Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Practicum Manual:

Section 3. Practicum and Program Information

Walden’s DNP program provides students with the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree in nursing practice. Walden offers a flexible, relevant, evidence-based program of study that prepares students in advanced specialty nursing knowledge and skills for healthcare practice at the doctoral level. The program provides opportunities in diverse practice settings aimed at assisting graduates to achieve the required outcomes and competencies for advanced specialty practice or advanced role preparation. Graduates engage in practice in such areas as administrative, informatics, leadership/management, and population-based specialties, and they focus their practice on aggregates, such as populations, systems, organizations, and state or national policy. These specialties do not have direct patient care responsibilities but collaboration with practice partners is essential for the student learning experience and development of scholarly work. “A scholarly work that aims to improve clinical practice, therefore, is required of students completing a practice doctorate in nursing” (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2021).

The practicum experience helps students deepen their specialty area practice knowledge as they continue to enhance their leadership and nursing skills. To achieve this, students collaborate and engage with an approved preceptor. During the practicum, students focus on skills at the aggregate, systems, and organizational levels; achievement of individualized Learning Objectives; and building and assimilating advanced specialty practice knowledge, as conceptualized by students and their preceptors and as approved by their practicum course Faculty Member. The practicum requires students to apply the knowledge, concepts, and competencies that they have acquired during their program of study, particularly in relation to their area of nursing specialization. During the practicum, students undertake a course assignment that gives them an opportunity to engage in and provide leadership for evidence-based practice in their chosen practice setting.

The practicum experience and didactic course assignments provide an opportunity for students to apply advanced level competencies and leadership skills in the development of a DNP scholarly project at the organizational level. All work is completed under the guidance of an approved preceptor at the practicum site.

The primary objective of the practicum is to “provide educational opportunities to learn and employ scholarship, leadership, and teamwork skills to advance practice and prepare to significantly impact healthcare transformation” (AACN, 2021, p. 24-25). Students should, therefore, focus on expanding their specialty practice knowledge at the aggregate level and their socialization to roles they are interested in occupying after the completion of the DNP program, as described in the following examples: 

• Students interested in being a nurse manager or leader should seek to learn about and gain experience pertaining to organizational and system issues in healthcare. 
• Students interested in informatics should focus their new knowledge and expertise on community-, system- or organization-wide information systems development and implementation in a healthcare setting. 
• Students interested in being a nurse executive will gain insight into business skills and principles, the importance of relationship building and improved communication skills, and additional focus on professionalism and leadership in the health care environment (AONL, 2023). Students will focus their practicum experience on developing and applying new knowledge for advanced practice at a high level of complexity within organizations. 
• Students interested in being an advance practice nurse should focus their practicum experience on developing and applying new knowledge and expertise in their specialty area along with expanding their responsibilities for managing the care of individuals, families, and communities within systems or organizations. In addition, students may examine the following areas based on their area of expertise: practice trends; possible systemic changes to improve healthcare quality and safety at the organizational or policy level; or improvements in evidence-based practice settings. 

Note: The practicum experience should not include any direct, hands-on patient care or be at an academic site. 

Overview of DNP Project 

The DNP program at Walden University is designed to promote student development as a nurse leader and scholar-practitioner. Pursuant to this outcome, graduates are expected to engage in and provide leadership for evidence-based practice in their chosen practice settings, which requires theoretical, empirical, and experiential application of knowledge—including translation of research to practice; evaluation and improvement of healthcare practice and outcomes; and participation in collaborative scholarship. The purpose of the DNP Project is to guide students in designing, developing, implementing, evaluating, and/or translating, as well as subsequently disseminating, scholarship that addresses an evidence-based need or problem in their focused area of practice. 

The DNP project experience is a tailored experience for each student. By working closely with an organizational site, faculty, and a preceptor, the student learns a step-by-step approach to a DNP scholarly project that is timely, current, and addresses real-time needs in our communities. In compliance with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) DNP program expectations, students complete a scholarly work that aims to improve clinical practice as required for a practice doctorate in nursing. 

