Nursing Practicum Manual:

Section 2.2 Program and Practicum Requirements: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program builds on the student’s knowledge and expertise to strengthen advanced nursing practice, augment healthcare delivery, enhance organizational leadership, and improve patient outcomes. The program’s coursework covers a range of topics, including healthcare policy and advocacy, quality improvement, evidence-based practice, information systems/technology, advanced nursing practice, and organizational and systems leadership.

Program Learning Outcomes

At the end of the program, students will be able to:

1. Translate quality research findings to direct evidence-based nursing practice.
2. Develop organizational system changes for quality improvement in healthcare delivery in response to local and/or global community or workplace needs.
3. Apply optimal utilization of healthcare information technology across healthcare settings.
4. Advocate for the advancement of nursing and healthcare policy and standards to improve health outcomes by addressing positive social change and social policy through sharing of science-based knowledge with healthcare leaders and policy makers.
5. Demonstrate leadership to facilitate collaborative teams for improving patient and populations health outcomes.
6. Utilize advanced nursing practice knowledge to implement methodologies to improve population and community health outcomes among culturally diverse populations.
7. Establish a foundation for lifelong learning for continual elevation of contributions to the field of nursing through active involvement in professional organizations and/or other professional and community bodies.

The College of Nursing offers a range of programs, specializations, and tracks. Here is an overview of the DNP program: 

Overview of Specializations/Tracks  

The practicum experience helps students deepen their specialty area practice knowledge as they continue to enhance their leadership and nursing skills. The practicum experience and course assignments provide an opportunity for students to apply advanced level competencies and leadership skills in the development of a project for evidence-based practice at the organizational level in their chosen practice setting. During the practicum, students focus on skills at the aggregate, systems, and organizational levels; achievement of individualized learning objectives; and building and assimilating advanced specialty practice knowledge, as conceptualized by students and their preceptors and as approved by their practicum course faculty instructor. Practicum experiences and hours in DNP practicum courses do not involve direct patient care.  

Students should focus on expanding their specialty practice knowledge at the aggregate level and their socialization to roles they are interested in occupying after the completion of the DNP program, as described in the following examples:

• Students interested in being a nurse manager or leader should focus their practicum experience on organizational and system issues in healthcare.
• Students interested in informatics should focus their practicum experience on community-, system- or organization-wide information systems development and implementation in a healthcare setting.
• Students interested in being a nurse executive should focus their practicum experience at a high level of complexity within organizations by gaining experience in business skills and principles; relationship building; communication skills; and leadership in the health care environment. 
• Students interested in being an advance practice nurse should focus their practicum experience in their specialty area along with expanding their responsibilities for managing the care of individuals, families, and communities within systems or organizations. In addition, students may examine the following areas based on their area of expertise: practice trends; possible systemic changes to improve healthcare quality and safety at the organizational or policy level; or improvements in evidence-based practice settings.

The following courses are the required practicum courses for each specialization.

Students enrolled in a DNP - NP program must also review the practicum requirements for nurse practitioner courses in the Nurse Practitioner section of this manual. 

Traditional Specialization

Executive Leadership Specialization

Nurse Practitioner Specializations

Students must schedule a phone appointment with their Student Success Advisor or Academic Coach early in their program to develop their degree plan and understand their required practicum course(s), the required prerequisite courses, practicum requirements, when they plan to take the practicum course(s), and the appropriate practicum application deadline(s). 

Students must complete the required prerequisite courses and follow the course sequence policy before being eligible or approved for a practicum course. Students will not be approved for a practicum course if the prerequisite course(s) has not been successfully completed, if the student is not currently enrolled in the prerequisite course(s), or if the student is applying for a practicum course that is against the course sequence policy. Prerequisite courses are required to be completed before practicum courses because the learning objectives must be mastered prior to proceeding to the next course. Students cannot take two practicum courses in the same term if they have not completed the required prerequisite course(s) or if it is against the course sequence policy. Students can review prerequisite courses and any course sequence policy for practicum courses in the Walden University Catalog. 

Students must go through the appeal process in Meditrek in order to appeal the ability to waive a prerequisite course for a practicum course, take a practicum course out of order, waive a course sequence policy, waive a prerequisite course to take two practicum courses during the same term, or waive the course sequence policy to take two practicum courses during the same term. The ability to appeal a policy does not guarantee an appeal will be granted. To initiate the appeal process, students must request an appeal link and code through their Advisor/Coach or by emailing the Office of Field Experience at nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu. Upon a request from a student, the Advisor/Coach or the Field Experience Coordinator will email instructions and a code for the student to submit their appeal in Meditrek accordingly. Students must review the Appeal Policy in Section 5 of this manual.  

