Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Practicum Manual:

Section 4. Identification of Preceptor and Practicum Site

It is critical to students’ successful practicum experiences that they thoroughly and completely review the Walden University College of Nursing Practicum Manual, designated for their program and specialty area, in their first term and throughout their program. Walden provides guidelines for identifying an appropriate preceptor and practicum site, and the manuals outline the practicum application submittal resources necessary to begin the practicum process.

Preparing early is critical to practicum success. It is highly recommended that students work with the Office of Field Experience to start the search process for a practicum site and preceptor early in the program, as it can take a significant amount of time to identify a preceptor and practicum site and complete the application process. Eligible students who would like to partner with a Field Placement Coordinator to be matched with a preceptor and practicum site through the Practicum Pledge™ service must begin the process early in their program to complete the registration requirements by the deadline.  

Walden’s program directors, director of field experience, specialization coordinators, field experience coordinators, field placement coordinators, practicum course faculty instructors, are committed to working collaboratively with students and preceptors to support the successful completion of practicum experiences. 

College of Nursing Practicum Process Summary

• The process of selecting a site for placement begins with the student identifying a practicum site and initiating contact with a potential preceptor who meets the knowledge, education, skill, and certification qualifications necessary to support the outcomes, as outlined in each field experience (i.e., practicum) course. Because Walden students are located around the world, students have the flexibility to identify sites and nominate preceptors based on their region or location.
• Most students should have their first preceptor nominee and a practicum site identified by the middle of their second term. 
• Students should keep in mind that they are taking multiple courses that focus on different Learning Outcomes and may need several different preceptors and sites over the course of their program.
• A completed practicum application must be submitted via Meditrek® by the practicum application deadline date for each term.
• Walden’s policy on practicum sites and preceptors is aligned with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education’s (CCNE) Key Element II-B Standard (2018), which states that “the program is responsible for ensuring adequate physical resources and practicum sites. Practicum sites are sufficient, appropriate, and available to achieve the program’s mission, goals, and expected outcomes” (p. 10). Further, it is Walden’s policy to ensure adequate physical resources and practicum sites by collaborating with students, preceptors, and administrators to support the successful completion of each student’s program of study, including the field experience and practicum placements.

Reference:
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. (2018). Standards for accreditation of baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs: Key element II-B standard. CCNE.

Students should read this manual and refer to the practicum application resources on the Office of Field Experience website to begin the practicum process. Walden provides guidelines for how to identify preceptors and practicum sites. Because Walden students are located around the world, they have the flexibility to identify sites based on their region/location. To begin the process, students identify a practicum site and initiate contact with a potential preceptor who meets the qualifications and may be interested in working with them.

Students are encouraged to start the search to identify practicum sites and possible preceptors at least three terms before the beginning of their practicum courses, as it takes time for Walden to negotiate Affiliation Agreements with sites and to review qualifications of potential preceptors. Students should notify the Office of Field Experience of their identified preceptor nominees and practicum sites early in their program. Students are also strongly encouraged to identify alternative practicum sites and preceptor nominees as back-ups and submit application prior to application deadline, to increase their opportunity for placement during the students’ desired term and to avoid academic delay. A completed application must be submitted via Meditrek® by the practicum application deadline date.

Note: Students must submit their applications in Meditrek® for the applications to be reviewed and processed. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and may delay practicum placement and academic progress.

Tips for Practicum Site and Preceptor Search

Identifying a practicum site and preceptor can be as intensive as a job search. The following tips are recommended for students when they are beginning the search process. Students should:

• Contact Career Services to update their résumés and cover letters with a focus on finding a practicum site. Career Services can also provide mock interviews to prepare students for speaking with potential preceptors. Please visit the Career Planning and Development website for more information. Contact the education department of possible practicum sites within their area or region.
• Review the practicum site list in Meditrek®. Instructions to access the field site list are located on the Office of Field Experience website. This is a list of practicum sites that Walden University College of Nursing students have used in the past. A facility’s listing on this site does not guarantee that the site will be able to accommodate a student or that an active Affiliation Agreement is on file, but it is a good place to start.
• Use their professional and personal network to make connections. Develop a profile on professional networks (e.g., LinkedIn) to network; research practicum sites; connect with colleagues, alumni of Walden, and a variety of other professional nursing related groups.
• Research professional nursing associations and organizations to find preceptor resources.
• Contact their state board of nursing to see if they have a list of available preceptors or resources.
• Schedule an appointment with their regional nursing field experience coordinator or field experience coordinator to discuss other tips and ideas for securing a preceptor and practicum site. Students can schedule an appointment online. Please keep in mind that the field experience coordinator cannot place students at a site but may offer further advice or assistance for students.
• Schedule an appointment with their program coordinator (see contact information). Program coordinators cannot place students at a site but may be able to offer suggestions or assistance to identify potential preceptors or practicum sites.
• Attend a Field Experience Roundtable Session to learn more about the process.