The DNP Project will focus on a quality improvement initiative that integrates project management tools and techniques addressing a gap in nursing practice or an identified practice change. Project activities qualify as quality improvement (as opposed to research) because the project involves synthesis and application of established and tested quality standards and/or systematic monitoring, assessment, or evaluation to ensure that existing quality standards are being met. For this project, a quality improvement initiative is defined as a process that supports an improvement in healthcare outcomes. This project may include development and evaluation of a staff education program, development and evaluation of a clinical practice guideline, or an evaluation of an existing quality improvement process. The project process cannot include direct patient care by the student. The DNP Project will emphasize evidence-based practice approaches to support improving clinical practice at a healthcare organizational site.  

View resources related to the DNP Project for more information. 

The Practicum and Project 

There are two elements included in the overall DNP capstone experience: the DNP practicum experience and the DNP Project. Students develop individual learning objectives for each practicum experience that aligns with their area of specialization and the current DNP Essentials. The two are related in that both are undertaken in authentic healthcare contexts during the DNP curriculum, including both didactic and practicum courses. The practicum site provides the impetus for a student’s DNP Project to implement and evaluate a quality improvement evidence-based practice change. The practicum experience and the DNP Project enhance student leadership and nursing skills, and both are supervised by a Walden faculty member, and an approved practicum preceptor. 

This section clarifies the relationship between the practicum experience and the DNP Project: 

Students Enrolled in the DNP Program Prior to May 27, 2024:   

The DNP Project and DNP Practicum are completed in separate courses. DNP Project is completed in NURS 8700/8702: DNP Project Mentoring. NURS 8701/8703: DNP Project Completion is a course taken by students who need additional quarters to complete the DNP Project, and it is a variable 3-credit course taken at the end of the DNP program of study continuously until project completion. 

The DNP Project Objectives and outcomes are focused on the mentoring courses, NURS 8700/8702 and NURS 8701/8703. NURS 8700/8702 are non-credit-bearing courses, where students work on the development and implementation of their DNP Project. Students nominate a Faculty Member to serve as DNP chair/advisor. The DNP Project chair or advisor will mentor and guide each student in the development and implementation of the scholarly DNP Project. Students will be assigned to the DNP chair’s (faculty advisor’s) section of NURS 8700/8702 (and NURS 8701/8703, as needed) each term until project completion. The DNP chair/faculty advisor will guide the student on the DNP Project process and the requirements. Walden attempts to honor student DNP chair/faculty advisor nominations/requests, but assignments of student nominees are based on availability and other factors and are not guaranteed and, if student nominees are assigned, there is no guarantee that they will remain on the student DNP Committee until project completion.  

Resources for the DNP Project Capstone can be found on this website: https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/research-center/program-documents/dnp.  

Students Enrolled in the DNP Program Beginning May 27, 2024:   

Students enrolled beginning Mary 27, 2024 or students moving to new program of study beginning May 27,2024 will complete the DNP project within the following practicum courses:   

• Traditional Track & Nurse Practitioner Tracks:  NURS 8312, NURS 8512 and NURS 8513.  
• Executive Leadership Track:  NURS 8312, NURS 8514 and NURS 8515. 

Resources for the DNP Project will be located in your course in Canvas.     

Beginning with NURS 8312 and continuing with NURS 8512 and 8513 for traditional or NP tracks, or 8514 and 8515 for the executive leadership track, students complete the five phases of the project management process: design, plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate in the practicum courses. 

As noted above, the practicum experience and course assignments are the focus of the practicum course sequence. Each student has a preceptor from outside of Walden who helps to guide the practicum experience and assists in the contextualization of the DNP Project in terms of its value to the organization in which the practicum is situated and/or the wider scholarly community. 

DNP Individualized Practicum Learning Objectives

The practicum experience will allow students to focus on developing and expanding their advanced level competencies through experiential learning at organizational, systems, community or policy level. This allows students the opportunity to apply updated thinking and approaches to prepare for ever-evolving healthcare needs. 

Students are asked to set specific goals for their practicum experience that are consistent with their professional preparation and coursework. These goals are supported by activities that align with the 2021 AACN Essentials for evaluating student competencies at the end of the practicum courses. These individualized Learning Objectives are developed by the students related to their areas of specialization and the relevant issues identified to engage within the healthcare environment and are intended to articulate with Course Objectives and outcomes. 

Students should discuss their Learning Objectives with potential preceptors prior to submitting their practicum applications to ascertain if the necessary resources are available at the identified practicum sites. Finally, students should prepare a set of measurable Learning Objectives, that specifies what they seek to achieve in their practicum experience. Practicum course faculty members will review and approve individualized student Learning Objectives. 

