Academic Guides: Nursing Practicum Manual: Section 5: Practicum Policies

Practicum Policies

This section of the manual outlines policies related to practicum not listed elsewhere in the manual. Students must become intimately familiar with this Practicum Manual and adhere to all policies and procedures outlined in this manual. All Walden students agree to abide by all university policies and procedures as a condition of acceptance and continued enrollment. Students should consult the Walden University Student Handbook for complete information about other university policies and procedures.

Academic Standing

All Walden students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout their studies, including the practicum component of their program, in accordance with university requirements.

Appeal Policy and Process for Practicum

The Office of Field Experience abides by all practicum policies outlined in the Practicum Manuals to confirm the practicum policies and requirements are upheld to ensure all practicum experiences meet the required academic, accreditation, regulatory, legal, and compliance requirements. Students must review the Practicum Manuals to ensure they are meeting all policies and requirements for practicum.

All exceptions to practicum policies must be formally appealed through the appeal process in Meditrek. All requests to appeal a closure of a practicum application due to the preceptorship not meeting preceptor and/or site requirements for practicum must also be formally appealed through the appeal process in Meditrek.

To appeal a practicum policy, students must send an email to the Office of Field Experience at nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu to initiate the appeal process to obtain a link and code to complete the appeal process through Meditrek. Supporting document(s) must accompany all appeals at the time the appeal is submitted in Meditrek in order for the appeal to be considered. Students bear the responsibility to submit all relevant and required documentation supporting the appeal. Additional information or additional supporting documentation may be requested at any time during the appeal review process.

Once the appeal is submitted in Meditrek, the Office of Field Experience staff will review and verify the submitted documentation. If required documentation is not submitted with the appeal, the appeal will be returned to the student for required action, providing students with the opportunity to resubmit the appeal in Meditrek by a deadline.

Students should initiate the appeal process early enough to receive a decision prior to the practicum application deadline to prevent delays. The initial review of the appeal will be completed within 10 business days. If additional action is required or additional information is required for the appeal, it will extend the length of time for the appeal review process. Once the initial review has been completed, the appeal may be assigned to the Field Experience Supervisor, Director, Program Coordinator, or Program Director. Final appeal decisions may take up to 30 days if an additional review is required by program leadership and the appeal status is “Under Review” or “Pending Decision”. Students will be notified of the appeal decision via email to their Walden issued student account.

Students have an option to appeal the decision of appeals that have been denied by requesting a second appeal. To request a second appeal to appeal a denied decision, students must send an email request to nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu. The Office of Field Experience will send instructions on how to appeal a denial. Second appeals are reviewed by the Associate Dean I and are considered the final decision.

While students have the option to submit an appeal, the ability to submit an appeal does not guarantee an appeal will be granted through the appeal process. Students must meet all eligibility requirements for consideration before an appeal is reviewed. Appeals will be denied if a student does not meet the standard eligibility requirements for the appeal.

Code of Conduct & Academic Integrity

All Walden students agree to abide by all university policies and procedures as a condition of acceptance and continued enrollment. Students are responsible for becoming familiar with the Code of Conduct, as published in Section 3 of the Walden University Student Handbook”.

The Code of Conduct addresses the university’s expectations of students in four areas:

Nondiscrimination
Nonharassment
Professional conduct
Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity & Code of Conduct

Walden University reserves the right to audit any and all Meditrek logs, practicum course assignments, practicum applications, practicum application supporting documents, onboarding documents, and other practicum documentation at any time to verify and validate the preceptorship and completion of the practicum requirements (e.g. hours completed, activities completed, patients seen, practicum application documents and forms, etc.). The audit may also include a site visit to the practicum site by a Walden faculty instructor. This will enable Walden University to verify practicum requirements, practicum activities, and practicum hours meet requirements for the practicum course(s) to help to ensure program quality and that graduates are adequately prepared for practice after graduation.

Violations of the Code of Conduct will result in a Code of Conduct and/or Academic Integrity inquiry. Violations may include concerns regarding truthfulness or accuracy of Meditrek applications, application documents, application supporting documents, onboarding documents, application acknowledgement forms, time logs in Meditrek, patient logs in Meditrek, documentation for practicum activities, practicum course assignments, preceptor evaluations, preceptor approval of Meditrek logs, or any other practicum related documentation. Students found in violation of a Code of Conduct will be subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to course failure, suspension, and permanent dismissal from the university. Code of Conduct and/or Academic Integrity findings may also be reported to the student’s state board of nursing for review by their state board of nursing.