“Identifying” a practicum site and a preceptor means that the student has received confirmation from a site and preceptor that the site is willing to host the practicum and the preceptor is willing to supervise the student in the practicum experience during a specific term.

Student considerations when identifying a practicum site:

• Availability for the desired term
• Opportunity to advance knowledge and area of specialization
• Patient population and area of expertise
• Specific Learning Objectives for the practicum experience
• Ability of the site to provide a variety of advanced learning experiences
• Opportunity to enhance leadership/professional skills

Students may complete the practicum where they work (e.g., hospital, nursing home, health organization, clinic, health department, or other health-related organization); however, the experience must be:

• In a different setting than their usual assigned employment role or work area(s)
• Completed outside of their normal working hours
• Under the direction of a preceptor who is not their immediate supervisor and who does not report to them

Note: 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, an Affiliation agreement and onboarding are required for all practicum sites. Students who wish to conduct their practicum at their place of employment should be aware that that loss of employment during their practicum may interfere with their ability to complete their required practicum hours.

The practicum cannot be completed in a college of nursing or other nursing education setting (except in an education department in a hospital), or in a private care or private home setting.

Students must identify a potential preceptor and determine if the individual is interested in working with them. If so, students must find out whether this individual meets the qualifications to serve as preceptor and if the preceptor is available for the desired term. Students should contact the nursing field experience coordinators as soon as they identify a possible preceptor, and no later than the start of their second term, to determine if the preceptor and site meet the requirements. Students should evaluate potential preceptors early by emailing nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu to obtain feedback about whether the nominee is an acceptable preceptor. 

Walden discourages students from paying preceptors, practicum sites, or site placement agencies, due to conflicts of interest that can arise. 

Preceptor Requirements for All DNP Tracks

• Hold a graduate degree, preferably a doctorate degree, related to the student’s area of project focus.
• If the preceptor is a licensed, credentialed nurse, the license must be unencumbered and active in the state where the practicum will occur. 
• Demonstrates experience and current position in the area needed for guidance, support, and mentorship in the achievement of the student’s goals and objectives
• Demonstrates a commitment to provide the student with experience in their area of interest
• Is employed at the practicum site where practicum takes place
• The preceptor nominee is not the student's relative, family member, fiance, roommate, significant other, personal friend, primary care provider, is not the student's direct or immediate supervisor, does not report directory to the student, or does not have any other relationship that would create an actual or perceived conflict of interest.
• Is not the student’s direct or immediate supervisor and does not report to the student
• Is not a nurse educator working in the capacity of a nurse educator for an institution of nursing education (However, the preceptor may be in an education department at a hospital, if the preceptor is in a supervisory role and/or focused on patient and nursing staff education.)
• Must not be another DNP student
• Has a minimum of 1-year experience in area of specialization, and the 1-year experience is based upon the original date of licensure for a licensed practitioner 
• There may be situations when a practicing nurse with appropriate credentials and/or expertise in the student’s identified area is not available. If that situation occurs, then another health-related non-nurse individual with expertise and credentials that align with the area of student goals and objectives and practicum course Learning Outcomes could serve in the preceptor role if the individual has a graduate degree. 

The student may have the same preceptor for each practicum course, but this is not required. 

Important Note: If it is found that a student’s preceptor has a personal and/or work relationship with the student, or any other relationship that would be considered a conflict of interest, the practicum hours will be rejected and not counted toward the practicum hour requirement. If a student utilizes a preceptor inappropriately, as noted above, this may lead to an academic integrity violation that could result in a sanction up to and including dismissal from the university. Students nominate preceptors that fully meet all requirements for preceptors.

Note: Approval of the preceptor must occur prior to the student starting any practicum course and logging hours. Students cannot begin logging practicum hours until their practicum application is fully approved.

Course-Specific Preceptor Requirements for the Traditional and Nurse Practitioner Tracks

The preceptor must be involved in healthcare or have experience and expertise in the practice setting relevant to the student’s area of interest. Additionally, the preceptor must currently work in a role consistent with the students’ goals for the practicum experience. Doctoral education is preferred; however, some other form of graduate education may be acceptable if the preceptor’s experience and responsibility are clearly related to the student’s practicum goals. 