Students must identify and secure a preceptor and practicum site for their practicum experience.  Students must determine whether the preceptorship meets the requirements for the preceptor and practicum site. Students should utilize Preceptorship Prescreen Checklists for the practicum course to check if a preceptor and practicum site may be appropriate for the practicum course prior to submitting a practicum application. 

Once a preceptor and practicum site are secured, students must submit a practicum application in Meditrek to nominate the preceptor and practicum site. Instructions on the Practicum Approval Process are described in Section 4 in this Practicum Manual. Prior to approval, the nominated preceptor’s licensure and certification (if applicable) is reviewed and verified; the Preceptor Commitment Form is reviewed and processed; and the preceptor’s credentials and qualifications are reviewed and evaluated by the Office of Field Experience. The faculty and Program Coordinator gives final approval of preceptorship nominees. Approval of the preceptor is based on the criteria outlined in this section. 

Approval of the preceptor and practicum site must occur prior to the student starting the practicum course and completing practicum hours. Students cannot begin completing and logging practicum hours until their practicum application is fully approved in Meditrek, they are enrolled in the course, it is after the first day of the term, and they have received approval from their Walden faculty instructor to begin the practicum experience.

Some state boards of nursing have specific requirements for preceptors and practicum.  Students must review the regulations of their state board of nursing for specific practicum requirements of preceptors to ensure students are meeting their state board of nursing requirements along with Walden requirements for preceptorships. For example, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas have specific requirements for Nurse Practitioner preceptors that restrict certain practitioners as preceptors for nurse practitioner courses.

Students must go through the appeal process in Meditrek to appeal any practicum policy, including policies related to practicum site and/or preceptor requirements or to appeal a closure of a practicum application. Students must review the Appeal Policy and Process for practicum in Section 5 of this manual. 

Students should contact the Office of Field Experience with questions about requirements of preceptors and practicum sites.

To finalize their education, students must have an opportunity to apply their acquired knowledge, concepts, and skills during required practicum experiences. To do this, students may need to travel to a setting for their practicum experience. Students should consider their career goals after graduation when they are choosing a practicum site. They must match their practicum setting that they nominate with their goals and within the specific requirements of the course. Practicum sites must offer an experience that meets the requirements of the specialization and the practicum course. The general requirements for all practicum courses for practicum sites are as follows:   

• The practicum site must either have a valid affiliation agreement with Walden University that specifically covers your program or be willing to finalize an affiliation agreement with Walden University. The Office of Field Experience will contact a nominated practicum site to establish an agreement after a practicum application is submitted in Meditrek if Walden does not currently have an affiliation agreement with the practicum site. 
• The practicum site must abide by the terms and conditions outlined in the affiliation agreement. 
• The practicum site must employ the preceptor or be owned by the preceptor. 
• The practicum site must be located in a state or country where Walden University is authorized to enroll students and approve practicum for the student’s program. Students should review the list of states and countries that are restricted for enrollment and practicum on the List of Restricted States for practicum. 
• The practicum site must not be a private residential home setting because students are not permitted to go to private residential home settings of patients or preceptors for practicum experiences. 
• The practicum site must not be an agency that conducts home visits because students are not permitted to go to private homes for home visits. 
• The practicum site must operate at a physical location that is owned or leased by the site with a physical address that belongs to the site.  Addresses for a post office box, virtual office, co-working facility, or rental mailboxes are not acceptable. 
• The practicum site cannot be owned or operated by the student.  
• The practicum site must be willing to support you with opportunities to complete required practicum activities for the practicum course.
• The practicum site must meet the specific requirements for the practicum course. See the “Practicum Course Requirements for Practicum Sites & Preceptors” section for requirements.   

Preceptors must be academically and experientially qualified to serve as a preceptor. Preceptors must meet the preceptor requirements to be eligible to be approved as a preceptor. Once a preceptor is identified, students must communicate with their potential preceptor and determine if the individual meets the requirements for their practicum course. Students should only nominate preceptors who meet the preceptor requirements for practicum. 