Professional Competence Policy

All College of Nursing students must abide by the Student Professional Competence Policy as outlined in the Code of Conduct Policy in the Walden University Student Handbook. Nursing students must ensure they utilize interpersonal and professional skills and behaviors when interacting with preceptors, patients, practicum site personnel, faculty instructors, and Walden staff during their program and practicum experiences. These interpersonal and/or professional skills include, but are not limited to, adherence to ethical standards published by professional organizations, professional deportment, sensitivity to client issues, and appropriate use of supervision. Situations can arise in which instructors, students, or other professionals observe behaviors by other students that demonstrate a lack of appropriate interpersonal or professional skills. The purpose of this policy is to provide a set of procedures used by Walden instructors to address such issues. The Student Professional Competence Policy addresses behaviors that impede a student’s development to include problem behaviors; inappropriate and/or unprofessional conduct; and critical behaviors.

Nondiscrimination and Harassment Policies

Students must abide by the nondiscrimination and non-harassment policies of the practicum site and Walden University. If no such written policy exists at the practicum site, then the Walden policies must be adopted by the site. The Code of Conduct includes Walden’s nondiscrimination and non-harassment policies. Additional policy information regarding sexual misconduct, sexual discrimination, or other related reports is available from Walden’s Student Safety/Title IX page .

Criminal Offenses

Criminal offenses or charges can affect the ability to complete the practicum requirements and the program. Students may be required to complete a new background check/screen through CastleBranch at any point upon request.

Students who are charged with a misdemeanor or felony crime offense at any point during the student’s program are required to inform the director of the Office of Certification, Licensure, and Compliance (nurslicensure@mail.waldenu.edu) and the director of the Office of Field Experience, (nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu) immediately when charged with an offense.
Students who are charged with a misdemeanor or felony crime offense at any point after practicum application submission and/or during a practicum course are required to inform the director of the Office of Field Experience, (nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu), the practicum site administrator, and the preceptor immediately when charged with an offense.

Disability Services

The College of Nursing at Walden will not discriminate on the basis of disability and is committed to providing all qualified students with disabilities equal access to its programs, services, and activities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

In postsecondary education, it is the students’ responsibility to self-identify disability status and register with the Office of Student Disability Services. Students requesting accommodations per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must contact the Office of Disability Services by following procedures outlined on the Office of Disability Services webpage or contacting them at disability@mail.waldenu.edu.

Students with disabilities requesting accommodations for practicum experiences should register with the Office of Student Disability Services prior to applying or registering for those practicum experiences and clarify their specific accommodation needs. In most cases, practicum sites have their own systems and policies for ensuring equal access for employees/interns with disabilities. The Office of Student Disability Services will help address any gaps in those systems.

Electronic Signature Policy

Walden manages the practicum application processes in a nearly paperless environment, which permits verifiable electronic signatures, as regulated by the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. Legally, an electronic signature can be the person’s typed name, email address, or any other identifying marker depending upon the requirements of the document being signed. An electronic signature is just as valid as a written signature as long as both parties have agreed to conduct the transaction electronically.

Email Policy

As outlined in the Student Handbook, students, faculty, and staff must use their Walden University issued email address to communicate with one another regarding university business. Students are required to check their Walden email account regularly to ensure they are receiving and/or responding to all communications. The Office of Field Experience communicates with students about the practicum process, application process, deadlines, action required by the student, and important application updates through their Walden email account Therefore, it is imperative that students check their Walden email account frequently, read each message in its entirety, and follow all instructions outlined in emails.

Exposure Plan and Protocol for Practicum

Scope

The College of Nursing is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for students. Protecting nursing students from exposures is a critical component of the practicum education environment. Clinical situations present the possibility for contact with blood, body fluids, and other potentially infectious materials that pose infectious disease risk.

The purpose of this plan and protocol is to provide procedures to be used by students, clinical Instructors/Faculty, field experience staff, and academic program leadership when a student experiences an exposure to blood, bodily fluids, or other potentially infectious or hazardous materials while participating in a field experience activity while enrolled in a practicum course in the College of Nursing at Walden University. Walden University cannot identify and protect against the specific exposure risks present at the various sites where its students participate in their field experiences and, therefore, expects students to adhere to the exposure policies and protocols maintained at their practicum site. This plan and protocol are intended to supplement the policies and protocols maintained at the practicum site and shall not be interpreted to conflict with or replace practicum site polices and protocols.

