s Certificate (PMC)

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) prepares students to focus their practice on the identified health needs of society, become leaders in their field through scholarship, influence the quality of patient care, manage technology and information, gain autonomy in their careers, and develop a lifelong commitment to learning. The MSN program offers a range of specializations in the most critical areas of nursing today.

Program Learning Outcomes

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

• Synthesize organizational/systems leadership for cost-effective specialist nursing practice that contributes to high-quality healthcare delivery, advancement of the nursing profession, and social change.
• Critique evidence-based literature drawing from diverse theoretical perspectives and pertinent research to guide decision making that demonstrates best practices for specialist nursing practice in a global society.
• Integratively assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate cost-effective healthcare strategies that reduce health disparities by patient/population advocacy for access to specialist nursing care.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate using audience-specific oral, written, and information technology for professional delivery of specialist nursing care.
• Evaluate health needs of diverse populations for necessary teaching/coaching functions based on specialist nursing knowledge to restore/promote health and prevent illness/injury.
• Exhibit ongoing commitment to professional development and value of nursing theories/ethical principles (altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice) in accordance with ethically responsible, legally accountable, specialist nursing practice.
• Implement specialist nursing roles to promote quality improvement of patient centered care in accordance with professional practice standards that transform health outcomes for diverse populations.

 

Overview of Program

The College of Nursing offers a range of programs, specializations, and tracks. Here is an overview of the MSN and PMC Specialty program: 

Overview of Specializations/Tracks  

• Nurse Executive: This specialization is offered in the MSN and the PMC program. In the Nurse Executive specialization, students have the opportunity to prepare for a management role as a nurse administrator through a targeted curriculum designed to help students develop essential management and leadership skills. Coursework helps students gain insight into how effective, collaborative management can support the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes. The program includes options for deepening knowledge through sub-specializations in risk management and health policy: two areas of high demand in the marketplace. Students have the opportunity to gain skills in management strategy, decision-making, planning, finance, patient safety management, and human resources.
• Nursing Education: This specialization is offered in the MSN and the PMC program. The Nursing Education specialization prepares nurses for faculty positions in all types of undergraduate nursing programs, as well as for educator roles in diverse practice settings. Graduates have the knowledge to develop, plan, implement, and evaluate educational programs for nursing students and other individuals or groups needing health-related education. 
• Nursing Informatics: This specialization is offered in the MSN and the PMC program. The Nursing Informatics specialization prepares nurses to more effectively utilize information technology to enhance the quality of patient care. This specialization blends nursing science with computer and information science. Coursework focuses on such key areas as information systems, database concepts, and effective project management. Graduates have the knowledge to integrate data, information, and knowledge to support decision-making processes that affect patients and providers. (Additional software may be required.) 
• Public Health Nursing: This specialization is offered in the MSN program.  Students in the Public Health Nursing specialization are prepared to take a lead role in improving health outcomes for entire populations, particularly those in underserved communities. The focus of the coursework is on skills such as assessing communities and populations; identifying high-risk groups; and developing culturally sensitive, realistic, population-based nursing interventions. 
• MSN and MBA Dual Degree: This program leads to an MSN and MBA degree. Walden’s MSN-MBA program prepares students for a management role as a nurse administrator through a targeted curriculum that emphasizes core business skills, evidence-based decision making, creative problem solving, and strategy development for nursing practice. In addition to gaining insight into how effective, collaborative management can support the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes, students will have the opportunity to put their skills into practice and become more effective business communicators, successful collaborators, critical systematic thinkers, and world-class managers who are well-equipped to succeed in today’s global healthcare environments. The program incorporates critical real-world skills in areas such as management strategy, business communications, planning, financing, patient safety management, and human resources.  

 

Overview of Practicum

• Nurse Executive: During practicum, students apply knowledge, theories, and expertise in leadership and management to the practicum experience.
• Nursing Education: During practicum, students apply knowledge, theories, and expertise in a nursing education setting along with advancing their knowledge in a clinical specialty area. 
• Nursing Informatics: During practicum, students apply their new knowledge and expertise in the nursing informatics role.
• Public Health Nursing: During practicum, students apply knowledge, theories, and expertise in the assessment and development of culturally competent interventions targeted at community and population levels along with developing their management and leadership skills with an emphasis on public health program evaluation.
• MSN and MBA Dual Degree: During practicum, students are prepared for a management role as a nurse administrator through a targeted curriculum that emphasizes core business skills, evidence-based decision making, creative problem solving, and strategy development for nursing practice.

Nurse Executive

This specialization is offered in the MSN and the PMC program. In the Nurse Executive specialization, students have the opportunity to prepare for a management role as a nurse administrator through a targeted curriculum designed to help students develop essential management and leadership skills. Coursework helps students gain insight into how effective, collaborative management can support the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes. The program includes options for deepening knowledge through sub-specializations in risk management and health policy: two areas of high demand in the marketplace. Students have the opportunity to gain skills in management strategy, decision-making, planning, finance, patient safety management, and human resources.

During practicum, students apply knowledge, theories, and expertise in leadership and management to the practicum experience.

 

Nursing Education

Program Overview

This specialization is offered in the MSN and the PMC program. The Nursing Education specialization prepares nurses for faculty positions in all types of undergraduate nursing programs, as well as for educator roles in diverse practice settings. Graduates have the knowledge to develop, plan, implement, and evaluate educational programs for nursing students and other individuals or groups needing health-related education. 

Practicum Overview

During practicum, students apply knowledge, theories, and expertise in a nursing education setting along with advancing their knowledge in a clinical specialty area. 

 

Nursing Informatics

This specialization is offered in the MSN and the PMC program. The Nursing Informatics specialization prepares nurses to more effectively utilize information technology to enhance the quality of patient care. This specialization blends nursing science with computer and information science. Coursework focuses on such key areas as information systems, database concepts, and effective project management. Graduates have the knowledge to integrate data, information, and knowledge to support decision-making processes that affect patients and providers. (Additional software may be required.) 

During practicum, students apply their new knowledge and expertise in the nursing informatics role.

 

Public Health Nursing

This specialization is offered in the MSN program.  Students in the Public Health Nursing specialization are prepared to take a lead role in improving health outcomes for entire populations, particularly those in underserved communities. The focus of the coursework is on skills such as assessing communities and populations; identifying high-risk groups; and developing culturally sensitive, realistic, population-based nursing interventions. 

During practicum, students apply knowledge, theories, and expertise in the assessment and development of culturally competent interventions targeted at community and population levels along with developing their management and leadership skills with an emphasis on public health program evaluation.

 

MSN and MBA Dual Degree

This program leads to an MSN and MBA degree. Walden’s MSN-MBA program prepares students for a management role as a nurse administrator through a targeted curriculum that emphasizes core business skills, evidence-based decision making, creative problem solving, and strategy development for nursing practice. In addition to gaining insight into how effective, collaborative management can support the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes, students will have the opportunity to put their skills into practice and become more effective business communicators, successful collaborators, critical systematic thinkers, and world-class managers who are well-equipped to succeed in today’s global healthcare environments. The program incorporates critical real-world skills in areas such as management strategy, business communications, planning, financing, patient safety management, and human resources.  