Preceptor Requirements – General Requirements: 

• The preceptor must hold the required academic degree that meets the requirements of the course; profession; licensure; certification; and is in a field related to the role and focus of the practicum experience.    
  • Undergraduate level courses: The preceptor must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or higher.
  • Master’s level courses: The preceptor must hold a master’s or doctoral degree. 
  • Doctoral level courses: The preceptor must hold a master’s or doctoral degree, but a doctoral degree is preferred.    
• The preceptor must hold an active and unencumbered license to practice in the specialization in the state or country where the practicum experience will occur for licensed preceptors.    
• The preceptor must meet the specific licensure, certification, and/or board-certification requirements for the specialization and practicum course. See the “Practicum Course Requirements for Practicum Sites & Preceptors” section for requirements.
• The preceptor must have a minimum of 1 year of postgraduate unsupervised experience in the area of specialization for the practicum course. For licensed practitioners, the 1 year of experience is based upon the original date of licensure for the specialization. 
• The preceptor holds a current position and role that is relevant to the specialization, relevant to the focus of the practicum experience, and meets the requirements of the course.  
• The preceptor is a current employee of the practicum site at the practicum site location.
• The preceptor nominee is not the student’s relative, family member, fiancé, roommate, significant other, personal friend, primary care provider, and does not have any other relationship that would create an actual or perceived conflict of interest.
• The preceptor is not the student’s supervisor/manager, employee, or direct report.   
• The preceptor is not a current Walden University nursing student. 
• The preceptor is not precepting other students during the same time they plan to precept you during your practicum experience because preceptors must only precept one student for direct supervision at any given time.   
• The preceptor is able and willing to commit to the preceptor role for the duration of the practicum experience.
• The preceptor must meet the specific requirements for the program, specialization, and practicum course. See the “Practicum Course Requirements for Practicum Sites & Preceptors” section for requirements.   

Preceptor-to-Student Ratio

Walden requires preceptors to have an onsite preceptor-to-student ratio of 1:1 for direct supervision at any given time. Students are only permitted to complete practicum hours under 1:1 direct supervision by their approved preceptor. Walden will only approve a preceptor to precept students during the same term that guarantees a 1:1 preceptor to student ratio for direct supervision at any given time. While Walden may approve up to two Walden University students per term with the same preceptor under limited conditions, the preceptor must maintain the 1:1 direct supervision at any given time. The preceptor must only precept one student for direct supervision at any given time. Students are not to count practicum activities, hours, or patients if they are with other students during their practicum experiences. The purpose of this standard is to ensure that students have quality learning experience. 

The Office of Field Experience reviews, approves, and monitors applications for nominated preceptors in order that applications are submitted. It is highly recommended that upon securing a preceptor, students submit their application in Meditrek immediately because applications are processed based on the submission date. Practicum applications will be closed, and preceptors will not be approved for students if a nominated preceptor has met the maximum number of students for which they can precept during the term.

Supplemental Preceptorships

Students may need additional preceptorships in order to meet all the requirements for the course including completing all the required practicum hours, practicum activities, course objectives, or other practicum requirements. Students needing to complete practicum at multiple practicum sites and/or with multiple preceptors to meet the requirements of the practicum course, have the option to nominate multiple practicum sites and/or preceptors as a supplemental preceptorship by submitting a supplemental application, provided the supplemental site and preceptor meets the requirements. Supplemental applications must be submitted by the application deadline. Students who need to submit a supplemental application for a supplemental site or preceptor after the application deadline or during the term, students must go through the waitlist process to submit a waitlist application.  Supplemental applications go through the same review process as other applications and the same policies and requirements apply. Supplemental applications must be approved in Meditrek prior to students beginning their hours and practicum experience.   

Change of Practicum Site and/or Preceptor

View the change of practicum and/or preceptor policies in Section 4.

DNP Field Experience Hours: NURS 8601/8600

Students need a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practicum hours to graduate from the DNP program. Students may transfer up to 600 practicum hours from their MSN program. 

Students needing to complete additional hours to reach 1,000 total practicum hours beyond the DNP practicum courses must complete hours through NURS 8600/8601 practicum course. The NURS 8600/8601 course is not a requirement for all students. This course is only a requirement for students needing additional field experience hours to achieve a minimum of 1,000 practice hours for graduation. This course is designed to help facilitate the completion of your post-baccalaureate practicum hours that will contribute to the completion of the DNP program requirements.

Review more information on “Determining Practicum Hours for NURS 8601 DNP Field experience” the catalog for more information on transferring hours from their MSN program.  

Next Steps for DNP Hours:

• Students are responsible for determining if they must complete additional field experience practicum hours for their DNP program by reviewing their program of study in Degree Works or by contacting their Student Success Advisor.
• Students that have practicum hours to transfer from their MSN program must contact their Student Success Advisor for assistance with the process to transfer hours from the MSN program to their DNP Program at Walden.
• Students must identify an appropriate preceptor and practicum site to secure a preceptorship to complete the additional hours. 
• Students must submit a separate practicum application for NURS 8600/8601 in Meditrek for each term they plan on completing hours in NURS 8600/8601 by the application deadline by following steps outlined in Section 4 Practicum Approval Process in this manual. 
• Students must have an approved practicum application for 8600/8601 in Meditrek for each term prior to being registered for the course. 
• The Office of Field Experience will process the course registration for NURS 8600/8601 upon approval of a practicum application. 