Students must satisfactorily complete all the requirements of the practicum courses (Table 1A or 1B in accordance with the information provided in the course Syllabi. The DNP practicum consists of a series of the courses outlined in the tables below, which are taken one per term in the following sequence. The courses cannot be taken concurrently and must be taken in the prescribed sequence. The DNP Programs of Study (POSs) and course descriptions with prerequisites are found in the university catalog.

DNP Program Beginning May 31, 2021 through May 27, 2024

DNP Practicum Courses and Hours 

Total Credit Hours: 320

Traditional Track & Nurse Practitioner Tracks 

1. NURS 8502: Evidence-Based Practice I 

Didactic: 3 credits

Practicum: 2 credit, 160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

2. NURS 8503: Evidence-Based Practice II

Didactic: 3 credits

Practicum: 2 credit,160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

Executive Leadership Track

1. NURS 8504: Evidence-Based Practice for the Executive Leader I (3 cr. didactic and 2 cr. clinical)++  

Didactic: 3 credits

Practicum: 2 credit,160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

2. NURS 8505: Evidence-Based Practice for the Executive Leader II

Didactic: 3 credits

Practicum: 2 credit, 160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

DNP Program Beginning May 27, 2024

DNP Practicum Courses and Hours 

Total Practicum Hours: 400 

Traditional Track & Nurse Practitioner Tracks 

1. NURS 8312: Leading Quality Improvement Practice Initiative 

Didactic: 4 credits 

Practicum: 1 credit, 80 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

2. NURS 8512:  DNP Project and Practicum I 

Didactic: 3 credits 

Practicum: 2 credit, 160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

3. NURS 8513: DNP Project and Practicum II 

Didactic: 3 credits 

Practicum: 2 credit, 160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

Executive Leadership Track 

1. NURS 8312: Leading Quality Improvement Practice Initiative 

Didactic: 4 credits 

Practicum: 1 credit, 80 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

2. NURS 8514: Executive Leadership DNP Project and Practicum I 

Didactic: 3 credits 

Practicum: 2 credit, 160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

3. NURS 8515: : Executive Leadership DNP Project and Practicum II 

Didactic: 3 credits 

Practicum: 2 credit, 160 hours (1 credit=80 practicum hours) 

DNP Program-Prior to May 31, 2021

Total Credit Hours: 576

1. NURS 8410: Best Practices in Nursing Specialties

Didactic: 4 credits

Practicum: 1 credit, 72 hours

2. NURS 8400: Evidence-Based Practice I: Assessment and Design

Didactic: 4 credits

Practicum: 1 credit, 72 hours

3. NURS 8500: Evidence-Based Practice II: Planning and Implementation 

Practicum: 3 credit, 216 hours

4. NURS 8510: Evidence-Based Practice III: Implementation, Evaluation, and Dissemination

Practicum: 3 credit, 216 hours

Please Note: Students may NOT log any hours before the start of the course or before they receive approval. 

All practicum hours should be completed by the end of Week 10 of the practicum courses. If a student is unable to complete practicum hours by week, students should notify instructor to develop a plan for completion. Students may complete hours independently; not all practicum hours need to be completed in person with the preceptor. 

Practicum courses include: 

Students enrolled in the DNP Program prior to May 27, 2024 

• Traditional & Nurse Practitioner Tracks:  NURS 8302, NURS 8502, NURS 8503 
• Executive Leadership Track: NURS 8302, NURS 8504, NURS 8505 

Students enrolled in the DNP Program beginning May 27, 2024 

• Traditional & Nurse Practitioner Tracks: NURS 8312, NURS 8512, NRUS 8513 
• Executive Leadership Track:  NURS 8312, NURS 8514, NURS 8515 

Practicum hours are course and term specific. Practicum hours do not carry over to a different term or practicum course if a student withdraws, drops a course, or fails a course. All hours must be documented in Meditrek for faculty review. 

A minimum total of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours are required to graduate from the DNP program. Up to 600 hours may be transferred in from master’s nursing programs, as applicable. Students who do not transfer enough practice hours to meet the 1,000-hour requirement may complete additional hours as necessary as described in the section:  Section 7. DNP Additional Field Experience Hours: NURS 8600/8601. 

Please Note: Practicum hours should not include any direct, hands-on patient care or be at an academic site. 