During practicum, students are prepared for a management role as a nurse administrator through a targeted curriculum that emphasizes core business skills, evidence-based decision making, creative problem solving, and strategy development for nursing practice

The following courses are the required practicum courses for each specialization. 

Students enrolled in an RN Track for an MSN program must also review the practicum requirements for undergraduate practicum courses in the undergraduate (BSN) section of this manual. 

Nurse Executive Specialization

NURS 6600:  Capstone Synthesis Practicum

• Credits:  5 credits (3 didactic credits, 2 practicum credits)
• Required Practicum Hours:  144 Hours
• Review Course Description and Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>
• NOTE:  NURS 6600 is an optional course for the PMC.

Nursing Education Specialization

• NURS 6341:  Specialty in Clinical Nursing
  • Credits:  5 credits (4 didactic credits, 1 practicum credits)
  • Required Practicum Hours:  72 Hours
  • Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>
  • NOTE:  NURS 6341 is an optional course for the PMC.
• NURS 6351:  Role of the Nurse Educator
  • Credits:  5 credits (4 didactic credits, 1 practicum credits)
  • Required Practicum Hours:  72 Hours
  • Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>
  • NOTE:  NURS 6351 is a required course for the PMC.

Nursing Informatics Specialization

NURS 6461:  Capstone Synthesis Practicum

• Credits:  5 credits (2 didactic credits, 3 practicum credits)
• Required Practicum Hours:  216 Hours
• Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>
• NOTE:  NURS 6461 is an optional course for the PMC.

Public Health Nursing Specialization

• NURS 6720:  Population-Based Public Health Nursing Interventions
  • Credits:  5 credits (2 didactic credits, 3 practicum credits)
  • Required Practicum Hours:  216 Hours
  • Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>
• NURS 6730:  Public Health Nursing Leadership
  • Credits:  5 credits (3 didactic credits, 2 practicum credits)
  • Required Practicum Hours:  144 Hours
  • Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>

MSN and MBA Dual Degree

• NURX 6601:  Capstone Synthesis Practicum
  • Credits:  2 practicum credits
  • Required Practicum Hours:  144 Hours
  • Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>
• MBAX 6990:  Capstone: Sustainable Business Practice and Strategies

NOTE: This is not a nursing practicum course and does not require practicum hours or an approved practicum application.  Students must either complete this MBA course before taking NURX 6601 or concurrently with NURX 6601. Students design their capstone project in MBAX 6690.   

• Credits:  5 didactic credits
• Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>

Students must schedule a phone appointment with their Student Success Advisor or Academic Coach early in their program to develop their degree plan and understand their required practicum course(s), the required prerequisite courses, practicum requirements, when they plan to take the practicum course(s), and the appropriate practicum application deadline(s). 

Students must complete the required prerequisite courses and follow the course sequence policy before being eligible or approved for a practicum course. Students will not be approved for a practicum course if the prerequisite course(s) has not been successfully completed, if the student is not currently enrolled in the prerequisite course(s), or if the student is applying for a practicum course that is against the course sequence policy. Prerequisite courses are required to be completed before practicum courses because the learning objectives must be mastered prior to proceeding to the next course. Students cannot take two practicum courses in the same term if they have not completed the required prerequisite course(s) or if it is against the course sequence policy. Students can review prerequisite courses and any course sequence policy for practicum courses in the Walden University Catalog: Nursing.

Students must go through the appeal process in Meditrek in order to appeal the ability to waive a prerequisite course for a practicum course, take a practicum course out of order, waive a course sequence policy, waive a prerequisite course to take two practicum courses during the same term, or waive the course sequence policy to take two practicum courses during the same term. The ability to appeal a policy does not guarantee an appeal will be granted. To initiate the appeal process, students must request an appeal link and code through their Advisor/Coach or by emailing the Office of Field Experience at nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu. Upon a request from a student, the Advisor/Coach or the Field Experience Coordinator will email instructions and a code for the student to submit their appeal in Meditrek accordingly. Students must review the Appeal Policy in Section 5 of this manual. <INTERNAL NOTE: INSERT LINK TO THE APPEAL POLICY IN SECTION 5 HERE> 

Students must identify and secure a preceptor and practicum site for their practicum experience.  Students must determine whether the preceptorship meets the requirements for the preceptor and practicum site. Students should utilize Preceptorship Prescreen Checklists for the practicum course to check if a preceptor and practicum site may be appropriate for the practicum course prior to submitting a practicum application.

Once a preceptor and practicum site are secured, students must submit a practicum application in Meditrek to nominate the preceptor and practicum site. Instructions on the Practicum Approval Process are described in Section 4 <INTERNAL NOTE: INSERT LINK TO SECTION 4 HERE> in this Practicum Manual. Prior to approval, the nominated preceptor’s licensure and certification (if applicable) is reviewed and verified; the Preceptor Commitment Form is reviewed and processed; and the preceptor’s credentials and qualifications are reviewed and evaluated by the Office of Field Experience. The faculty and Program Coordinator gives final approval of preceptorship nominees. Approval of the preceptor is based on the criteria outlined in this section.

Approval of the preceptor and practicum site must occur prior to the student starting the practicum course and completing practicum hours. Students cannot begin completing and logging practicum hours until their practicum application is fully approved in Meditrek, they are enrolled in the course, it is after the first day of the term, and they have received approval from their Walden faculty instructor to begin the practicum experience.

Some state boards of nursing have specific requirements for preceptors and practicum.  Students must review the regulations of their state board of nursing for specific practicum requirements of preceptors to ensure students are meeting their state board of nursing requirements along with Walden requirements for preceptorships. For example, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas have specific requirements for Nurse Practitioner preceptors that restrict certain practitioners as preceptors for nurse practitioner courses.

Students must go through the appeal process in Meditrek to appeal any practicum policy, including policies related to practicum site and/or preceptor requirements or to appeal a closure of a practicum application. Students must review the Appeal Policy and Process for practicum in Section 5 <INTERNAL NOTE: INSERT LINK TO THE APPEAL POLICY IN SECTION 5 HERE> of this manual. 

Students should contact the Office of Field Experience with questions about requirements of preceptors and practicum sites.

To finalize their education, students must have an opportunity to apply their acquired knowledge, concepts, and skills during required practicum experiences. To do this, students may need to travel to a setting for their practicum experience. Students should consider their career goals after graduation when they are choosing a practicum site. They must match their practicum setting that they nominate with their goals and within the specific requirements of the course. Practicum sites must offer an experience that meets the requirements of the specialization and the practicum course. The general requirements for all practicum courses for practicum sites are as follows:   

• The practicum site must either have a valid affiliation agreement with Walden University that specifically covers your program or be willing to finalize an affiliation agreement with Walden University. The Office of Field Experience will contact a nominated practicum site to establish an agreement after a practicum application is submitted in Meditrek if Walden does not currently have an affiliation agreement with the practicum site. 
• The practicum site must abide by the terms and conditions outlined in the affiliation agreement. 
• The practicum site must employ the preceptor or be owned by the preceptor. 
• The practicum site must be located in a state or country where Walden University is authorized to enroll students and approve practicum for the student’s program. Students should review the list of states and countries that are restricted for enrollment and practicum on the List of Restricted States for practicum. 
• The practicum site must not be a private residential home setting because students are not permitted to go to private residential home settings of patients or preceptors for practicum experiences. 
• The practicum site must not be an agency that conducts home visits because students are not permitted to go to private homes for home visits. 
• The practicum site must operate at a physical location that is owned or leased by the site with a physical address that belongs to the site.  Addresses for a post office box, virtual office, co-working facility, or rental mailboxes are not acceptable. 
• The practicum site cannot be owned or operated by the student.  
• The practicum site must be willing to support you with opportunities to complete required practicum activities for the practicum course.
• The practicum site must meet the specific requirements for the practicum course. See the “Practicum Course Requirements for Practicum Sites & Preceptors” section for requirements.   <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the “Practicum Couse Requirements for Practicum Sites & Preceptors” subsection, which is in this section below> 