When the DNP student’s areas of expertise a more interdisciplinary focus, the preceptor may, for example, be an industry leader, a policymaker, a physician in leadership, or an informatics specialist. However, the preceptor must still hold a graduate degree. 

The student may work with a clinician as a preceptor, but solely when the preceptor’s experience and the preceptor’s supervision will be focused on organizational change.

Course-Specific Preceptor Requirements for the Executive Leadership Track    

The preceptor must be involved in healthcare or have experience and expertise in the practice setting relevant to the student’s area of interest. Additionally, the preceptor must currently work in a role consistent with the students’ goals for the practicum experience. Doctoral education is preferred; however, some other form of graduate education may be acceptable if the preceptor’s experience and responsibility are clearly related to the student’s practicum goals. 

Students enrolled in the Executive Leadership track, must find preceptors that have senior leadership positions or system-wide administrative responsibilities which may be responsibilities such as chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer (CFO), chief operating officer (COO), chief information officer (CIO), vice president for nursing, vice president for healthcare systems, Divisional Directors, Administrative Directors, etc. Students should identify the person or persons who can assist them in collaborating with executives and leaders across various healthcare disciplines who have responsibilities for guiding change in the healthcare systems. Students in the Executive Leadership track practicums should not select preceptors with only unit responsibilities, such as a nurse manager. The preceptor, however, may be the senior business manager in an area like a free-standing clinic, health center etc. 

Preceptor & Site Requirements for NURS 8600/8601

In order to find a suitable site and preceptor, students should follow these guidelines:

• Students should identify a site and initiate contact with a potential preceptor who meets the qualifications and may be interested in working with them.
• The NURS 8600/8601 practicum site may be the same practicum site that students use for their DNP project/practicum.
• The practicum site cannot be an education setting (such as, a school of nursing), and the preceptor cannot be a nurse Faculty educator
• The NURS 8600/8601 preceptor may be the DNP project/practicum preceptor however, students must keep separate practicum hour logs for each course and may only use hours and activities for one course. If practicum hours/activities are found to be used in two or more courses, all practicum hours will be rejected and will not count toward the practicum hour requirement for the courses.
• See the “Preceptor Requirements” section for other requirements for preceptors.

The DNP student should not be providing direct patient care. as part of the required DNP project or /practicum hours. The student may work with a clinician as a preceptor, but solely when the student’s experience and the preceptor’s supervision will be focused on organizational change or other learning activities that meet the student’s identified practicum objectives. Examples include focusing on system issues; organizational or healthcare delivery changes; technology in healthcare; workflow and process improvement in the healthcare setting; etc.

Identifying a Site for NURS 8600/8601

NURS 8600/8601 is equivalent to the master’s practicum hours transferred into the program for the minimum 1,000-hour requirement; therefore, the field experience is not required to be at the doctoral level. Students should consider their career goals after graduation and try to match their NURS 8600/8601 field experience site and preceptor to those career goals. To integrate their education with experience, students must have an opportunity to apply their acquired knowledge, concepts, and skills within the context that they hope to practice as DNP-prepared nurses. To do this, students may need to travel to a setting other than their own practice setting.

Students may complete the practicum where they work (e.g., hospital, nursing home, health organization, university health department, or other health-related organization); however, the experience must be:

• In a different setting than their usual assigned employment role or work area(s)
• Completed outside of their normal working hours
• Under the direction of a preceptor who is not their immediate supervisor and who does not report to them
• Separate from DNP practicum course hours

Note: The NURS 8600/8601 field experience cannot be completed in a school of nursing or other nursing education setting or in a private care or private home setting. See additional information for identifying a site and preceptor.

Also Note: Students should follow the process  for completing and submitting a practicum application in Meditrek® for NURS 8600/8601 (see Practicum Application and Approval Process).

Supplemental Preceptors

Students may need additional preceptors in order to meet all of the requirements for the course, including logging all the required hours and/or requirements. If students need to precept with multiple preceptors to meet the course requirements, then they have an option to nominate another person as their supplemental preceptor, provided the supplemental preceptor nominee fulfills the requirements. When students complete their practicum application, they must provide a fully completed application for both their preceptor nominee and their supplemental preceptor nominee. Applications for supplemental preceptor nominees must be submitted by the application deadline. Applications for supplemental preceptors go through the same review process as other applications and the same policies and requirements apply.