Overview

All students enrolled in a practicum course in the College of Nursing must practice universal precautions, which, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), means that all human blood and human bodily fluid are treated as if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne pathogens. While OSHA’s bloodborne pathogen standards apply to employers and employees, Walden expects students in the College of Nursing to adhere to OSHA standards and guidance to protect against the risks of exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Training

In order to minimize risk posed to students and/or patients by persons infected with blood borne pathogens, bodily fluids, or potentially hazardous materials, as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and OSHA, students enrolling in graduate practicum courses are required to complete annual training and have a certificate of completion on file in CastleBranch prior to being approved for practicum. Training includes information on hazard recognition, bloodborne pathogens, exposure prevention, universal precautions, standard precautions, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), workplace safety, and postexposure procedures.

Students are required to adhere to all practicum site policies and protocols, and applicable OSHA standards, to prevent contact with human bodily fluids or other potentially infectious and hazardous materials. Students must routinely use appropriate PPE tailored to the risks present at the field experience site.

Health Insurance

The College of Nursing strongly advises all nursing students to have personal health insurance or join a healthcare plan to cover the expenses of their healthcare, treatments in case of exposure, injury, and/or care for a catastrophic illness or serious chronic condition within or outside the clinical setting during their practicum experience.

Students are responsible for all costs and bills incurred during the practicum experience if not covered by health insurance. Walden University does not pay for costs related to healthcare for students during practicum courses.

Protocol for Exposure

Clean it: Students exposed to bloodborne pathogens or human body fluids should take immediate action in first aid including the following:

Wash the exposed area immediately with soap and water.
Wash wounds and skin with soap and water.
Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water.
Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline or sterile irrigates.

Get treatment: Students who are possibly exposed to blood borne pathogens or human body fluids, during practicum, should follow this process:

For exposures in a setting with a policy covering possible exposure to bloodborne pathogens and human body fluids, the policy and protocols of the facility must be followed. If the facility does not have a policy or protocols for laboratory tests, the student should either report immediately to their personal healthcare provider or to the nearest emergency room. The student should identify themselves as a nursing practicum student and request laboratory tests as recommended by the CDC. Students must follow all post-exposure directions provided by the healthcare provider or the emergency room and required follow-up instructions. Students are responsible for the cost of testing if health insurance does not cover the costs.
For exposures in a setting where there is no policy on possible exposure to bloodborne pathogens and human body fluids, the student should either report immediately to their personal healthcare provider or to the nearest emergency room. The student should identify themselves as a nursing practicum student and request laboratory tests as recommended by the CDC. Students must follow all post-exposure directions provided by the healthcare provider or the emergency room and required follow-up instructions. Students are responsible for the cost of testing if health insurance does not cover the costs.

Report it:

Students: Students who are possibly exposed to bloodborne pathogens or human body fluids during practicum, must report the exposure as follows:
- Report to their preceptor at the practicum site immediately upon exposure. Students must follow all protocols as required by their practicum site.
- Report to their practicum Course Instructor or Faculty Instructor as soon as possible.
Practicum Course Instructors and Faculty Instructors:
- Practicum Course Instructors and course Faculty Instructors will keep a record of the incident, circumstances of the incident, steps taken, and communications with the student.
- Practicum Course Instructors or course Faculty Instructor will send a copy of the record to the following individuals:
  - Students’ program director and program coordinator
  - NP practicum coordinator
  - Director of field experience
    Note: The director will review site’s Affiliation Agreement to ensure all site policies and protocols are being followed.

Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) limits the disclosure of certain information from student records. Students have the right not to consent to the release of their educational records and the right to receive a copy of such records upon request.

Students must authorize Walden University to release, without limitation, any information regarding their enrollment, academic, or field experience records to any party that has an interest in the furtherance of their field experience as well as to any regulatory or investigatory body. This authorization to release information includes, without limitation, the following:

Application and enrollment data;
Grade reports;
Scheduling and registration documents;
Field experience application and documents;
Onboarding documents;
Castle Branch documents, such as criminal background reports, drug test, and health information;
Records of disciplinary proceedings; and
Any other information held by Walden University.

This authorization remains in effect through the completion or termination of the student’s program (the "End Date"). Students must send a written request to revoke this authorization prior to the End Date.

Students complete this FERPA release in their practicum application in Meditrek. Students cannot submit a practicum application, and the Office of Field Experience cannot facilitate the practicum approval process with the practicum site if students do not complete the FERPA release in their practicum application.

Foreign Students and Practicum

A foreign student is one who is not a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States.