Practicum Site Placement and Onboarding Process

Students must follow the appropriate procedure at the practicum site to secure a practicum rotation by the site’s deadline, complete onboarding processes required by the site, and understand the practicum site requirements prior to beginning the practicum. If a practicum site requires a placement and/or rotation process or requires an affiliation agreement prior to assigning a student a preceptor, students must follow procedures described in the section titled Sites that Require a Placement Process or Affiliation Agreement Before Preceptor Assignment.  <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to this section with this title in Section 4>

State Restrictions for Practicum Sites

Walden University is not authorized to provide educational experiences in every state or country for all nursing programs. Students must review this list of states and countries with restrictions for enrollment and practicum approval: Restricted States - Restricted States for Practicum.  The Office of Field Experience cannot approve practicum applications in states or countries listed on this list under any circumstance. This policy cannot be appealed.

Student’s Place of Employment for Practicum Site   

Students may complete the practicum where they work, assuming the facility is appropriate for their area of specialization and meets the requirements for the specific practicum course. However, their practicum experience must be:

• Completed in a different setting outside of their current work department/unit;
• Completed outside of their normal working hours;
• Not under the direction of a preceptor who reports to them; and
• Not under the direction of a preceptor who is their immediate supervisor or manager.

Students’ employment at their nominated practicum site does not guarantee that an Affiliation Agreement can be reached between Walden University and the site. Regardless of employment status at the nominated practicum site, an Affiliation Agreement and onboarding are required for all students as required by the practicum site and/or Walden University.

Students who wish to conduct their practicum at their place of employment should be aware that change of employment before or during their practicum may interfere with their ability to complete their practicum experience at the site. Students must email nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu immediately upon a change of employment status 

Preceptors must be academically and experientially qualified to serve as a preceptor. Preceptors must meet the preceptor requirements to be eligible to be approved as a preceptor. Once a preceptor is identified, students must communicate with their potential preceptor and determine if the individual meets the requirements for their practicum course. Students should only nominate preceptors who meet the preceptor requirements for practicum.

Preceptor Requirements – General Requirements

• The preceptor must hold the required academic degree that meets the requirements of the course; profession; licensure; certification; and is in a field related to the role and focus of the practicum experience.    
  • Undergraduate level courses: The preceptor must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or higher.
  • Master’s level courses: The preceptor must hold a master’s or doctoral degree. 
  • Doctoral level courses: The preceptor must hold a master’s or doctoral degree, but a doctoral degree is preferred.    
• The preceptor must hold an active and unencumbered license to practice in the specialization in the state or country where the practicum experience will occur for licensed preceptors.    
• The preceptor must meet the specific licensure, certification, and/or board-certification requirements for the specialization and practicum course. See the “Practicum Course Requirements for Practicum Sites & Preceptors” section for requirements.   <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the “Practicum Couse Requirements for Practicum Sites & Preceptors” subsection, which is in this section below> 
• The preceptor must have a minimum of 1 year of postgraduate unsupervised experience in the area of specialization for the practicum course. For licensed practitioners, the 1 year of experience is based upon the original date of licensure for the specialization. 
• The preceptor holds a current position and role that is relevant to the specialization, relevant to the focus of the practicum experience, and meets the requirements of the course.  
• The preceptor is a current employee of the practicum site at the practicum site location.
• The preceptor nominee is not the student’s relative, family member, fiancé, roommate, significant other, personal friend, primary care provider, and does not have any other relationship that would create an actual or perceived conflict of interest.
• The preceptor is not the student’s supervisor/manager, employee, or direct report.   
• The preceptor is not a current Walden University nursing student. 
• The preceptor is not precepting other students during the same time they plan to precept you during your practicum experience because preceptors must only precept one student for direct supervision at any given time.   
• The preceptor is able and willing to commit to the preceptor role for the duration of the practicum experience.
• The preceptor must meet the specific requirements for the program, specialization, and practicum course. See the “Practicum Course Requirements for Practicum Sites & Preceptors” section for requirements.   <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the “Practicum Couse Requirements for Practicum Sites & Preceptors” subsection, which is in this section below> 

This section includes requirements for practicum sites and preceptors for each practicum course for each specialization. Students must review these requirements for each practicum course along with the general requirements for practicum sites and general requirements for preceptors, which are listed above, when securing a preceptor and practicum site.

NOTE: The examples listed under nonacceptable site options and nonacceptable preceptor options are not an exhaustive list of what is considered nonacceptable. Students should focus on the site and preceptor options that are listed as acceptable when searching for a practicum site and preceptor.  

Nurse Executive Specialization

NURS 6600: Capstone Synthesis Practicum

• Acceptable Preceptor Options: Registered nurses with a PhD, DNP, MSN (e.g. Nurse Executive), MHA, MBA, and/or MPH degree in a leadership role. 
• Acceptable Site Options: Hospital, clinic, medical center, health department, school/college of nursing.
• Required Practicum Hours: 144 Hours 
• Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>
• Preceptorship Prescreen Checklist

Nursing Education Specialization

• NURS 6341: Specialty in Clinical Nursing

Important Note: Students apply the knowledge gained in advanced the pathopharmacology and advanced health assessment courses to advanced direct patient care within a selected clinical specialty. To achieve these learning experiences, students must propose a practicum site that allows them to have direct contact with patients. The focus of this course is not on educating patients, students, or staff.  Students do not precept with a nurse educator for this practicum course. 

• Acceptable Preceptor Options: Clinician who is a clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant who provides advanced direct care to patients, or a nurse with a MSN degree who provides advanced direct care to patients.
  • NOTE: Preceptors are required to have been prepared at the graduate level in the application of pathopharmacology and advanced health assessment. Preceptors must be engaged in delivering advanced patient care in a specialized field. Advanced patient care is defined as the management of complex disease processes in a specialty beyond the basic bedside nursing care to a specific group of patients.
  • Acceptable Site Options: Community clinic, emergent care clinic, hospital, nursing home, or hospice that provides direct contact with patients.
  • Nonacceptable Site Options: A college; university; staff development department; or agencies completing home health visits because students are not permitted to go to private homes for home health.  
  • Nonacceptable Preceptors: Nurse educators are not appropriate preceptors for this practicum course, unless they are also practicing as a clinician and can provide students with access to direct patient care to meet the requirements of the course. Individuals supervising nursing students in a clinical setting is not an acceptable preceptorship.  
  • Examples of Preceptorships:    
    • Students may select to learn more about the pain management of oncology patients or the management of hypertensive patients.    
    • Students may select to learn more about the management of complex nursing care delivery, involving the work of a clinical nurse specialist, experiences with a wound specialist, or hospice care. 
• Required Practicum Hours: 72 Hours 
• Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>
• Preceptorship Prescreen Checklist 

