Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Practicum Manual:

Section 5: Success in Practicum Courses

All approved preceptors (e.g., primary, replacement and supplemental preceptors) must complete all responsibilities of preceptors to include calls with faculty, signing of time logs in Meditrek, and completion of practicum evaluations in Meditrek.  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®. 

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. Expectations for practicum performance correlates with the stage of student learning (i.e., greater practicum expertise is anticipated as students continue to progress through the program).

Once students enroll in a practicum course, they are mentored and evaluated by a preceptor in their field experience and by a Walden practicum course Faculty Member in the didactic portion of the practicum course. Preceptors provide the field experiences, supervise students in the practicum, and provide evaluations of student progress in meeting practicum goals to the practicum course Faculty Members. Practicum course Faculty Members grade student coursework and, in general, return student written work within Walden guidelines on assigning grades. Students are encouraged to consult with practicum course Faculty Members by phone or email about their progress throughout the quarter as stipulated in the course Syllabus.

Practicum course Faculty Members also maintain contact with students and preceptors throughout the quarter to determine whether student learning needs are being met at their practicum site and to monitor student progress, which culminates in a practicum evaluation that is completed by the preceptor, in Meditrek®, toward the end of the quarter. It is then submitted to the practicum course Faculty Member for review and final grading.

Per guidance form WA state NCQAC, practicum taking place in Washington State must include preceptor, faculty, and student conferral all three together at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the learning experience (WAC 246-840-533.)

Preceptor Conference Calls

In Week 2, students schedule a call with their preceptor and practicum course Faculty Member to discuss the practicum experience. Students are responsible for coordinating and scheduling this call. Students are also responsible for ensuring all parties participate. During the call, the practicum Learning Objectives and required practicum hours will be discussed. This is a collaborative process among the Faculty Member, preceptor, and student. Before the call, students should talk with their preceptor about potential projects. Students write their practicum Learning Objectives in Week 1 of the course; practicum course Faculty Members will approve student self-developed Learning Objectives after the call, typically by the end of Week 2.

The conference call is intended to ensure that:

• Practicum goals are being addressed.
• Students and preceptors understand the key points of the practicum experience.
• Opportunity for questions is provided.
• Problems are identified and addressed.

A midterm conference call and final conference call with the preceptor and the practicum course Faculty Member occur at the midpoint and end of each practicum course. Students are responsible for coordinating and scheduling this call. Students are also responsible for ensuring that all parties participate. Conference calls must be completed to receive a final grade. Conference calls must be completed to receive a final grade. 

Students must periodically submit a journal entry (three times during each practicum course) discussing how they are achieving the objectives of the practicum experience. These objectives include the overall Course Objectives, as well as student individualized Learning Objectives for the practicum and any Project Objectives developed by the students.

The purpose of this journal is to identify activities, issues, or problems that show how students are increasing their knowledge in their nursing practice specialization. Drawing from theoretical constructs learned in coursework, as well as content related to their specialization, practicum Learning Objectives, and competencies, students should analyze their practicum experience with an eye toward connecting their experiences with relevant literature and any relevant concepts, models, or theories.

Students reflect on their practicum experiences in a 1-page journal entry (250–300 words) unless directed otherwise; see Week 1 of your Canvas practicum Course for more details. Entries should include APA-style citations and references, where appropriate. Students will continue adding to their journal to create a cumulative log of the practicum experience. This comprehensive journal will be submitted for each Journal Submission Assignment. Students should review feedback and correct any errors identified so as not to include the same mistakes on subsequent submissions.

Using Meditrek®, students keep a daily time log of the time they spend on practicum activities. Time logs are signed off by preceptors and instructors at the end of the course after the completion of logs.

Note: Students are not permitted to sign off on time logs on behalf of the preceptor.

Preceptor and Field Sites Meditrek® Timeline

The timeline for Preceptors and Field Sites programmed in Meditrek® are as follows:

• End of Week 1: Preceptors and practicum sites are programmed in Meditrek® for drop-down options in time logs for approved applications.
• Each Friday: If an application is approved after the course starts, the preceptor and practicum site will be populated weekly on Fridays.
• Monday of Week 3: Preceptors are emailed their Meditrek® credentials. Preceptors use their Meditrek® credentials to sign off on time logs and complete evaluations.
  Note: For preceptors who have not received their Meditrek® credentials, they are encouraged to check their spam/junk email folders or submit a request for credentials to be resent by completing the Meditrek Credentials Request Form.