Policy for DNP Hours:

• Students enrolled in NURS 8600/8601 will develop practicum objectives that reflect advanced knowledge and skills based on their specialization. Practicum experiences for NURS 8600/8601 must be completed at the master’s level or doctoral level. Examples include practicum experiences in quality improvement, health policies and innovation, leadership, informatics, and staff education. Students cannot provide direct patient care during any DNP practicum courses. 
• NURS 8600/86001 is a variable credit hour course. Students may need between 1-8 credits of NURS 8601 or 1-6 credits of NURS 8600 depending on how many hours are transferred in from their MSN program. 
• Students must complete 80 practicum hours for each one credit of NURS 8601 and 72 practicum hours for each one credit of NURS 8600. For example, if students apply and are registered for 3 credits of NURS 8601, they must complete 240 practicum hours (3 credits x 80 hours). Students should ensure they are able to complete the required number of hours and credits for which they register.     
• Students can only register for up to 3 credits of NURS 8600/8601 per term.
• Practicum hours completed in Walden practicum courses while enrolled as a DNP student, other than 8600/8601, will only be counted for the specific practicum course in which the student is enrolled. Additional practicum hours completed during practicum courses taken at Walden, other than 8600/8601, will not be applied or transferred to count towards the 1,000 practicum hours. Students cannot transfer practicum hours for other Walden practicum courses to NURS 8600/8601.   

Process to Appeal Credit Limit Policy for NURS 8600/8601:

Students must submit an appeal to register for more than 3 credits of NURS 8600/8601. Without an approved appeal, students can only take up to 3 credits of NURS 8600/8601 during the same term. Appeals will not be granted or approved to enroll in more than 4 credits. 

To be eligible to appeal the credit limit policy, students must meet the following requirements: 

• Student must be in good academic standing with no Academic Integrity or Code of Conduct Violations. 
• Student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. 
• Student must not have failed a practicum course in the past.
• Student is not working more than 20 hours week during the term.
• Student must not be registered in another practicum course during the same term. 
• Students must have secured a preceptor willing and able to precept for the required number of practicum hours. 

To appeal the credit limit policy, eligible students must complete these steps:

• Contact their Student Success Advisor or send an email to nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu to initiate the appeal process. Review the Appeal Policy and Process in Section 5 of this manual.  
• Complete and submit the appeal in Meditrek following directions for the appeal process. 
• In the appeal, students must upload the following documentation: 
  • Upload an unofficial transcript that is dated within the last 2 weeks that includes all previous and currently registered courses.   
  • Upload a letter of support from your preceptor that confirms their ability to precept for an average of 32 hours a week along with a copy of the schedule you have developed with the preceptor with dates and times. 
  • Upload the following documentation to verify your employment status as follows: 
    • • Students who are employed must upload a statement from their supervisor/manager confirming their employment status along with their work schedule and work hours.  
      • Students who are not employed must submit a copy of their leave of absence papers, separation paperwork, or signed attestation they are not working during the term.

Practicum courses and practicum experiences assist a student’s transition from the learner role to that of scholar-practitioner. To achieve this transition, students develop and engage in a mentoring relationship with a practicum faculty instructor and an approved preceptor at a practicum site, focusing on roles and role functions; the achievement of learning objectives; and the completion of practicum activities. Practicum courses are designed to be the capstone experience for students. The practicum experience requires students to apply the knowledge, concepts, and skills that they have acquired in their didactic courses during their program of study particularly in relation to their specialization. The primary objective of the practicum is to guide students to focus on their role and integrate new knowledge into practice to become scholar-practitioners after graduation. 

Practicum is an onsite practicum experience completed in person at an approved practicum site with an approved preceptor. Students must become intimately familiar with this Practicum Manual and adhere to the policies and procedures within. 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.   

Students may NOT begin any practicum hours or practicum activities with the preceptor or at the practicum site before (a) the start of the term, (b) they receive practicum application approval in Meditrek from the Office of Field Experience, (c) they are registered/enrolled in the practicum course, and (d) they receive approval from the faculty instructor for the practicum course once the course begins. Students cannot begin completing practicum hours or logging practicum hours until these conditions have been met.     