• NURS 6351: Role of the Nurse Educator

  • Acceptable Preceptor Options: Nurse educators in an academic setting, hospital, or clinic in the role of academician, staff developer, or patient educator.
  • Acceptable Site Options: Academic setting that educates nursing students or allied health staff; hospital, clinic, or other community-based facility that has health education needs for patients and staff.
  • Nonacceptable Preceptor: A preceptor that solely supervises students during clinicals is not an appropriate preceptor for this course.
  • Required Practicum Hours: 72 Hours 
  • Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>
  • Preceptorship Prescreen Checklist 

Nursing Informatics Specialization

NURS 6461: Capstone Synthesis Practicum

• Acceptable Preceptor Options: Registered nurses employed in an informatics role with a Ph.D., DNP, MBA, or MSN (e.g., senior nursing informatics officer [SNIO], chief information officer [CIO], chief medical information officer [CMIO]).
• Acceptable Site Options: Hospital, clinic, health department, or organization providing support for electronic health record systems.
• Required Practicum Hours: 216 Hours 
• Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>
• Preceptorship Prescreen Checklist

Public Health Nursing Specialization

For NURS 6720 and NURS 6730, it is preferred that the student remain at the same practicum site. Students may explore options for co-preceptors if they identify a potential preceptor who has a role in public health but not an advanced degree. For more information about co-preceptors, see the Co-Preceptors Section. 

• NURS 6720: Population-Based Public Health Nursing Interventions

  • Acceptable Preceptor Options: Registered nurses employed in a public health role with a PhD, DNP, MSN, or MPH. 
  • Acceptable Site Options: Local, state, or national public health departments; community centers or agencies (including voluntary, nonprofit, and/or non-governmental organizations) focused on population care, environmental health, disaster management, and health education; public schools; school nursing. 
  • Nonacceptable Site Options: Agencies completing home visits because students are not permitted to go to private homes for home visits.
  • Practicum Hours: 216 Hours 
  • Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>
  • Preceptorship Prescreen Checklist

• NURS 6730: Public Health Nursing Leadership

  • Acceptable Preceptor Options: Registered nurses employed in a leadership role in the public health or community health environment with a PhD, DNP, MSN, or MPH.
  • Acceptable Site Options: Local, state, or national public health departments; community centers or agencies (including voluntary, nonprofit, and/or nongovernmental organizations) focused on population care, environmental health, disaster management, and health education.
  • Nonacceptable Site Options: Agencies completing home visits because students are not permitted to go to private homes for home visits.
  • Required Practicum Hours: 144 Hours 
  • Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>
  • Preceptorship Prescreen Checklist

MSN and MBA Dual Degree

NURX 6601: Capstone Synthesis Practicum

• Acceptable Preceptor Options: Registered nurses with a PhD, DNP, MSN (e.g. Nurse Executive), MHA, MBA, and/or MPH degree in a leadership role. 
• Acceptable Site Options: Hospital, clinic, medical center, health department, school/college of nursing.
• Required Practicum Hours: 144 Hours 
• Review Course Description & Prerequisites <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the course description for this course from the Catalog>
• Preceptorship Prescreen Checklist

Students are responsible for nominating preceptors and practicum sites that fully meet all requirements for practicum.  If it is found that a student’s preceptor is a relative, family member, fiancé, roommate, significant other, personal friend, primary care provider, supervisor/manager, direct report, another Walden University nursing student, or any other relationship that would be considered a conflict of interest, practicum hours will be rejected and not counted toward the practicum hour requirement. If a student utilizes a practicum site or preceptor inappropriately that violates practicum policies, as outlined in the Practicum Manual, this may lead to an academic integrity violation that could result in a sanction up to and including dismissal from the university. Findings from Academic Integrity and Code of Conduct inquiries may be reported to the student’s state board of nursing.

Preceptor-to-Student Ratio

Walden requires preceptors to have an onsite preceptor-to-student ratio of 1:1 for direct supervision at any given time. Students are only permitted to complete practicum hours under 1:1 direct supervision by their approved preceptor. Walden will only approve a preceptor to precept students during the same term that guarantees a 1:1 preceptor to student ratio for direct supervision at any given time. While Walden may approve up to two Walden University students per term with the same preceptor under limited conditions, the preceptor must maintain the 1:1 direct supervision at any given time. The preceptor must only precept one student for direct supervision at any given time. Students are not to count practicum activities, hours, or patients if they are with other students during their practicum experiences. The purpose of this standard is to ensure that students have quality learning experience. 

The Office of Field Experience reviews, approves, and monitors applications for nominated preceptors in order that applications are submitted. It is highly recommended that upon securing a preceptor, students submit their application in Meditrek immediately because applications are processed based on the submission date. Practicum applications will be closed, and preceptors will not be approved for students if a nominated preceptor has met the maximum number of students for which they can precept during the term.

Supplemental Preceptorships

Students may need additional preceptorships in order to meet all the requirements for the course including completing all the required practicum hours, practicum activities, course objectives, or other practicum requirements. Students needing to complete practicum at multiple practicum sites and/or with multiple preceptors to meet the requirements of the practicum course, have the option to nominate multiple practicum sites and/or preceptors as a supplemental preceptorship by submitting a supplemental application, provided the supplemental site and preceptor meets the requirements. Supplemental applications must be submitted by the application deadline. Students who need to submit a supplemental application for a supplemental site or preceptor after the application deadline or during the term, students must go through the waitlist process to submit a waitlist application.  Supplemental applications go through the same review process as other applications and the same policies and requirements apply. Supplemental applications must be approved in Meditrek prior to students beginning their hours and practicum experience.   

Co-Preceptors

In some cases, there may be someone who would be an ideal preceptor, but they do not meet all of the requirements. If students find themselves in this situation, then they have an option to nominate the person as their supplemental preceptor, provided they also nominate a preceptor who fulfills all qualifications applicable to preceptors as their primary preceptor. The co-preceptor (supplemental) and the primary preceptor both ensure that the quality of the practicum work is at the master’s level and relevant to nursing. The primary preceptor and the co-preceptor (supplemental) must work at the same practicum site and must agree to partner to support you with the practicum experiences under this co-preceptorship arrangement. Students wanting to nominate co-preceptors must submit a primary application for their primary preceptor and a supplemental application for the co-preceptor. Examples of scenarios where a co-preceptorship may be an option: 

• A potential preceptor may be a nurse but does not have a master’s degree in nursing.
• A potential preceptor may be a healthcare informatics specialist but not a nurse. 
• A potential preceptor who has a public health role but does not have an advanced degree. 

Change of Practicum Site and/or Preceptor

<INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to this section with the same title in Section 4>

Practicum courses and practicum experiences assist a student’s transition from the learner role to that of scholar-practitioner. To achieve this transition, students develop and engage in a mentoring relationship with a practicum faculty instructor and an approved preceptor at a practicum site, focusing on roles and role functions; the achievement of learning objectives; and the completion of practicum activities. Practicum courses are designed to be the capstone experience for students. The practicum experience requires students to apply the knowledge, concepts, and skills that they have acquired in their didactic courses during their program of study particularly in relation to their specialization. The primary objective of the practicum is to guide students to focus on their role and integrate new knowledge into practice to become scholar-practitioners after graduation.