Also Note: If students are unable to find their preceptor or practicum site in the drop-down box after Week 1, and their application has been approved more than 1 week, they should email nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu.

Beginning Practicum Hours After Course Begins

Students may NOT begin any practicum hours before (a) the start of the course, (b) they receive practicum application approval in Meditrek from the Office of Field Experience, (c) they are registered for the practicum course, and (d) they receive approval from the practicum course instructor once the course begins. Students are only to complete practicum hours with preceptors and at practicum site locations that have been approved by the Office of Field Experience in Meditrek®. If students log hours with an unapproved preceptor, these hours will not count toward the practicum hour requirement of the course and program. 

Practicum hours completed under a preceptor other than the preceptor who was identified in a practicum application submitted by the student will be rejected and students will be required to repeat the hours. Students completing practicum hours under an unapproved preceptor will be subject to Code of Conduct inquiry and may result in disciplinary action, including course failure and permanent dismissal from the university. For more information about the Code of Conduct, please refer to the Walden University Student Handbook, Code of Conduct. 

All practicum hours must be completed by the end of Week 10 of the practicum course. All hours will be reviewed and considered for approval by course faculty.  

Important Note: Concerns regarding truthfulness or accuracy of Meditrek® logs or preceptor approval of Meditrek® logs will result in a Code of Conduct inquiry. Students who are found to have falsified their Meditrek® logs or preceptor approval of Meditrek® logs will be subject to disciplinary action. Failure to notify the Office of Field Experience and assigned Faculty, as stated above, will result in a Code of Conduct inquiry and may result in disciplinary action, including course failure and permanent dismissal from the university. For more information about the Code of Conduct, please refer to the Walden University Student Handbook: Code of Conduct.

Change of Preceptorship After the Practicum Course Begins:  

Students who need to change their preceptors and/or practicum sites for any reason after their course begins must: 

• Contact the Office of Field Experience immediately. The Office of Field Experience staff will review possible options for the student for a possible replacement application depending on the time of term and if the student has a replacement application.  There are no guarantees a replacement application will be granted or approved.   If a replacement application is granted through the waitlist, students must meet all preceptor requirements and the application must be approved before the student can begin completing hours with the new preceptor.   If the new preceptorship requires relocation to a new practicum site, then it is likely the practicum experience will be delayed if an affiliation agreement is not on file or if the site requires onboarding.  Practicum hours completed prior to the replacement application being approved will not be allowed to count toward the practicum course requirements.
• Contact the assigned Faculty Member immediately to discuss the impact of completing course requirements and the option of receiving an Incomplete (I) grade to gain additional time to log hours with a new preceptor depending on the time of the term and eligibility of an grade of Incomplete.

Time Logs for DNP Practicum Courses

Using Meditrek®, students are required to keep a truthful and accurate log of the time they spend in practicum activities. Each log entry must be linked with an individual practicum Learning Objective, a Course Objective, a Project Objective, or a graduate Program Objective. Students must enter their hours in Meditrek® as they are complete and no later than 1 week after the scheduled practicum week. Students enter time logs in Meditrek® the same weeks that journal entries are required (three times during each practicum course). Preceptors sign off on the time logs at the end of the course after the completion of hours. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure the preceptor signs off on the time logs in Meditrek®. Students are not permitted to sign off on time logs on behalf of preceptors.

The time log must include the following:

• Faculty
• Preceptor
• Dates
• Hours
• Activities/comments, including a brief description of what students did or observed during each time interval
• Student Learning Objectives, including objectives that relate to each time interval and the documented practicum activities
• Course Outcomes addressed

All time log entries must be entered in Meditrek® by the end of Week 10. If students are approved to log practicum hours after Week 10, with the Faculty Instructor’s approval, the time log entries must be entered in Meditrek® by the end of the last Sunday before the next term begins. Students will not be able to enter or edit time log entries after the first Sunday of the next term. If students receive a grade of Incomplete (I) for the course and need to log practicum hours after the next term begins, they must contact the Office of Field Experience for a remedial practicum application approval.

Note: It is the student’s responsibility to ensure time logs are entered correctly and accurately. Students must ensure logs are accurate and correct by selecting the correct course, quarter, Faculty, 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 edits to logs until either the preceptor and/or Faculty signs the logs in Meditrek. Once the time logs are signed by either the preceptor or Faculty, they cannot be changed or edited by students. If students enter logs incorrectly and the logs are signed, students must contact the Office of Field Experience to invalidate the logs and then the student will need to renter the time logs. The Office of Field Experience is unable to backdate logs after the term ends. Students will lose practicum hours if they are not logged by the end of the term in Meditrek.