Students must only complete practicum hours and practicum activities only with preceptors at practicum sites as approved in Meditrek. Practicum hours or practicum activities completed with a preceptor or at a site other than what was identified in an approved practicum application will be rejected and students will be required to repeat the hours. Students completing practicum hours with an unapproved preceptor or at an unapproved practicum site will be subject to a Code of Conduct inquiry and may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to course failure and permanent dismissal from the university. For more information about the Code of Conduct, refer to the Walden University Student Handbook: Code of Conduct section.    

All approved preceptors must complete the responsibilities of preceptors to include signing of time logs in Meditrek, calls with faculty, and completion of practicum evaluations in Meditrek as outlined in Section 1 of this manual. 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.    

Once students begin their practicum course, they are supervised and evaluated by a Walden practicum course faculty instructor as outlined in Section 1 of this manual. Practicum course faculty instructors grade student coursework and, in general, return student written work within Walden guidelines, and issue the final grade. Practicum faculty instructors also maintain contact with preceptors and students to determine whether student learning needs are being met by their practicums, as well as to monitor student progress. This process includes the preceptor providing feedback by completing a midterm and final evaluation. Faculty instructors review the preceptor’s evaluation and provide final grading for the course. Students must consult with the faculty instructor for the practicum course by phone, videoconference, or email about their progress throughout the term as stipulated in the course syllabus.  

Students must review more information on how to be successful in practicum courses on the Course Success webpage on the Field Experience website.

Students must go through the appeal process through Meditrek to appeal any practicum policy, including policies related to practicum course requirements. Students must review the Appeal Policy and Process for practicum in Section 5 of this manual.   

Practicum Orientation and Training

Students must review and complete the following orientation and training prior to beginning their practicum experience once they are approved for practicum and registered in a practicum course.   

• Orientation:  Practicum Orientation for Students 
• Training:  Guide to Professional Presence, Communication, and Conduct in Field Experience
• Course Success:  Webpage for Course Success

Practicum Hours  

Students must complete all required practicum hours for each practicum course by completing required practicum activities by the posted deadline. Practicum hours must be completed onsite at the approved practicum site location with the approved preceptor. The required practicum hours for each practicum course are listed under the Practicum Courses section in this manual.  

Students must complete the required practicum hours by the posted deadline for the course and term and enter time logs in Meditrek to document practicum hours by following directions in this manual for Time Logs. 

• Course-Based Courses:Students must complete practicum hours by the posted deadline.
  • Undergraduate Courses: Students must complete practicum hours by Week 6 of the term. 
  • Nurse Practitioner Courses: Students must complete practicum hours by Week 10 of the term. Practicum hours must be completed over a duration of no less than 8 weeks to ensure exposure to a wide range of practicum and patient experiences.  Students may complete and log up to 12 hours a day if not working the same day. Any student doing practicum hours on a day they work are not to exceed a maximum of 16 hours, combined, for work and practicum hours.
  • Master Specialty Courses: Students must complete practicum hours by Week 10 of the term.  
  • DNP Courses: Students must complete practicum hours by Week 10 of the term.  

• Tempo-Based Courses: Practicum approval is valid for 13 weeks from the start date of the term for the approved practicum application. Students can complete practicum hours anytime within this 13-week period, but students should complete practicum hours by the end of this 13-week approval period. While there is no minimum number of weeks required to complete the practicum activities and hours; students may progress at a pace that aligns with their schedule and learning objectives as agreed upon with their preceptor and faculty instructor. The 13-week approval period begins at the start date of the practicum term and not the first day the student begins practicum hours. Practicum hours must be documented in Meditrek in time logs by midnight on the last day of the 13-week approval period. Students who must complete practicum hours after the 13-week approval period must go through the Remedial Application process. Students must follow directions for Remedial Applications outlined in the Practicum Application Process section. 

Students are only to complete practicum hours and practicum activities with approved preceptors at the location of the practicum site that have been approved by the Office of Field Experience in Meditrek. Students who complete or log practicum hours with an unapproved preceptor and/or practicum site will have the hours rejected and the hours will not count toward the practicum requirements of the course; and be subject to a Code of Conduct inquiry, which may result in disciplinary action.    

Practicum hours are specific to the course and the term. Practicum hours cannot be carried over to a different term or practicum course if a student withdraws, drops a course, or fails a course.  

Students must contact their faculty instructor for the practicum course if they are unable to complete the required practicum hours by the deadline to discuss possible options, which will be dependent upon a variety of factors including how many hours are completed, time left in the term, and the plan to complete the remaining hours. 

Practicum Activities  

Students must satisfactorily complete all the required practicum activities and course assignments of their practicum course(s) in accordance with the information provided in this manual and the course syllabus. Students complete the classroom didactic portion of the course online and complete practicum activities with the approved preceptor(s) at the approved practicum site(s).