Foreign students planning to complete practicum in the United States must have a U.S. RN license or a compact license with multi-state privileges in the state where the practicum site is located and where the practicum experience will occur. Students must also have a valid visa that allows them to live and work in the United States to complete practicum in the United States because Walden University is not authorized to issue student visas for practicum in the United States.

Foreign students planning to complete practicum in country outside of the U.S. must have an equivalent of an RN nurse license or other authority to practice at the RN level in the country or jurisdiction where the practicum site is located and where the practicum experience will occur. Students who are not residents of the country must have a valid visa that allows them to complete practicum in the country. Walden University is not authorized to issue student visas for practicum.

Walden University’s nursing programs are not designed to lead to licensure or other authority to practice nursing in any foreign country, including Canada. Walden makes no guarantee that completion of the program will allow a student to obtain certification or licensure outside of the United States.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Students in Walden University’s nursing programs are required to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), as well as all practicum site-specific policies and procedures related to privacy and security of health-related information.

Students enrolling in graduate practicum courses are required to complete annual HIPAA training and to have a certificate of completion on file in CastleBranch prior to being approved for practicum.

It is important to note that Walden University is not a “Covered Entity” or a “Business Associate” (as those terms are defined under HIPAA). Therefore, students must refrain from disclosing protected health information (PHI) to Walden University, since any disclosure of PHI to Walden University would constitute a HIPAA violation. The College of Nursing Faculty develop teaching and learning materials carefully so that these materials (e.g., assignments and logs), do not inadvertently lead students to share HIPAA identifiers or PHI.

License Reporting Policy

Students that experience changes in their authority to practice at any point during their program and/or after the student begins practicum are required to inform the director of the Office of Certification, Licensure, and Compliance (nurslicensure@mail.waldenu.edu) immediately. Students enrolled in a practicum course must also report the change of their license status to the Office of Field Experience (nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu), the preceptor, and the practicum site administrator. Status changes, such as actions or restrictions placed on a student’s license, can affect a student’s ability to complete practicum requirements and the program.

Licensure and Certification

The Nurse Practitioner specializations are designed to academically prepare graduates with an active U.S. registered nurse (RN) license to be eligible to sit for national nurse practitioner certification exams offered by U.S. national certifying bodies and to apply for advanced practice licensure as a nurse practitioner in the United States. However, each U.S. state Board of Nursing has its own requirements and issues its own credential for an RN to be permitted practice as a nurse practitioner in that state.

Walden makes no representations or guarantees that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit a student to obtain national certification, state licensure, authorization, endorsement, or other authority to practice as a nurse practitioner in the U.S. Students should contact the appropriate state Board of Nursing or nursing regulatory authority in the states or jurisdictions in which they reside, want to do their practicum, or intend to seek licensure or other authority to practice in order to determine specific requirements to practice as a nurse practitioner.

It is the responsibility of the student to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification exams and licensure requirements for the state in which they reside or plan to practice, as requirements vary widely. Understanding this information is crucial both for success in the profession and for understanding how to apply for certification and licensure once a student’s degree is conferred.

Walden’s Office of Certification, Licensure & Compliance (OCLC) assists College of Nursing students and graduates with licensure, certification, and compliance processes. This includes answering questions related to these processes; processing documentation requests for certification and licensure applications; and miscellaneous education verification requests. Students may review the OCLC website for more information at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/son/oclc

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Students in Walden University’s nursing programs are required to comply with safety standards outlined in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Standards (OSHA), as well as all practicum site-specific policies and procedures related to safety and security.

OSHA training covers requirements such as Bloodborne Pathogen standards and Hazard Communication standards. Students enrolling in graduate practicum courses are required to complete annual OHSA training and have a certificate of completion on file in their “To Do List” in CastleBranch prior to being approved for practicum.

Students must follow all safety protocols required by the practicum site and report any concerns regarding potential hazards.

Practicum Manual

College of Nursing students are responsible for reading and complying with the policies and procedures set forth in the Nursing Practicum Manual for their program.

Problem Resolution Process During Practicum

During their practicum, students may be vulnerable to any number of difficulties that can pose barriers to a successful learning experience. By the time students reach the end of the program, they are entering the work setting and should demonstrate effective problem-solving skills in many difficult situations. However, students are not expected to resolve problems during practicum alone.

With Practicum Site Personnel

If a problem develops between students and their practicum preceptor (or other site personnel), they should consult the practicum course Faculty Instructor, and then, if needed, they may consult the program coordinator.

