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Field Experience: College of Nursing: Student Resources - Graduate Courses

Important Dates

Deadlines

Applications are due the first day of the month three months before the term you plan to start your practicum course.  Applications must be submitted in Meditrek by the application deadline.  Students must submit an application for each course, term, practicum site location, and preceptor.

Deadlines for Course-Based Programs:

Term

Term Start Dates

Application Deadline Date

First Day of Month 3 Months Before Practicum

Onboarding Deadline

One Month After the Application Deadline

Spring 2023

February 27, 2023

November 28, 2022

December 28, 2022

Summer 2023

May 29, 2023

February 27, 2023

March 27, 2023

Fall 2023

August 28, 2023

June 1, 2023

July 1, 2023

Winter 2023

November 27, 2023

September 1, 2023

October 1, 2023

Spring 2024

February 26, 2024

December 1, 2023

January 1, 2024

Summer 2024

May 27, 2024

March 1, 2024

April 1, 2024

 

 

Deadlines for Tempo-Based Programs:

NOTE:  Application deadlines for students starting before September 4, 2023 is 3 month prior to the start of the practicum course.

Term

Term Start Dates

Application Deadline Date

Onboarding Deadline

One Month After the Application Deadline

September 2023

September 4, 2023

June 1, 2023

July 1, 2023

October 2023

October 2, 2023

July 1, 2023

August 1, 2023

November 2023

November 6, 2023

August 1, 2023

September 1, 2023

December 2023

December 4, 2023

September 1, 2023

October 1, 2023

January 2024

January 1, 2024

October 1, 2023

November 1, 2023

February 2024

February 5, 2024

November 1, 2023

December 1, 2023

March 2024

March 4, 2024

December 1, 2023

January 1, 2024

April 2024

April 1, 2024

January 1, 2024

February 1, 2024

May 2024

May 6, 2024

February 1, 2024

March 1, 2024

June 2024

June 3, 2024

March 1, 2024

April 1, 2024

July 2024

July 1, 2024

April 1, 2024

May 1, 2024

August 2024 August 5, 2024 May 1, 2024 June 1, 2024

 

*Dates marked above with * are tentative dates. Dates are subjected to change based on the Walden University Academic Calendar.

Student Manuals and Resources

Forms and Documents

Appropriate Field Sites & Preceptors for Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner Practicum Manual 

Section 3: NP Practicum and Program Information
Course-Specific Requirements

Nurse Practitioner Practicum Manual 

Section 3: NP Practicum and Program Information

Course-Specific Requirements
+ Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Nurse Practitioner Practicum Manual 

Section 3: NP Practicum and Program Information

Course-Specific Requirements
+ Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

Nurse Practitioner Practicum Manual 

Section 3: NP Practicum and Program Information

Course-Specific Requirements
+ Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)

Nurse Practitioner Practicum Manual 

Section 3: NP Practicum and Program Information

Course-Specific Requirements
+ Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Nurse Practitioner Practicum Manual 

Section 3: NP Practicum and Program Information

Course-Specific Requirements
+ Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)

Appropriate Field Sites & Preceptors for MSN & Post Master’s Certificates

MSN and Post Master's Certificates Manual

Section 4. Identification of Preceptor and Field Site
Course-Specific Requirements

MSN and Post Master's Certificates Manual

Section 4. Identification of Preceptor and Field Site
Course-Specific Requirements

Nurse Executive

MSN and Post Master's Certificates Manual

Section 4. Identification of Preceptor and Field Site
Course-Specific Requirements

Nursing Education

MSN and Post Master's Certificates Manual

Section 4. Identification of Preceptor and Field Site
Course-Specific Requirements

Nursing Informatics

MSN and Post Master's Certificates Manual

Section 4. Identification of Preceptor and Field Site
Course-Specific Requirements

Public Health

Appropriate Field Sites & Preceptors for DNP

DNP Practicum Manual

Section 4: Identification of Preceptor and Field Site
Identifying a Preceptor - Preceptor Requirements

DNP Practicum Manual

Section 4: Identification of Preceptor and Field Site
Identifying a Preceptor - Preceptor Requirements

 

Affiliation Agreement Database Search

Students may search active affiliation agreements that Walden University has with various field sites for programs throughout the university in Meditrek.  Some field sites may not be appropriate for some programs/specializations.  Students should review the Practicum Manual for specific course requirements to ensure the site would be appropriate for the course.  An active affiliation agreement between Walden and the field site does not require a site to agree to take on any particular Walden student for practicum as space and programs may be limited.  You will need to work directly with the field site to ensure their willingness and ability to take you on as a student during the time period that aligns with your course.  You will also need to complete the practicum application process and receive application approval in Meditrek.  The presence of an active agreement with a field site does not imply automatic approval of your practicum application.  