All practicum activities must be under the direction of the approved preceptor(s) at the approved location for the practicum site. Students are only permitted to complete practicum hours under 1:1 direct supervision by their approved preceptor. Students are not to count practicum activities or practicum hours if they are with other students during their practicum experiences. 

Practicum activities and hours must be completed on-site at the approved practicum site location under the supervision and guidance of the approved preceptor.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 2021 Essentials list competencies that guide the practicum experience as students build upon previous knowledge to obtain advanced-level nursing education. Practicum activities should support learning outcomes from the 2021 AACN Essentials as outlined in AACN’s The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education in the section that lists domains and competencies. Guidelines for the approved DNP practicum and project activities are outlined in each practicum course. 

The following information clarifies the relationship between the practicum experience and the DNP Project: 

• Students Enrolled with a Catalog Year Beginning Summer 2024 taking 8312, 812, 8513, 8514 or 8515:  Students complete the DNP Project during practicum activities during these practicum courses.   
• Students Enrolled with a Catalog Year Before Summer 2024 taking 8502, 8503, 8504, or 8505 complete the DNP Project and practicum experiences in separate courses.  Students complete the DNP practicum experience and practicum activities in 8502, 8503, 8504, and 8504 while they complete their DNP Project in DNP Project Mentoring courses in 8700/8002 or 8701/8073.  The DNP Project Mentoring courses at the 8700 level do not require practicum application approval.   

The following practicum activities count toward required practicum hours.

Practicum Activities for 8312, 8512, 8513, 8514, 8515: 

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

Practicum Activities for 8502, 8503, 8504, 8505:

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

The following activities do not count towards required practicum hours:   

• Travel time related to and from practicum activities
• Breaks, Lunch breaks, Meal breaks
• Assignments related to the didactic portion of the course
• Entering logs in Meditrek
• Formal orientation or training required by the practicum site for onboarding
• Continuing education that is not required of the practicum course
• Communication (e.g., emails, phone calls), unless conferencing or doing project related communications
• Direct patient care (Except for NURS 6341)
• Other activities determined as inappropriate by the practicum course faculty instructor

Time Logs 

Using Meditrek, students keep time logs to document their practicum hours and the time they spend on practicum activities. Students are required to keep a truthful and accurate log of the time and hours they spend doing practicum activities.

Students are responsible for ensuring time logs are entered correctly and accurately. Students must ensure logs are accurate and correct by selecting the correct course, term, faculty instructor, site, 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 edit logs until either the preceptor and/or faculty instructor signs the logs in Meditrek. Once the time logs are signed by either the preceptor or faculty instructor, they cannot be changed or edited by students. Students who mistakenly enter logs incorrectly and the logs are signed, must contact the Office of Field Experience to invalidate the logs, and then the student must enter new time logs with the correct information. The Office of Field Experience is unable to edit or backdate logs after the term ends. Students must enter their logs in Meditrek by the deadline because the logs get locked at the end of the term.  Students will NOT be able to enter or edit logs beginning Monday of the next term. Students will lose practicum hours if they are not logged in Meditrek by the end of the term.   

Preceptors and faculty instructors must validate time logs and sign off on time logs by the end of the course after the completion of hours. In order to successfully pass a practicum course, the time logs must be accepted by the preceptor and the faculty instructor. Preceptors and/or faculty instructors may reject logs in Meditrek that are inaccurate, duplicative, or do not meet course requirements. Students may be subject to academic integrity inquiries through the Code of Conduct process for inaccurate, incorrect, and/or duplicative logs. 

Students are responsible for ensuring the preceptor signs off on the time logs in Meditrek. Students are NOT permitted to sign off on time logs on behalf of preceptors. Preceptor designees and site administrative staff are not permitted to sign off on time logs on behalf of the preceptor. 

Required Information in Time Logs: 

Students must enter the required information in Time Logs in Meditrek within the required deadline:

• Undergraduate Course 4300/4301: Time logs must be entered in Meditrek within one week of completing the hours. All Time Logs must be entered in Meditrek no later than the last week of the course.  Time logs must include the following: Student’s Name, Course, Project Focus, Practicum Faculty Instructor Name, Preceptor Name, Site Name, Date, Time, Activities/Comments, Learning Objectives Addressed, and Activities Completed.
• Nurse Practitioner Courses: Time logs must be entered in Meditrek within 48 hours of completing the hours. Time logs must include the following: Student’s Name, Course, Practicum Faculty Instructor Name, Preceptor Name, Site Name, Level of Care, Date and Time. 
• Master Specialty Courses: Time logs must be entered in Meditrek within one week of completing the hours. Time logs must include the following: Student’s Name, Course, Practicum Faculty Instructor Name, Preceptor Name, Site Name, Date, Time, Activities/Comments, Learning Objectives Addressed, and Course Outcomes Addressed.     
• DNP Courses: Time logs must be entered in Meditrek within one week of completing the hours. Time logs must include the following: Student’s Name, Course, Practicum Faculty Instructor Name, Preceptor Name, Site Name, Date, Time, Learning Objectives Addressed, and Domain and Competency Addressed. Students must submit a comprehensive list of all practicum activities they completed each day in the “Student Learning Objectives” box in their time log.     

Timeline for Logs in Meditrek: 

• Timeline for Practicum Sites and Preceptors Programmed in Logs: Preceptors and practicum sites are programmed in Meditrek and will start to populate in the drop-down boxes in logs by the end of the first week of the term. If your preceptor or site does not populate in the drop-down box during the first week, track your logs manually until your preceptor and site display in the drop-down box in Meditrek. Do not enter logs under another practicum site or preceptor. After the first week, if your preceptor or site does not populate in the logs and it has been over one week since your application has been approved, send an email to nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu to check on the status of your preceptor or site getting added to the logs. Preceptors and sites are added to logs every Friday once the course begins; if an application is approved after the term begins, the preceptor and site will be added to the logs by the end of the day on Friday.        

• Timeline for Preceptors and Meditrek Account Information: 
  • Course-Based Courses: Preceptors are emailed their Meditrek credentials by the end of the second week of the term. Preceptors use their Meditrek credentials to sign off on time logs and complete evaluations. Preceptors who have not received their Meditrek credentials are encouraged to check their spam/junk email folders for an email from support@meditrek.com.  Students can send the preceptor an email with their Meditrek account information in their practicum application in Meditrek. Steps for students to send their preceptor an email with their Meditrek credentials can be found on the Course Success webpage. Preceptors should send an email to nursingfield@mail.waldenu.com from their work-issued email if they experience issues receiving the email from Meditrek. 
  • Tempo-Based Courses: Preceptors are emailed their Meditrek credentials by the end of the second week of the term. Preceptors use their Meditrek credentials to sign off on time logs and complete evaluations. 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.

• Timeline for Logs to be Entered in Meditrek: All time log entries must be entered in Meditrek by the posted deadline and by the end of the course. Students who submit logs after the deadline are subject to the course late penalty policies.  
  • Course-Based Courses: Students must enter time logs in Meditrek by the deadline listed above. All logs must be entered in Meditrek no later than Week 10 for graduate courses and Week 6 for undergraduate courses. Students who submit logs after the deadline are subject to the course late penalty policies. Students who are approved by faculty to log practicum hours after the deadline must enter time logs in Meditrek by the end of day on the Sunday before the next term begins. Students will not be able to enter or edit time log entries after midnight on the Sunday before the first day of the next term. Students who receive a grade of Incomplete (I) for the course and must complete practicum hours after the next term begins, must go through the Remedial Application process. Students must follow directions for Remedial Applications described in the Practicum Approval Process section. 
  • Tempo-Based Courses: Students must enter time logs Meditrek by the end of the practicum experience. Practicum approval is valid for 13 weeks from the start date of the term for the approved practicum application. The 13-week approval period begins at the start date of the practicum term and not the first day the student begins practicum hours. Time log entries must be entered in Meditrek by midnight on the last day of the 13-week approval period. Students will not be able to enter or edit time log entries after the 13-week period. Students who must complete practicum hours after the 13-week approval period must go through the Remedial Application process. Students must follow directions for Remedial Applications described in the Practicum Application Process section. 

Concerns regarding truthfulness or accuracy of Meditrek logs or preceptor approval of Meditrek logs will result in a Code of Conduct inquiry. Students found to have falsified their Meditrek logs or preceptor approval of Meditrek logs will be subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to course failure and permanent dismissal from the university. The findings from the Code of Conduct inquiry may also be reported to the student’s state board of nursing. For more information about the Code of Conduct, refer to the Walden University Student Handbook: Code of Conduct section. 

Preceptor Communications

Communications are a collaborative process among the faculty instructor, preceptor, and student.

During the second week of the term, students schedule a call with their preceptor and practicum course faculty instructor to discuss the practicum experience. Students are responsible for coordinating and scheduling this call and ensuring all parties participate. During the call, the practicum learning objectives, practicum activities, and required practicum hours will be discussed.