The following are general examples of practicum activities for students; however, students are not limited to these suggestions. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 2021 Essentials list the DNP competencies that guide the practicum experience as students build upon previous knowledge to obtain advanced-level nursing education. Practicum activities should support learning outcomes from the 2021 AACN Essentials as noted by the domains and competencies listed below:

Domains

 

Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice

• Integrate, translate, and apply nursing and interdisciplinary knowledge to the practice of professional nursing.
• Utilize evidence-based practice to translate evidence in improving practice change or processes.
• Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations).
• Develop tools for sustainability (toolkits, audit tools, checklists, web-based training etc.).
• Evaluate and synthesize literature for inclusion. 
• Attend conference/workshop related to evidenced-based practice or project topic. 
• Construct/refine PICOT question. 
• Translate theories from nursing and other disciplines to practice setting. 
• Demonstrate socially responsible leadership. 

Domain 2: Person-Centered Care

Demonstrate holistic care and consideration for diversity and social determinants of health from point of care to systems-level nursing leadership. 

• Demonstrates leadership skills to promote intra-professional and inter-professional collaboration
• Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations).
• Participate in activities promoting social determinants of health.
• Contribute to the development of policies and processes that promote transparency and accountability. 
• Prioritize risk mitigation strategies to prevent or reduce adverse outcomes. 
• Apply current and emerging evidence to the development of care guidelines/tools. 
• Analyze data to identify gaps and inequities in care and monitor trends in outcomes. 
• Develop strategies to optimize care coordination and transitions of care. 
• Participate in system-level change to improve care coordination across settings.

Domain 3: Population Health

Engage in collaborative activities and develop interventions for the improvement of a population’s health status.

• Utilize evidence-based practice to translate evidence in improving practice change or processes
• Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations).
• Engage in policy development at the local, state, national, international levels.
• Assess the organizational capability to serve a target population’s healthcare needs. 
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to address population healthcare needs, including evaluation methods. 
• Collaborate with appropriate stakeholders to implement or improve a sociocultural and linguistically responsive intervention plan for a target population. 
• Participate in collaborative opportunities for organizations to improve population health. 
• Assess preparation and readiness of partners to organize during natural and manmade disasters. 
• Collaborate with partners to secure and leverage resources necessary for effective, sustainable interventions. 
• Advocate for interventions that maximize cost-effective, accessible, and equitable resources for a target population. 
• Lead change initiatives that include principles of social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• Contribute to system-level planning, decision making, and evaluation for disasters and public health emergencies. 

Domain 4: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline

Generate, interpret, apply, and disseminate nursing scholarship to improve health and transform health care. 

• All Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations). 
• Serve as abstract or journal reviewer. 
• Participate in grant writing or grant workshop. 
• Disseminate DNP Project to diverse audiences using a variety of approaches or modalities. 
• Collaborate in the development of new/revised policy or regulation as supported by new evidence. 
• Identify and discuss opportunities for innovation and changes in practice. 
• Apply IRB guidelines throughout the scholarship process. 
• Review and incorporate appropriate applications of quality improvement and evaluation processes. 
• Implement the translation of evidence into practice using the DNP project process. 
• Participate in data collection and analysis.  

Domain 5: Quality and Safety 

Employ principles of safety and enhance quality of nursing practice to minimize risk of harm through system effectiveness and individual performance. 

• Engage in professional quality and safety committee activities within healthcare organizations 
• Engage in policy development related to quality and safety of healthcare at the local, state, national, international levels 
• Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations) 
• Identify and integrate national safety resources to lead team-based change initiatives. 
• Incorporate data driven benchmarks to assess, evaluate, and monitor the organization’s quality and safety performance. 
• Collaborate in analyzing organizational process improvement initiatives. 
• Lead the development of a business plan for quality improvement initiatives. 
• Advance quality improvement practices through dissemination of DNP Project outcomes. 
• Evaluate organizational data and patient safety benchmarks. 
• Develop evidence-based interventions to mitigate risk. 
• Evaluate emergency preparedness system-level plans to protect safety. 
• Develop structures, policies, or processes that promote a culture of safety and prevent workplace risks and injury. 
• Role model and lead well-being and resiliency for self and team initiatives. 

Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships 

Collaborate across professions and with other stakeholders to optimize care using a team-based approach. 

• Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations) 
• Develop strategies to role model respect for diversity, equity, and inclusion in team-based communications. 
• Provide nursing expertise for other members of the healthcare team, or organizational leadership. 
• Demonstrate techniques to resolve interprofessional conflict. 
• Participate in learning activities on conflict resolution; mitigating conscious and implicit biases; diversity, equity, and inclusion; team dynamics. 
• Integrate evidence-based strategies and processes to improve team effectiveness and outcomes. 
• Develop strategies to foster a culture of teamwork and respect in healthcare settings. 

Domain 7: Systems-Based Practice 

Engage in organizational processes, structure, finances, and regulations to provide safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations. 

• Participate in organizational strategic planning. 
• Participate in organizational initiatives that improve care delivery and/or outcomes. 
• Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations) 
• Participate in policy development that impacts health equity within the organization, community, or target population. 
• Analyze internal and external factors that drive healthcare costs and reimbursement. 
• Develop practices that enhance organizational value, access, quality, and cost-effectiveness. 
• Develop organizational strategies that improve cost-effectiveness considering structure, leadership, and workforce needs. 
• Develop organizational improvement strategies based on performance metrics and data. 

Domain 8: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies 

Utilize technologies to manage and improve the delivery of healthcare services. 

• Evaluate the organization’s information and communication technologies effectiveness on workflow processes, care management processes, healthcare outcomes, communications, and information flow across health care settings. 
• Assess the fiscal impact of information and communication technologies on health care. 
• Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project and information and communication technologies. 
• Gather pertinent information from health information technology databases. 
• Use data to evaluate decision-making and outcomes at an organizational level and within the framework of the DNP project focus. 
• Evaluate the use of information and communication technology to address needs, gaps, and inefficiencies in care. 
• Develop strategies to reduce inequities in digital access to data and information. 
• Assess best practices for the use of technologies to support patient and team communications. 
• Develop strategies to enhance quality, ethical, and efficient patient care using information and communication technology. 
• Apply risk mitigation and security strategies to reduce misuse, and potential ethical and legal issues associated with information and communication technology. 

 Domain 9: Professionalism 

Cultivate a professional nursing identity that aligns with characteristics and values of nursing practice. 

• Develop strategies to enhance the organization’s nursing care to reflect nursing’s core values. 
• Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations) 
• Identify innovative and evidence-based practices that promote person-centered care. 
• Develop opportunities for professional and interprofessional activities within the organization. 
• Evaluate the effect of legal and regulatory policies on the organization’s nursing practice and healthcare outcomes. 
• Participate in the implementation of policies and regulations to improve the professional practice environment and healthcare outcomes of the organization. 
• Structure the practice environment to facilitate care that is culturally and linguistically appropriate. 

Domain 10: Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development 

Participate in development activities to foster personal growth, expand professional expertise, and build leadership skills. 

• Lead activities with the project site related to the DNP Capstone Project (stakeholder analysis, organization readiness, SWOT analysis, meetings with project mentor and other organization stakeholders, presentations) 
• Evaluate the organization’s workplace environment to determine level of health and well-being. 
• Mentor others in the development of their professional growth and accountability. 
• Develop activities that support a culture of lifelong learning. 
• Expand leadership skills through professional service. 
• Evaluate the outcomes of intentional change. 
• Evaluate strategies/methods for peer review. 

The following activities count toward the required practicum hours: 

Students enrolled in the DNP Program prior to May 27, 2024: 

• Activities that are directly related to the completion of practicum goals, self-identified and Course Objectives, and Learning Outcomes 
• Implementation activities related to the DNP course assignments 
• Working with aggregates: populations, organizations, systems, or state- and/or national policy-level goals to define actual and emerging problems and to design aggregate-level health interventions 

Students enrolled in the DNP Program beginning to May 27, 2024: 

• Activities that are directly related to the completion of practicum goals, self-identified and Course Objectives, and Learning Outcomes.  
• Planning and preparation for the DNP project.   
• Implementation activities related to the DNP project.  
• Evaluation and dissemination activities related to the DNP project.  
• Working with aggregates: populations, organizations, systems, or state- and/or national policy-level goals to define actual and emerging problems and to design aggregate-level health interventions 
• Activities that demonstrate attainment of Level 2 advanced-level sub-competencies as outlined in the 2021 AACN Essentials (see above for guidelines). 

Practicum activities must be approved by the faculty of the practicum course.   