Walden actively pursues affiliation agreements with new field sites whenever possible.  Walden University has resources and staffing available to facilitate new affiliation agreements. Please contact the Office of Field Experience to discuss options if your desired field site is not listed in this database.

To access the Affiliation Agreement Search in Meditrek, you will need to sign into Meditrek using your Meditrek credentials.  If you are a current nursing student and have not received your Meditrek credentials, click here

Planning for Practicum

Students enrolling in certain MSN and Post Master’s Certificate courses will be required to submit a practicum plan in Meditrek as part of a course assignment.  Students should follow all directions as outlined in the course syllabus in Blackboard.  Students may access step-by-step instructions on how to submit their “Practicum Plan” in Meditrek by reviewing the “Practicum Plan Tutorial for Meditrek & FAQ”. 

Students may search active affiliation agreements that Walden University has with various field sites for programs throughout the university in Meditrek.  Some field sites may not be appropriate for some programs/specializations.  Students should review the Practicum Manual for specific course requirements to ensure the site would be appropriate for the course.  An active affiliation agreement between Walden and the field site does not require a site to agree to take on any particular Walden student for practicum as space and programs may be limited.  You will need to work directly with the field site to ensure their willingness and ability to take you on as a student during the time period that aligns with your course.  You will also need to complete the practicum application process and receive application approval in Meditrek.  The presence of an active agreement with a field site does not imply automatic approval of your practicum application.  

Walden actively pursues affiliation agreements with new field sites whenever possible.  Walden University has resources and staffing available to facilitate new affiliation agreements. Please contact the Office of Field Experience to discuss options if your desired field site is not listed in this database.

To access the Affiliation Agreement Search in Meditrek, you will need to sign into Meditrek using your Meditrek credentials.  If you are a current nursing student and have not received your Meditrek credentials, click here

Instructions:   “Affiliation Agreement Search in Meditrek” 

Video Tutorial: Affiliation Agreement Database: Searching for Practicum Sites in Meditrek

What is Meditrek?

Meditrek, a product of HSoft Corporation, is a user-friendly online tool that will help you apply for, track, and manage your practicum experience. Meditrek will help you:

  • Collaborate more effectively with faculty and preceptors.

  • Track your time spent at each clinical field site and organize it by course, term, and more.

  • Provide documentation of your experience to potential employers or certifying agencies for certificates and licensure.

  • Provide an easy and trackable system to submit your practicum applications.

  • Access the system 24 hours a day from anywhere with an Internet connection, including your computer, tablet, and smartphone, even after you graduate. 

 

Student Meditrek Login

Preceptor Meditrek Login

 

  1. Existing Account:  If students and preceptors already have Meditrek credentials created but lost their username and/ password, they request their username and password to be reset directly on the Meditrek home page at https://edu.meditrek.com  by clicking on the link for “Forgot your password or username?” at the bottom of the screen. 

 

  1. New Account:   If students and preceptors do not already have an account in Meditrek, they may request account creation online by completing this form:  https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/emf/CON/RequestMeditrekCredentials

Walden’s Practicum Pledge™ is an exclusive service offered by our institution to support you on your educational journey through your nursing program.  We know that finding a site or preceptor can be challenging.  To better ensure a successful placement, we’ve developed a truly collaborative process.  It involves you, practicum sites, and preceptors while Walden supports you to navigate that process.  If you get stuck – we’re here to help!  If you have worked to identify your own site and preceptor but are not able to do so, Walden’s Practicum Pledge™ will match you with a site and preceptor.

Click here for more information.
 

Starting Your Application

What is Meditrek?

Meditrek, a product of HSoft Corporation, is a user-friendly online tool that will help you apply for, track, and manage your practicum experience. Meditrek will help you:

  • Collaborate more effectively with faculty and preceptors.

  • Track your time spent at each clinical field site and organize it by course, term, and more.

  • Provide documentation of your experience to potential employers or certifying agencies for certificates and licensure.

  • Provide an easy and trackable system to submit your practicum applications.

  • Access the system 24 hours a day from anywhere with an Internet connection, including your computer, tablet, and smartphone, even after you graduate. 

Students can use their Single Sign On credentials to access Meditrek: Student Meditrek Login.

What do I need in order to submit my application?