Significant problems that arise in the practicum setting should be addressed using the process available to employees at the site and as officially documented in the site Affiliation Agreement signed for the practicum experience. The appropriate Walden Faculty or staff member will assist students in preparing any necessary documentation and closely monitor the progress of the problem resolution, including any grievance process.

The program coordinator and/or program director should inform the College of Nursing’s dean and associate dean for the Office of Field Experience about any unresolved issues and must formally document the efforts to resolve the issues presented. The dean will review the efforts to resolve the problem and inform students of other possible recourse options.

With Walden Faculty

Consistent with ethical guidelines, students should initially address any concerns directly with the Faculty (e.g., practicum course Faculty Instructor, Program Coordinator) and attempt to resolve the issue at an informal level before proceeding to a request for intervention (e.g., from the program director or dean). Failure to address the problem at the program level may delay resolution, as the problem will likely be referred back to the program level.

Consult the Appropriate Program Coordinator

If a problem develops between students and their practicum course Faculty Instructor, the program coordinator will help students determine the appropriate strategy to resolve the problem in an informal manner. The Faculty and/or the coordinator should fully inform the program director about any unresolved issues and document all attempts to resolve the issues students have presented. All parties should receive copies of documents memorializing resolution of and attempts to resolve the issues, after such documentation is submitted to and approved by the program director.

Consult the Program Director

If students are not able to resolve the problem with the support and intervention of the program coordinator, they should approach the program director to seek guidance and/or intervention. The program director should already have copies of all the documentation of the problem and resolution efforts. The program director will initiate further investigation of the concern. Students may be offered counseling or other support at the program director’s discretion.

Consult the Dean

If students are not able to resolve the problem with the support and intervention of the program director, they should approach the dean to seek guidance and/or intervention.

The dean should already have copies of all the documentation of the problem and resolution efforts. The dean will initiate further investigation of the concern. Students may be offered counseling or other support at the dean’s discretion.

Consider Filing a Grievance

If the dean is unable to facilitate resolution of the problem, students may consider filing an appeal or grievance following Walden University’s grievance procedure. Students should consult the Walden University Student Handbook for guidance on the process of submitting an appeal or grievance.

Filing a grievance may initiate the reassignment of one or more of the parties involved for a reasonable period to allow for an appropriate investigation of the situation. The right to confidentiality, both of the complainant and of the accused, will be respected to the extent possible insofar as it does not interfere with the institution’s legal obligation or ability to investigate allegations of misconduct brought to the university’s attention or to take corrective action when it is found that misconduct has occurred.

There shall be no retaliation against any student who identifies a problem or seeks assistance in resolving a conflict involving practicum site personnel or faculty, including those students who choose to file a formal grievance. We encourage students to notify Walden, as soon as possible, to allow for intervention and resolution, if possible.

Safety and Discrimination – Title IX

Walden University is fully committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment and academic community for all students, Faculty, and staff. Students may review Walden University’s policies and procedures for Non-Discrimination and Title IX on the Safety and Title IX webpage.

Walden University does not tolerate discrimination or harassment and is committed to providing an education conducive to the personal and professional development of each individual and to maintaining an academic and workplace environment free of discrimination and harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, mental or physical disability, veteran status, marital status, or other legally protected characteristics in the admission to, access to, or treatment, or employment in any of its programs or activities.

This policy is consistent with relevant governmental statutes and regulations, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Higher Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and any other relevant federal, state, and local laws.

Students should direct complaints of discrimination or harassment to Adtalem’s Office of Equity and Access at equity@adtalem.com.

Students should report complaints about Title IX, instances of sexual harassment or misconduct, and other forms of sex discrimination to the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@mail.waldenu.edu.

State Regulatory Restrictions and Requirements

For nurse practitioner students, the Office of Certification, Compliance, and Licensure can provide relevant information and resources relating to state-by-state requirements for practice as a nurse practitioner. However, it remains the responsibility of the student to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to practice as a nurse practitioner in the state in which the student resides, as requirements vary widely.

The ability for students to complete a required practicum in each state depends upon the statutes and regulations of that state. Each student is responsible for knowing and understanding the statutes and regulations of that state and whether the student meets the requirements to engage in a practicum in that state. Students are required to contact their Student Success Advisor or Academic Coach when planning to move to another state to ensure that Walden allows for enrollment in the state and is authorized to allow students to complete educational and practicum experiences in the state. For nurse practitioner students, the Office of Certification, Compliance, and Licensure can provide relevant information and resources relating to state-by-state requirements for practice as a nurse practitioner. However, it remains the responsibility of the student to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to practice as a nurse practitioner in the state in which the student resides, as requirements vary widely.