Practicum is an onsite practicum experience completed in person at an approved practicum site with an approved preceptor. Students must become intimately familiar with this Practicum Manual and adhere to the policies and procedures within. The practicum process is collegial, with the recognition that students are adult learners who are capable of critical self-reflection, open to constructive feedback, and responsible for their own learning.

Students may NOT begin any practicum hours or practicum activities with the preceptor or at the practicum site before (a) the start of the term, (b) they receive practicum application approval in Meditrek from the Office of Field Experience, (c) they are registered/enrolled in the practicum course, and (d) they receive approval from the faculty instructor for the practicum course once the course begins. Students cannot begin completing practicum hours or logging practicum hours until these conditions have been met.

Students must only complete practicum hours and practicum activities only with preceptors at practicum sites as approved in Meditrek. Practicum hours or practicum activities completed with a preceptor or at a site other than what was identified in an approved practicum application will be rejected and students will be required to repeat the hours. Students completing practicum hours with an unapproved preceptor or at an unapproved practicum site will be subject to a Code of Conduct inquiry and may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to course failure and permanent dismissal from the university. For more information about the Code of Conduct, refer to the Walden University Student Handbook: Code of Conduct.    

All approved preceptors must complete the responsibilities of preceptors to include signing of time logs in Meditrek, calls with faculty, and completion of practicum evaluations in Meditrek as outlined in Section 1 of this manual. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure their approved preceptor has access to Meditrek, signs time logs in Meditrek, and completes practicum evaluations in Meditrek.

Once students begin their practicum course, they are supervised and evaluated by a Walden practicum course faculty instructor as outlined in Section 1 of this manual. Practicum course faculty instructors grade student coursework and, in general, return student written work within Walden guidelines, and issue the final grade. Practicum faculty instructors also maintain contact with preceptors and students to determine whether student learning needs are being met by their practicums, as well as to monitor student progress. This process includes the preceptor providing feedback by completing a midterm and final evaluation. Faculty instructors review the preceptor’s evaluation and provide final grading for the course. Students must consult with the faculty instructor for the practicum course by phone, videoconference, or email about their progress throughout the term as stipulated in the course syllabus.

Students must review more information on how to be successful in practicum courses on the Course Success webpage on the Field Experience website.

Students must go through the appeal process through Meditrek to appeal any practicum policy, including policies related to practicum course requirements. Students must review the Appeal Policy and Process for practicum in Section 5 of this manual.   <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert link to the Appeal Policy in Section 5>

Students must review and complete the following orientation and training prior to beginning their practicum experience once they are approved for practicum and registered in a practicum course.   

• Orientation:  Practicum Orientation for Students
• Training:  Guide to Professional Presence, Communication, and Conduct in Field Experience 
• Course Success:  Webpage for Course Success

Students must complete all required practicum hours for each practicum course by completing required practicum activities by the posted deadline. Practicum hours must be completed onsite at the approved practicum site location with the approved preceptor. The required practicum hours for each practicum course are listed under the Practicum Courses <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert a link to the “Practicum Courses” section at the top of Section 2> section in this manual.  

Students must complete the required practicum hours by the posted deadline for the course and term and enter time logs in Meditrek to document practicum hours by following directions in this manual for Time Logs. <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert link to the Time Log Section in Section 2>

• Course-Based Courses: Students must complete practicum hours by the posted deadline.
  • Undergraduate Courses: Students must complete practicum hours by Week 6 of the term. 
  • Nurse Practitioner Courses: Students must complete practicum hours by Week 10 of the term. Practicum hours must be completed over a duration of no less than 8 weeks to ensure exposure to a wide range of practicum and patient experiences.  Students may complete and log up to 12 hours a day if not working the same day. Any student doing practicum hours on a day they work are not to exceed a maximum of 16 hours, combined, for work and practicum hours.
  • Master Specialty Courses: Students must complete practicum hours by Week 10 of the term.  
  • DNP Courses: Students must complete practicum hours by Week 10 of the term.  
• Tempo-Based Courses: Practicum approval is valid for 13 weeks from the start date of the term for the approved practicum application. Students can complete practicum hours anytime within this 13-week period, but students should complete practicum hours by the end of this 13-week approval period. While there is no minimum number of weeks required to complete the practicum activities and hours; students may progress at a pace that aligns with their schedule and learning objectives as agreed upon with their preceptor and faculty instructor. The 13-week approval period begins at the start date of the practicum term and not the first day the student begins practicum hours. Practicum hours must be documented in Meditrek in time logs by midnight on the last day of the 13-week approval period. Students who must complete practicum hours after the 13-week approval period must go through the Remedial Application process. Students must follow directions for Remedial Applications outlined in the Practicum Application Process section. <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert link to SECTION 4>

Students are only to complete practicum hours and practicum activities with approved preceptors at the location of the practicum site that have been approved by the Office of Field Experience in Meditrek. Students who complete or log practicum hours with an unapproved preceptor and/or practicum site will have the hours rejected and the hours will not count toward the practicum requirements of the course; and be subject to a Code of Conduct inquiry, which may result in disciplinary action.    

Practicum hours are specific to the course and the term. Practicum hours cannot be carried over to a different term or practicum course if a student withdraws, drops a course, or fails a course.  

Students must contact their faculty instructor for the practicum course if they are unable to complete the required practicum hours by the deadline to discuss possible options, which will be dependent upon a variety of factors including how many hours are completed, time left in the term, and the plan to complete the remaining hours. 

Students must satisfactorily complete all the required practicum activities and course assignments of their practicum course(s) in accordance with the information provided in this manual and the course syllabus. Students complete the classroom didactic portion of the course online and complete practicum activities with the approved preceptor(s) at the approved practicum site(s).

All practicum activities must be under the direction of the approved preceptor(s) at the approved location for the practicum site. Students are only permitted to complete practicum hours under 1:1 direct supervision by their approved preceptor. Students are not to count practicum activities or practicum hours if they are with other students during their practicum experiences. 

Practicum activities and hours must be completed on-site at the approved practicum site location under the supervision and guidance of the approved preceptor.

The following practicum activities count toward required practicum hours:

• Activities that are directly related to the completion of practicum goals and objectives.
• Shadowing the preceptor, which includes observations that allow students to gain exposure and experience so they can perform required tasks/skills required by the practicum experience.  Shadowing should be kept to a minimum with no more than 20% of the hours in each practicum course. Students should complete a debriefing session with the preceptor after each shadowing experience.  
  • Shadowing the preceptor is not an approved activity for NURS 6341.   
• Attendance at meetings.
• Practicum Project activities. See the “Project” section for the number of hours allowed to count towards practicum hours. Students must not begin working on project activities until approved by the faculty instructor to begin working on the project.
  • MSN-MBA students do not work on a Practicum Project in NURX 6601. 
• Preparation of all materials directly related to completion of the practicum activities related to the practicum project.

The following activities do not count towards required practicum hours:   

• Travel time related to and from practicum activities
• Breaks, Lunch breaks, Meal breaks
• Assignments related to the didactic portion of the course
• Entering logs in Meditrek
• Formal orientation or training required by the practicum site for onboarding
• Continuing education that is not required of the practicum course
• Communication (e.g., emails, phone calls), unless conferencing or doing project related communications
• Direct patient care (Except for NURS 6341)
• Other activities determined as inappropriate by the practicum course faculty instructor

Using Meditrek, students keep time logs to document their practicum hours and the time they spend on practicum activities. Students are required to keep a truthful and accurate log of the time and hours they spend doing practicum activities.