From Meditrek

  • Your username and password
    • You will receive one username and password for the entirety of your use with Meditrek
    • You will receive this information directly from Meditrek
    • You will receive this information approximately 5-6 months prior to your first practicum course
    • If you have not received your password a month before your application is due, please contact us here

From Your Preceptor Nominee

  • Their current email address. 
  • Their credentials
  • Their title/position
  • Their phone number
  • Their current position and how this will meet the required objectives of the course
  • Completed Preceptor Commitment Form. 
    • This form is sent to directly to the preceptor via email when you submit the preceptor information section in Meditrek.  You will need to follow up with your preceptor to receive the document from them.  You will need to upload it in Meditrek to submit your application. 
    • Must be completed by your preceptor
    • Must be uploaded by you in to Meditrek

From Your Field Site

  • You will need to identify, with the help of your preceptor and/or field site contact, who the appropriate individual is at the field site that can speak to the affiliation agreement. This is usually someone in risk management, legal, HR, office manager, Dean, Associate Dean, Director of Nursing etc. Once identified you will need;
    • Their name and title
    • Their email and phone
    • To let them know they will receive an email from us regarding the agreement

From Yourself

  • Your Walden ID number and Walden email address
  • Your Professional Liability Insurance
    • Must show coverage dates
    • Must show coverage amounts
    • Must be a minimum of 1 million per incident/3 million per aggregate
    • MSN- Nurse Practitioner Students:  Must show coverage as a “Nurse Practitioner Student”
    • DNP & Other MSN Programs:  Must show coverage as a general nursing student. 
  • Your *RN license in the state you are completing your practicum
    • Must show your name
    • Must show the expiration date
    • Must be their highest licensure
    • We prefer online verifications​

For Webinars, FAQs, and Tutorials on how to submit your application, please go here.

  1. Existing Account:  If students and preceptors already have Meditrek credentials created but lost their username and/ password, they request their username and password to be reset directly on the Meditrek home page at https://edu.meditrek.com  by clicking on the link for “Forgot your password or username?” at the bottom of the screen. 

  1. New Account:   If students and preceptors do not already have an account in Meditrek, they may request account creation online by completing this form:  https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/emf/CON/RequestMeditrekCredentials

  1. Change of Specialization: 

Students who have officially been approved to change their specialization and/or program must request their Meditrek account be updated.  Students may submit a request to update their Meditrek account by completing this online form:  https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/emf/SON/ChangeOfSpecialization

  1. Change of Learning Modality:  Tempo to Course-Based or Course-Based to Tempo

Students enrolling in a different learning modality must request their Meditrek account be updated.  Students may submit a request to update their Meditrek account by completing this online form:  https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/emf/SON/ChangeOfSpecialization

  1. Tempo Applications:  Change Start Date for Practicum Application

Students needing to change their start date for their practicum application by two-weeks for courses in the Tempo program may request the change online by completing this online form: https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/emf/SON/TempoApplication

  1. Remedial Applications for Incomplete Grades:   

Students with an incomplete grade needing to log practicum hours during the next term must submit a request for a remedial application to be opened in Meditrek by completing this online request form:  https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/emf/SON/RemedialApplication

Application Requirements

Onboarding Requirements

Walden University College of Nursing’s Onboarding Policy requires practicum students to complete specific requirements in order to be approved for practicum. These onboarding requirements vary from state to state; however, they generally include the passing of a background check and drug screening, health requirements, required training and professional liability insurance, and any additional onboarding requirements that may be required by the field site.  This is a Walden University requirement that applies to all nursing practicum students. Being an employee of the field site does not exempt students from this requirement.

Requirements will only be approved if submitted through Walden University’s designated provider, CastleBranch.  Please be aware that students are responsible for all expenses incurred for onboarding requirements. Students will not be permitted to start their field experience until Onboarding Requirements are complete.

CastleBranch:

CastleBranch, Walden’s designated vendor for onboarding requirements, provides a secure platform to complete onboarding requirements. Onboarding requirements are managed, stored and tracked in CastleBranch.  Students must complete ALL the requirements listed in the CastleBranch portal to begin their practicum. Students must complete all onboarding requirements online at http://walden.castlebranch.com/. Step-by-step instructions can be found here. Any questions regarding the purchase of a screening package can be answered by CastleBranch at 1-888-723-4263. For questions regarding the field site, onboarding requirements or practicum applications regarding this process, please contact nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu.