Important Note: Concerns regarding truthfulness or accuracy of Meditrek® logs or preceptor approval of Meditrek® logs will result in a Code of Conduct inquiry. Failure to notify the Office of Field Experience and assigned faculty as stated above will result in a Code of Conduct inquiry and may result in disciplinary action, including course failure and permanent dismissal from the university. For more information about the Code of Conduct, please refer to the Walden University Student Handbook: Code of Conduct.

Preceptor and Field Sites Meditrek® Timeline

• End of Week 1: Preceptors and practicum sites are programmed in Meditrek® for drop-down options in time logs for approved applications.
• Each Friday: If an application is approved after the course starts, the preceptor and practicum site will be populated weekly on Fridays.
• Monday of Week 3: Preceptors are emailed their Meditrek® credentials on Monday of Week 3 of the course. Preceptors use their Meditrek® credentials to sign off on time logs and complete evaluations.
  Note: 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.

Also Note: If students are unable to find their preceptor or practicum site in the drop-down box more than 1 week after application approval, please email nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu.

Performance Evaluation: Preceptor Midterm and Final Evaluation 

During each practicum course preceptors provide formal midterm and final evaluations of student practicum performance and DNP course assignments within Meditrek®.

During the quarter, practicum course Faculty Members monitor student activities, which the students record in their time logs, journal entries, and posted Discussions, related to their accomplishment of the individualized Practicum Objectives.

Note: Faculty Members conduct conference calls (see Preceptor Conference Calls) with the preceptor at the beginning of the term, at midterm, and at the end of the term to ensure there are no issues and to address and resolve issues as they occur.

Student performance evaluations are confirmed as completed at the end of the term. These conferences are documented in Meditrek® by the Faculty Member. The student receives a grade of Incomplete (I) if any of the evaluations are not received by the posted deadlines.

Preceptors communicate student progress to practicum course Faculty Members, as needed, during the practicum and through an evaluation at the end of the course. Students complete a practicum self-evaluation at the end of the practicum experience, along with an evaluation of the entire process. Throughout the course, preceptors and Faculty Members communicate, as needed, by email and phone to meet the needs of the individual student.

At the midterm and the end of each practicum course, preceptors are required to provide formal feedback by completing an evaluation of student performance and experience in Meditrek®. At the end of each practicum course, students are required to provide formal feedback by completing an evaluation of the practicum experience in Meditrek®.

By Week 3: Preceptors will receive an email from Meditrek® with directions on how to log in and complete an evaluation. Students will use the same username and password provided to them for the application submission. Preceptors will receive new login information or be reminded of their login information if they had a previous student.

Midterm & Week 10: Midterm evaluations are due midway through the course, and final evaluations are due by Week 10. These evaluations will not only provide information about the progress of individual students but also will help program leadership continuously improve the courses and the entire practicum experience.

Note: It is the student’s responsibility to ensure the preceptor has received login credentials, signed logs, and completed 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® after Week 3.

Also Note: Students may receive a grade of Incomplete (I) if any of the evaluations are not received by the posted deadlines.

Dismissal from a practicum experience by a preceptor and/or practicum site may lead to a course failure.

Incomplete Grade and Remedial Applications

Grades of Incomplete are given at the discretion of the Course Instructor. Incomplete 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 Course Instructor to determine eligibility of an Incomplete grade. If the Course Instructor grants an incomplete grade, students must establish a plan to complete the practicum requirements directly with the Course Instructor.

If the Course Instructor does grant a grade of Incomplete and students will need to complete practicum hours during the next term, students must have a remedial application approved in Meditrek® for the next term.

Once students are officially issued a grade of Incomplete (I) and must complete additional practicum hours during the next term, they must submit a Remedial Application Request Form in Meditrek to begin the remedial application process.  Students will receive more information about the remedial application process once the form is submitted.  Students must NOT begin practicum hours until after the start date of the remedial application and the remedial application is approved in Meditrek®.  Students must have an approved remedial application in Meditrek® in order to begin or continue logging practicum hours to finish the remaining hours for the course. 

Failing Grades

If students fail a prerequisite course for a practicum course, it is the student’s responsibility to contact Student Success Advising to discuss the program of study and develop a plan. Students must also contact the Office of Field Experience to discuss options regarding practicum applications. Depending on timing of the next term start, students may not be approved to retake a practicum course if another application must be approved for the failed course, and the student is using a different preceptor or site.