Students are responsible for ensuring time logs are entered correctly and accurately. Students must ensure logs are accurate and correct by selecting the correct course, term, faculty instructor, site, and preceptor. Students are only able to enter logs on or after the date the preceptor was approved in Meditrek. Students may make changes and edit logs until either the preceptor and/or faculty instructor signs the logs in Meditrek. Once the time logs are signed by either the preceptor or faculty instructor, they cannot be changed or edited by students. Students who mistakenly enter logs incorrectly and the logs are signed, must contact the Office of Field Experience to invalidate the logs, and then the student must enter new time logs with the correct information. The Office of Field Experience is unable to edit or backdate logs after the term ends. Students must enter their logs in Meditrek by the deadline because the logs get locked at the end of the term.  Students will NOT be able to enter or edit logs beginning Monday of the next term. Students will lose practicum hours if they are not logged in Meditrek by the end of the term.   

Preceptors and faculty instructors must validate time logs and sign off on time logs by the end of the course after the completion of hours. In order to successfully pass a practicum course, the time logs must be accepted by the preceptor and the faculty instructor. Preceptors and/or faculty instructors may reject logs in Meditrek that are inaccurate, duplicative, or do not meet course requirements. Students may be subject to academic integrity inquiries through the Code of Conduct process for inaccurate, incorrect, and/or duplicative logs. 

Students are responsible for ensuring the preceptor signs off on the time logs in Meditrek. Students are NOT permitted to sign off on time logs on behalf of preceptors. Preceptor designees and site administrative staff are not permitted to sign off on time logs on behalf of the preceptor. 

Required Information in Time Logs

Students must enter the required information in Time Logs in Meditrek within the required deadline:

• Undergraduate Course 4300/4301: Time logs must be entered in Meditrek within one week of completing the hours. All Time Logs must be entered in Meditrek no later than the last week of the course.  Time logs must include the following: Student’s Name, Course, Project Focus, Practicum Faculty Instructor Name, Preceptor Name, Site Name, Date, Time, Activities/Comments, Learning Objectives Addressed, and Activities Completed.
• Nurse Practitioner Courses: Time logs must be entered in Meditrek within 48 hours of completing the hours. Time logs must include the following: Student’s Name, Course, Practicum Faculty Instructor Name, Preceptor Name, Site Name, Level of Care, Date and Time. 
• Master Specialty Courses: Time logs must be entered in Meditrek within one week of completing the hours. Time logs must include the following: Student’s Name, Course, Practicum Faculty Instructor Name, Preceptor Name, Site Name, Date, Time, Activities/Comments, Learning Objectives Addressed, and Course Outcomes Addressed.     
• DNP Courses: Time logs must be entered in Meditrek within one week of completing the hours. Time logs must include the following: Student’s Name, Course, Practicum Faculty Instructor Name, Preceptor Name, Site Name, Date, Time, Learning Objectives Addressed, and Domain and Competency Addressed. Students must submit a comprehensive list of all practicum activities they completed each day in the “Student Learning Objectives” box in their time log.     

Timeline for Logs in Meditrek

• Timeline for Practicum Sites and Preceptors Programmed in Logs: Preceptors and practicum sites are programmed in Meditrek and will start to populate in the drop-down boxes in logs by the end of the first week of the term. If your preceptor or site does not populate in the drop-down box during the first week, track your logs manually until your preceptor and site display in the drop-down box in Meditrek. Do not enter logs under another practicum site or preceptor. After the first week, if your preceptor or site does not populate in the logs and it has been over one week since your application has been approved, send an email to nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu to check on the status of your preceptor or site getting added to the logs. Preceptors and sites are added to logs every Friday once the course begins; if an application is approved after the term begins, the preceptor and site will be added to the logs by the end of the day on Friday.        
• Timeline for Preceptors and Meditrek Account Information: 
  • Course-Based Courses: Preceptors are emailed their Meditrek credentials by the end of the second week of the term. Preceptors use their Meditrek credentials to sign off on time logs and complete evaluations. Preceptors who have not received their Meditrek credentials are encouraged to check their spam/junk email folders for an email from support@meditrek.com.  Students can send the preceptor an email with their Meditrek account information in their practicum application in Meditrek. Steps for students to send their preceptor an email with their Meditrek credentials can be found on the Course Success webpage. Preceptors should send an email to nursingfield@mail.waldenu.com from their work-issued email if they experience issues receiving the email from Meditrek. 
  • Tempo-Based Courses: Preceptors are emailed their Meditrek credentials by the end of the second week of the term. Preceptors use their Meditrek credentials to sign off on time logs and complete evaluations. Preceptors who have not received their Meditrek credentials are encouraged to check their spam/junk email folders or submit a request for credentials to be re-sent by completing the Meditrek Credentials Request Form.
• Timeline for Logs to be Entered in Meditrek: All time log entries must be entered in Meditrek by the posted deadline and by the end of the course. Students who submit logs after the deadline are subject to the course late penalty policies.  
  • Course-Based Courses: Students must enter time logs in Meditrek by the deadline listed above. All logs must be entered in Meditrek no later than Week 10 for graduate courses and Week 6 for undergraduate courses. Students who submit logs after the deadline are subject to the course late penalty policies. Students who are approved by faculty to log practicum hours after the deadline must enter time logs in Meditrek by the end of day on the Sunday before the next term begins. Students will not be able to enter or edit time log entries after midnight on the Sunday before the first day of the next term. Students who receive a grade of Incomplete (I) for the course and must complete practicum hours after the next term begins, must go through the Remedial Application process. Students must follow directions for Remedial Applications described in the Practicum Approval Process section. <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert link to Section 4>
  • Tempo-Based Courses: Students must enter time logs Meditrek by the end of the practicum experience. Practicum approval is valid for 13 weeks from the start date of the term for the approved practicum application. The 13-week approval period begins at the start date of the practicum term and not the first day the student begins practicum hours. Time log entries must be entered in Meditrek by midnight on the last day of the 13-week approval period. Students will not be able to enter or edit time log entries after the 13-week period. Students who must complete practicum hours after the 13-week approval period must go through the Remedial Application process. Students must follow directions for Remedial Applications described in the Practicum Application Process section. <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert link to Section 4>

Concerns regarding truthfulness or accuracy of Meditrek logs or preceptor approval of Meditrek logs will result in a Code of Conduct inquiry. Students found to have falsified their Meditrek logs or preceptor approval of Meditrek logs will be subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to course failure and permanent dismissal from the university. The findings from the Code of Conduct inquiry may also be reported to the student’s state board of nursing. For more information about the Code of Conduct, refer to the Walden University Student Handbook: Code of Conduct section.

Communications are a collaborative process among the faculty instructor, preceptor, and student.

During the second week of the term, students schedule a call with their preceptor and practicum course faculty instructor to discuss the practicum experience. Students are responsible for coordinating and scheduling this call and ensuring all parties participate. During the call, the practicum learning objectives, practicum activities, and required practicum hours will be discussed.