Application Submission:

Students do not need to complete the onboarding requirements in CastleBranch prior to submitting a practicum application, but the requirements must be completed before an application will be approved.  This practicum application will not be fully approved until all the requirements are complete in CastleBranch.   The School of Nursing Field Education Office Staff will confirm submission of all requirements in CastleBranch to approve practicum applications. 

Field Site Onboarding Requirements: 

  1. Verification of Requirements by Walden University:  When required by the field site, Walden University will communicate the satisfactory completion of these requirements directly to field sites.  If an approved field site requires something in addition to what is required by Walden University, an additional package can be obtained through CastleBranch, at the request of Walden’s Field Education Office, to fulfill those requirements.  The Field Experience staff will e-mail students when additional requirements are mandated by the field site.   
  2. Verification of Requirements by the Student:  In some cases, students may be required to submit verification of onboarding requirements directly to the field site.  In these cases, students may provide documentation from CastleBranch to the field site.  Students may contact CastleBranch directly to receive instructions on how to send account information. 

Walden is fully committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment and academic community for all students, faculty, and staff. Click here to view Walden University's Notice of Nondiscrimination and Procedures for Student, Faculty, and Staff Reporting of Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Discrimination, or Other Related Reports.

Application Review

For additional information check Application Status Review Guide.

Applications will not be reviewed in the Incomplete, Incomplete-Started, Returned or Closed status. If you are planning to use an application in this status action is required. The email sent you from Meditrek on the date of the status change will give more information. If you have additional questions reach out to the Field Experience after you have read the Meditrek email and checked your Meditrek profile.

What Happens After an Application is Submitted

1. When you successfully submit your application, you will receive an automatic email from Meditrek stating it was submitted.

2. You should allow 2-3 weeks (3-4 during peak time) to receive a response from a Field Education Coordinator via your Walden Email.

3. The application and the affiliation agreement are two separate entities being worked on simultaneously.

4. You will receive an email reply with one of the following in regards to your application

  • Your application has be returned for further work.
    • The email will identify what you need to correct.
    • You will need to log back into Meditrek, select teh application, correct the error and re-submit.
    • You will then get another email confirmation when it's been re-submitted.
  • Your application is pending.
    • The application has been submitted and is currently being reviewed by Field Experience staff.
    • Click here to download this status explanation.
  • Your application has been approved:
    • You are cleared to start the identified course/practicum with the identified preceptor at the identified field site during the identified quarter following registration for the course.

5. We process applications as they come in and if we identify an error later we are able to override the approval.

6. You can log in to Meditrek at any time to see the status of your application.

Who Reviews the Application?

Each application is reviewed by a region team of six.

Meet the your regional team HERE.

Schedule an appointment with an expert on your team HERE.

It is important for students to submit their practicum application by the application deadline to avoid delays.  The application deadline is important to allow enough time to complete the practicum approval process to ensure all  accreditation, compliance, regulatory, onboarding, and practicum site requirements are complete.   Students submitting an application after the application deadline will be delayed.  In order to accommodate late applications once the application submission period ends in Meditrek, the Office of Field Experience has a waitlist for late applications.  The waitlist is only available for a very limited time.  The waitlist will close at any time, without notice, for a variety of factors including the volume of requests and length of time before the start of the term.  

To be initially eligible for a waitlist late application, students must have a preceptor secured and have extenuating circumstances.  Students must also have all onboarding requirements compliant and valid for the upcoming term in CastleBranch.  Students must have all requirements set to expire before the term updated and renewed in CastleBranch.  If any expiring requirement is currently marked complete in CastleBranch, students must contact CastleBranch to request the renewal requirement to be added early to their “To Do List” in order to update the requirement in CastleBranch.  Students must also have a background check and drug test completed within 12 months of the first day of the term.  Students must follow instructions in the Onboarding & CastleBranch Instructional Guide.    

Students interested in submitting a late application through the waitlist process must submit a “Waitlist Late Application Request” form in Meditrek because students are unable to open new applications in Meditrek once application submission period ends.  This request process is only available when the waitlist is open.  The response time on requests for a waitlist application is 5-7 business days.  If granted a waitlist late application, students must be ready to submit their practicum application in Meditrek immediately.  Once an application is submitted, the application gets placed on the waitlist and is processed in the order it is submitted in Meditrek.  Final approval and registration decisions for waitlist applications are made beginning two weeks before the start of the term and continues through the start of the term.   Placement on the waitlist does not guarantee that a practicum application will be approved. 

Once the waitlist is closed, new requests for late applications will no longer be accepted through the waitlist.  The ability for students to submit a late application through the waitlist is not a guarantee.