Restricted States and Countries

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

Relocation and Impact on Field Experience

Students who are considering relocating to a different state or location outside of the United States must contact their advisor/coach, prior to any decision to relocate, to determine how relocation may impact progress in their program. Relocation could have an impact on their ability to participate in field experience, successfully complete the program, and impact licensure requirements. Students must carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable regulatory authority in the state or country in which they intend to relocate. Advisors/Coaches can provide information and guidance on how relocating may result in possible changes, restrictions, and/or additional requirements affecting field experience. Each state’s regulatory agency, state Board of Nursing, and Higher Education Authority govern the field experience rules and regulations in their respective states, and students may be unable to complete field experience in the state in which they plan to relocate. It is imperative that students contact their advisor/coach immediately when considering relocating to determine the impact. Students must review the list of state practicum restrictions at Restricted States - Restricted States for Practicum.

Completion of Practicum in Another State

Students who are considering completing a practicum in a state different than their home state must carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable regulatory authority in the state in which they intend to complete a practicum. Each state’s regulatory agency, state Board of Nursing, and Higher Education Authority govern the field experience rules and regulations in their respective states, and students may be unable to complete field experience in the state they intend to do practicum. Students who are considering completing a practicum in a different state must contact the Office of Field Experience Office to determine their ability to participate in field experience and successfully complete the program. Students must hold an active, unencumbered RN license in the state where the practicum will take place. Students must review the list of state practicum restrictions at Restricted States - Restricted States for Practicum.

Student Restrictions at Sites in States

Some states limit the number of students who can be appointed to each practicum site. Students seeking to complete a practicum experience in Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, or Mississippi may experience challenges identifying practicum sites in the state. Given these limitations, students in these states are encouraged to begin identifying practicum sites at least three full terms prior to the time their practicum course is expected to begin to increase their opportunity for placement and avoid potential delays. Students must submit their practicum application as soon as they identify a practicum site and preceptor so Walden University can evaluate the impact of the regulatory limits on site availability. Applications to complete a practicum at a site that cannot accept additional students due to these regulatory limitations will be denied and closed. Students with questions about the availability of a specific practicum site in these states should contact the Office of Field Experience at nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu.

Technical Standards Policy

Technical Standards and Professional Skills and Competencies

Walden University’s College of Nursing programs are designed to educate nurses for today’s professional environment by developing the skills of reflection, independent learning, and enhanced critical thinking. These standards will enable students to graduate from Walden’s programs and better equip them to fulfill their roles, develop leadership skills, and stay current in their field throughout their career. All students must be able to consistently demonstrate, with or without accommodation, the ability and fitness to perform nursing skills and professional behaviors in a manner to not jeopardize the well-being and safety for patients, field sites, or themselves.

Establishing professional relationships is a requirement for student success as well as professional practice. Students enrolled in the College of Nursing's programs must demonstrate positive professional relationships and complete active physical tasks both within and outside the classroom setting. This is especially important when working with other practitioners and patients in a professional setting during field experience. Therefore, the following list of technical standards is provided to clearly establish the level of capability required to successfully complete College of Nursing programs of study and to encourage current and prospective students to self-assess their qualifications for the program.

Walden University is committed to providing equal access to qualified students with disabilities. A qualified student is a student with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, meets the technical standard requirements for participation in College of Nursing programs and activities. A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to an instructional activity, equipment, facility, program, or service that enables a qualified student with a disability to have an equal opportunity to fulfill the requirements necessary for graduation from the nursing program. College of Nursing applicants and students who require disability-related accommodations to meet program requirements are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Disability Services at disability@mail.waldenu.edu or 855-229-0848 at the earliest opportunity to receive support.

A student in the College of Nursing must meet technical standard requirements, with or without accommodation, in the areas outlined below (examples are not all inclusive) for successful completion of a nursing program. Students must master the outlined essential and technical skills, produce positive academic outcomes, and conduct themselves within the guidelines of the Walden University Code of Conduct and in compliance with applicable professional practicum regulations. Students who are not able to meet the technical standard requirements, produce positive academic outcomes, and socialize in the value structure of the profession, with or without accommodation, are encouraged to speak to their student success advisors regarding a potential educational path where such technical standard requirements and professional standards are not essential to patient safety and care.

Students are advised that their success in their chosen program may be dependent on an ability to meet these technical standards.

Motor and Mobility Function