Before the call, students should talk with their preceptor about potential learning objectives. Students write their practicum Learning Objectives in Week 1 of the course; practicum course faculty instructors will approve students’ self-developed Learning Objectives after the conference call, by the end of Week 2.

The conference call is intended to ensure that:

• The practicum goals are being addressed.
• Students and preceptors understand the key points of the practicum experience.
• Review learning objectives for the course.
• Review the students’ schedule to ensure practicum hours and requirements are able to be met.
• An opportunity for questions is provided.
• Share contact information. 
• Problems are identified and addressed.

Additional conference calls may be required to evaluate student performance during the practicum experience.    

Some state boards of nursing have additional requirements for collaboration and communication with preceptors.  For practicum experiences occurring in the state of Washington, the Washington Board of Nursing (WA BON) requires the preceptor, faculty instructor, and the student confer at the beginning, midpoint, and at the end of each practicum experience. Students completing practicum in the state of Washington must work in partnership with their faculty instructor to facilitate these three contacts.

Walden expects that the practicum experience will allow students to focus on developing and expanding their advanced level competencies through experiential learning. This allows students the opportunity to develop and strengthen skills, apply knowledge, and integrate a range of skills into a coherent professional identity.

Students set specific goals for the practicum experiences that are consistent with their professional preparation and coursework. These goals inform the evaluation of their competencies at the end of the practicum. 

During the practicum course, students formulate Individualized Learning Objectives that they want to achieve during their practicum experience; these objectives are based on their previous assignments, practicum experiences, practice setting, course objectives, and interests. As students approach the practicum, they should reflect on their coursework and identify two to three areas in which they feel the need for further growth or with which they might want application-level experience. The Individualized Learning Objectives may build upon each other through program progression; however, the Individualized Learning Objectives and areas of identified growth must be different between each practicum course as students need new Learning Objectives and areas of growth for each practicum course.  

Students should discuss their ideas for Learning Objectives that they identify with their preceptors and determine if the necessary resources are available at their practicum sites. Students then prepare a set of measurable Learning Objectives that specify what they seek to achieve during their practicum experience. These objectives must be approved by the practicum course faculty instructor.

Students must follow the timeline and instructions for the Learning Objectives as outlined in the Course Syllabus once enrolled in the practicum course.

Here are examples of Learning Objectives by specialization:  

• Nurse Executive Specialization: Students may develop objectives to gain more experience with the budget analysis process.
• Nursing Education Specialization: Students may develop objectives to gain more experience in the use of simulation in nursing education. 
• Nursing Informatics Specialization: Students may develop objectives to gain experience preparing a request for proposal (RFP).
• Public Health Specialization: Students may develop objectives to gain experience in data collection and community assessment.
• MBA and MSN Dual Degree: Students may develop objectives to gain experience in financial management within a healthcare organization.
• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Specialization: Students may develop objectives to manage complex, high acuity patients with multiple comorbidities.  
• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Specialization: Students may develop objectives to manage care of older adults with complex health issues in primary care settings. 
• Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization: Students may develop objectives to manage chronic conditions across the lifespan. 
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Specialization: Students may develop objectives to manage chronic conditions of pediatric patients in primary care settings. 
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialization: Students may develop objectives to manage medications to effectively manage psychiatric conditions. 
• DNP – Traditional & NP Specializations: Students may develop objectives to explore leadership strategies that support teamwork at the point of care.
• DNP – Executive Leadership: Students may develop objectives to explore leadership strategies that support meeting quality measures at the organizational level.
• BSN: Students may develop objectives that reflect their focus on either a practice problem in quality and safety or in population health.

Students must periodically submit a journal entry showing how theoretical underpinnings may apply to a selected practicum experience and how that one aspect of their practicum is consistent with or different from learned theory.

The purpose of the journal is to identify activities, issues, or problems that show how theory is or is not applied and supported in the nursing practice specialization. Drawing from theoretical constructs learned in this program and the specialization content, Learning Outcomes, and competencies, students analyze their practicum experience.

In a 1-page journal entry (250–300 words), students reflect on their practicum experiences and discuss how practices they observe, or conduct differ from (or are in agreement with) substantiated theory. Students focus on one instance of this similarity or gap for each journal entry.

In each journal entry, students are required to:

• Describe a selected observed activity or situation (no more than 1/2 page).
• Analyze observations in the context of a selected theory.
• State conclusions regarding the fit of the selected theory to the selected event.
• Offer recommendations for improving the fit, if needed.
• Include APA-style citations and references.

Students must submit a journal entry when due, even if they are not on-site that week. Students who are not on-site for a week in which a journal entry is due must reflect on experiences from any of the previous weeks of the practicum.

Students submit their final portfolio in the practicum course. Students update any portfolio items that need editing or revision based on faculty comments. Assignments from the practicum course are added to the portfolio, and students may add other items as well. The final portfolio will be examined for content and format to ensure it is a professional representation of accomplishments. Students then have a comprehensive professional portfolio to use as they start the next phase of their career.

Project

Practicum Project – Nurse Executive, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, and Public Health Nursing

The practicum project is part of the practicum hours for the Nurse Executive, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, and the Public Health Nursing specializations. Students design and implement a project based on research and scholarly literature during practicum. Students do not complete research in their practicum course.

The practicum project is completed in the following courses:

• Nurse Executive Specialization: Project is developed and completed in NURS 6600.
• Nursing Education Specialization: Project is developed and completed in NURS 6351.
• Nursing Informatics Specialization: Project is developed and completed in NURS 6461. 
• Public Health Specialization: Project is developed in NURS 6720 and completed and implemented in NURS 6730. 

Guidelines for Practicum Hours for the Project

Students must receive approval for the project before beginning practicum hours on the project. The practicum hours completed on the project must be completed onsite at the practicum site. The practicum project is part of the practicum hours but cannot constitute more than the following:

• Nursing Education: Project hours cannot consume more than one third of the practicum hours in NURS 6351.    
• Nurse Executive: Project hours cannot consume more than one half of the practicum hours in NURS 6600.    
• Nursing Informatics: Project hours cannot consume more than one half of the practicum hours in NURS 6461.    
• Public Health Nursing: Project hours cannot consume more than one half of the practicum hours in NURS 6720 and 6730.    

In the second week of the practicum course, students begin to formulate project ideas. They work closely with preceptors and practicum course faculty instructors to identify a topic that meets a need within the organization where they are doing their practicum. Students develop three or more project objectives. (Note: Project Objectives are separate from Learning Objectives.) Final approval for the project must come from practicum course faculty instructors. Practicum projects may not begin until students receive approval.

Students cannot begin practicum hours on the project until their conference call and Learning Objectives are approved by the preceptor and course faculty instructor. Hours logged in Meditrek for working on a project prior to project approval will not be counted and will be rejected. Students are responsible for ensuring that all parties participate in the conference call. 

Practicum Project Guidelines

• Determine if a project is a real-world problem and scan the practicum setting environment. Determine the issues related to the specialization that are recognized as serious.

• Consider Walden’s mission of positive social change. Consider how the project promotes improvement of the human and social condition by creating and applying ideas to promote the development of individuals, communities, and/or organizations, as well as society as a whole.
• Consult the literature, as well as the preceptor and leaders, within the field.
• Review current professional practice standards to determine if the standards are being met in the practicum setting.
• Plan the scope of the project so that it is possible to complete the project during the practicum time frame.
• Organize the project into sections so that it can be implemented and evaluated, when feasible.
• Develop a product that can be shared in the practice setting and other professional venues.