Practicum hours do not include travel. Travel time to and from the practicum site cannot be claimed as practicum hours.

This course is designed to help facilitate the completion of your post-baccalaureate practicum hours that will contribute to the completion of the DNP program requirements. The NURS 8600/8601 course, is not a requirement for all students. It only applies to students needing additional hours to achieve a minimum of 1,000 practice hours for graduation. Please note these important points: 

• Students need a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practicum hours to graduate from the DNP program, 600 of which may be transferred from practicum hours in their MSN program. Students must contact their Student Success Advisor for assistance with the process to transfer hours from the MSN program. 
• Practicum hours completed in practicum courses, other than 8600/8601, will only be counted for the specific practicum course in which the student is enrolled. Additional practicum hours completed during practicum courses taken at Walden, other than 8600/8601, will not be applied or transferred to counted towards the 1,000 practicum hours. Students cannot transfer practicum hours for other Walden practicum courses to NURS 8600/8601.      
• Students should consult their program of study or contact the Student Success Advising Team to determine whether additional hours are needed. If students need additional hours, they can obtain them by enrolling for 1–8 credits of NURS 8601 or 1–6 credits in NURS 8600. Students are only able to register for 3 credits of 8600/8601 per term. 
• One credit of NURS 8601 equals 80 practicum hours. One credit of NURS 8600 equals 72 hours. NURS 8600/8601 practicum hours are at the graduate level. 
• Students are responsible for reviewing their program of study with their Student Success Advisor to determine how many practicum hours have transferred from their MSN program and how many, if any, additional quarter credits they need to achieve the total of 1,000 practicum hours. 
• Students enrolled in the Program of Study prior to summer term 2021 may have to complete up to 6 credits of NURS 8600. Students need to by completeing the 8600 Practicum Application in Meditrek® and, identify the number of credits they wish to take in each quarter in the 8600 practicum application in Meditrek®. The Office of Field Experience will process the course registration upon application approval. Each credit requires completion of 72 practicum hours. Students are limited to enroll in 3 credits a term. 
• Students may take up to 8 credits of NURS 8601. Students need to complete the 8601 Practicum Application in Meditrek® and identify the number of credits they wish to take in each quarter in their 8601 practicum application in Meditrek®. The Office of Field Experience will process the course registration upon application approval. Each credit requires completion of 80 practicum hours. Students are limited to enroll in 3 credits a term. 
• Students may take up to 8 credits of NURS 8601. Students need to complete the 8601 Practicum Application in Meditrek® and identify the number of credits they wish to take in each quarter in their 8601 practicum application in Meditrek®. The Office of Field Experience will process the course registration upon application approval. Each credit requires completion of 80 practicum hours. Students are limited to enroll in 3 credits a term. The Office of Field Experience will process the course registration upon application approval. 
•  Students must complete 80 practicum hours for each credit of NURS 8601 or 72 practicum hours for each credit of NRUS 8600 for which they register. For example, if students register for 3 credits of NURS 8601, they will need to complete 240 practicum hours (3 x 80). Students should ensure they are able to complete the number of credits (hours) for which they register. 
• Students must submit an appeal to register for more than 3 credits of NURS 8600/8601. Without an approved appeal, students can only take up to 3 credits of NURS 8600/8601 during the same quarter.  Appeals will not be approved for more than 4 credits.  To be eligible for an appeal, students need meet the following requirements:     
• Students must work less than part-time hours to be eligible for a possible appeal to enroll in more than 3 credits. Students must submit documentation to verify their employment status with their appeal.   
• Students must submit a weekly schedule to outline their work schedule and their proposed practicum schedule with their appeal along with a letter of support from their nominated preceptor.   
• Students are not permitted to be registered in another DNP practicum course or NP practicum course for the term in which they plan to enroll.  
• Students must contact the Office of Field Experience for the appeal process, which is completed through Meditrek. 
• Students will need an approved preceptor and practicum site for each quarter of NURS 8600/8601. 
• Students must submit a separate practicum application in Meditrek® for each term of NURS 8600/8601 by the deadline. 
• Students enrolled in NURS 8600/8601 will develop practicums objectives that reflect advanced knowledge and skills based on their specialization. Examples include practicum experiences in quality improvement, health policies and innovation, leadership, informatics, and staff education. Students cannot provide direct patient care during any DNP practicums.