Parts of the Project

The items listed below comprise the major parts of the project:

• Introduction
• Goal statement that identifies what students expect to accomplish, a focus area, and the population
• Background about the real-world problem and topic area
• Three to five measurable Project Objectives using Bloom’s taxonomy as a guide
• Evidence-based review of the literature
• Methodology (i.e., how students will accomplish the objectives)
• Resources needed
• Formative evaluation
• Summative evaluation
• Timeline
• Conclusion

At the end of the practicum course, students create a PowerPoint presentation of their practicum project. Students give a summary presentation of the entire experience to their class and practicum course faculty instructor. Students also present the project to selected individuals at their practicum site. More detailed presentation guidelines are provided in the practicum course.

While the Office of Field Experience will approve the preceptor and practicum site for the student’s practicum experience to ensure the preceptorship is appropriate for the practicum course, they do not approve the project, project focus, or project plan. An approved practicum application is not approval of your project. Once the course begins, students must follow instructions outlined in the course syllabus for details on the practicum assignments and project. Students must follow all directions in the course to obtain approval for the project from the assigned faculty instructor for the practicum course during the practicum course. 

Project – MBA and MSN Dual Degree Program

The capstone project for the MBA & MSN Dual Degree program will be completed and approved in MBAX 6990 - Sustainable Business Practices and Strategies. Students do not complete a project in their MSN practicum course, NURX 6601. Students must submit their project topic to their practicum faculty instructor in NURX 6601. Students will seek learning opportunities during their practicum experience at the practicum site that aligns with their Capstone Project completed in MBAX 6990. 

Project Guidelines

Students in the MSN/MBA track will complete a written comprehensive capstone project as part of MBAX 6990 - Sustainable Business Practices and Strategies. Students will design a project analyzing a healthcare organization’s culture, social and economic environment, and mission. Using research and data-driven insights, they will develop evidence-based strategies and assess their effectiveness. The analysis will examine strengths, weaknesses, and key performance areas such as health outcomes, patient satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Students will identify opportunities for improvement and formulate a strategic plan. The capstone project demonstrates students’ ability to integrate business acumen of a healthcare environment, offering valuable insights and actionable recommendations that can enhance operational efficiency and organizational resilience.

Parts of the Project

The items listed below comprise the major parts of the project.

• Analyzing the Organizational Culture
• Analyzing the Social and Economic Climate
• Analyzing the Purpose of the Organization
• Evaluating the Health of the Organization
• Evaluating the Need and Opportunity for Change
• Evaluating Organizational Readiness
• Developing the Strategy
• Validating the Strategy
• Implementing the Strategy
• Executive Summary

Preceptor Evaluations:  Midterm and Final Evaluation

Preceptors use a formal evaluation in Meditrek to communicate student progress to the Practicum Faculty Instructor twice during the practicum—at midterm and at the end of the practicum course. Preceptors will receive an email from Meditrek with directions on how to log into Meditrek and complete the evaluations. Preceptors can use the same username and password for Meditrek they use to sign time logs to complete practicum evaluations. 

The timeline for the evaluations is as follows:  

• Midterm evaluations are due midway through the course and/or practicum experience.
• Final evaluations are due at the end of the course and practicum experience by the posted deadline.   

These evaluations provide information about the student’s progress and performance during practicum.  Students have access to review the preceptor’s evaluation in Meditrek. The faculty instructor for the practicum course will review the preceptor’s feedback in the evaluation and use the feedback in determining the student’s final grade. Students may receive a failing grade if any of the evaluations are unsatisfactory or if the evaluations are not received by the posted deadlines.  

Students are responsible for ensuring the preceptor has received their Meditrek account information including their username and password. Students are also responsible for ensuring the preceptor signs their time logs and completes the required evaluations by the course deadline. Students should contact the Office of Field Experience if the preceptor has not received an email with access to Meditrek by the time the midterm evaluation is due.

Student Evaluations

Students complete a formal evaluation in Meditrek at the end of the practicum course to provide feedback about their practicum experience with the preceptor and practicum site. The evaluation is confidential as preceptors and practicum sites do not have access to review the student’s evaluation in Meditrek. The Walden faculty instructor for the practicum course will review the evaluation. Your honest feedback on the evaluation is important to help Walden evaluate your practicum experience and help program leadership continuously improve the courses and the practicum experience as a whole. 

Students should be aware of the policies related to academic progress and grading policies as outlined in the Walden University Student Handbook

Conditions and behaviors constituting failure in a practicum course include, however, the following are not limited to, the following:

• Unsatisfactory performance during practicum.
• Demonstration of unsafe performance and/or decision-making skills.
• Failure to satisfactorily complete course assignments and/or logs.
• Failure to complete the required practicum hours.
• Failure to complete practicum hours with the approved preceptor.
• Failure to complete required practicum activities. 
• Falsification of practicum hours, records, assignments, or documentation.
• Academic Integrity or Code of Conduct sanctions.
• Dismissal by the practicum site and/or preceptor.

You must stay in communication with faculty if you have any concerns or issues and need help with problem resolution to prevent failing a practicum course. You must follow the Problem Resolution Process, <INTERNAL NOTE:  Insert link to “Problem Resolution Process” section in Section 5> which is outlined in the Practicum Manual in Section 5, for guidance on resolving problems that pose a barrier to a successful learning experience during practicum.

Failure of a practicum or didactic course may result in academic warning or academic dismissal. Students must review the policies related to academic progress and grading policies in the Walden University Student Handbook.

Grades of Incomplete (I) are given at the discretion of the Faculty Instructor for the practicum course. Incomplete Grades may be granted only if students have already met the minimum criteria in a course and have acceptably completed approximately 80% of the course requirements, including practicum hours, prior to the last day of classes.

Students must work directly with their Faculty Instructor to determine eligibility of an Incomplete (I) grade. Students who are granted an Incomplete (I) grade by their Faculty Instructor must establish a plan to complete the practicum requirements directly with the Faculty Instructor. Students who have an Incomplete (I) grade and need to complete practicum hours during the next term, students must have a remedial application approved in Meditrek for the next term.

Students who must complete practicum hours during the next term and have officially received a grade of Incomplete (I), must submit a Remedial Application Request Form <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert link to the Appeal Policy in Section 5>in Meditrek to request a remedial application in Meditrek. Students will receive more information about the remedial application process once the form is submitted. Students are NOT to begin practicum hours until after the remedial application is approved and after the start date of the remedial application. Students must have an approved remedial application in Meditrek in order to begin or continue practicum hours to complete the remaining hours for the course. Review more information about the Remedial Application <INTERNAL NOTE: Insert link to Section 4> process in Section 4 of this manual.

Students who do not successfully pass a prerequisite course or fail a prerequisite course for a practicum course are responsible for contacting their Advisor/Coach to discuss the program of study and develop a plan. After developing a plan with their Advisor/Coach, students can contact the Office of Field Experience to discuss possible options for practicum applications. Depending on the timing of the next term start, students may not be eligible to submit a practicum application and may not be approved to retake a practicum course if they do not have an approved application.