Before the call, students should talk with their preceptor about potential learning objectives. Students write their practicum Learning Objectives in Week 1 of the course; practicum course faculty instructors will approve students’ self-developed Learning Objectives after the conference call, by the end of Week 2.

The conference call is intended to ensure that:

• The practicum goals are being addressed.
• Students and preceptors understand the key points of the practicum experience.
• Review learning objectives for the course.
• Review the students’ schedule to ensure practicum hours and requirements are able to be met.
• An opportunity for questions is provided.
• Share contact information. 
• Problems are identified and addressed.

Additional conference calls may be required to evaluate student performance during the practicum experience.    

Some state boards of nursing have additional requirements for collaboration and communication with preceptors.  For practicum experiences occurring in the state of Washington, the Washington Board of Nursing (WA BON) requires the preceptor, faculty instructor, and the student confer at the beginning, midpoint, and at the end of each practicum experience. Students completing practicum in the state of Washington must work in partnership with their faculty instructor to facilitate these three contacts.   

Individualized Learning Objectives

Walden expects that the practicum experience will allow students to focus on developing and expanding their advanced level competencies through experiential learning. This allows students the opportunity to develop and strengthen skills, apply knowledge, and integrate a range of skills into a coherent professional identity.

Students set specific goals for the practicum experiences that are consistent with their professional preparation and coursework. These goals inform the evaluation of their competencies at the end of the practicum. 

During the practicum course, students formulate Individualized Learning Objectives that they want to achieve during their practicum experience; these objectives are based on their previous assignments, practicum experiences, practice setting, course objectives, and interests. As students approach the practicum, they should reflect on their coursework and identify two to three areas in which they feel the need for further growth or with which they might want application-level experience. The Individualized Learning Objectives may build upon each other through program progression; however, the Individualized Learning Objectives and areas of identified growth must be different between each practicum course as students need new Learning Objectives and areas of growth for each practicum course.  

Students should discuss their ideas for Learning Objectives that they identify with their preceptors and determine if the necessary resources are available at their practicum sites. Students then prepare a set of measurable Learning Objectives that specify what they seek to achieve during their practicum experience. These objectives must be approved by the practicum course faculty instructor.

Students must follow the timeline and instructions for the Learning Objectives as outlined in the Course Syllabus once enrolled in the practicum course.

Here are examples of Learning Objectives by specialization:  

• Nurse Executive Specialization: Students may develop objectives to gain more experience with the budget analysis process.
• Nursing Education Specialization: Students may develop objectives to gain more experience in the use of simulation in nursing education. 
• Nursing Informatics Specialization: Students may develop objectives to gain experience preparing a request for proposal (RFP).
• Public Health Specialization: Students may develop objectives to gain experience in data collection and community assessment.
• MBA & MSN Dual Degree: Students may develop objectives to gain experience in financial management within a healthcare organization.
• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Specialization: Students may develop objectives to manage complex, high acuity patients with multiple comorbidities.  
• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Specialization: Students may develop objectives to manage care of older adults with complex health issues in primary care settings. 
• Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization: Students may develop objectives to manage chronic conditions across the lifespan. 
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Specialization: Students may develop objectives to manage chronic conditions of pediatric patients in primary care settings. 
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialization: Students may develop objectives to manage medications to effectively manage psychiatric conditions. 
• DNP – Traditional & NP Specializations: Students may develop objectives to explore leadership strategies that support teamwork at the point of care.
• DNP – Executive Leadership: Students may develop objectives to explore leadership strategies that support meeting quality measures at the organizational level.
• BSN: Students may develop objectives that reflect their focus on either a practice problem in quality and safety or in population health.

Journals

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 student.

The purpose of the 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 and practicum Learning Objectives, students should analyze their practicum experience with an eye toward connecting their experiences with relevant literature and any relevant concepts, models, or theories.

In a 1-page journal entry (250–300 words), unless directed otherwise in the course syllabus, students reflect on their practicum experiences. 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 follow instructions outlined in the course syllabus for the journal assignment.

Students must submit a journal entry when due, even if they are not on-site that week. Students who are not on-site for a week in which a journal entry is due must reflect on experiences from any of the previous weeks of the practicum.

Project

The DNP program at Walden University is designed to promote student development as a nurse leader and scholar-practitioner. Pursuant to this outcome, graduates are expected to engage in and provide leadership for evidence-based practices in their chosen practice settings through a DNP Project, which requires theoretical, empirical, and experiential application of knowledge—including translation of research to practice; evaluation and improvement of healthcare practice and outcomes; and participation in collaborative scholarship.

The purpose of the DNP Project is to guide students in designing, developing, implementing, evaluating, and/or translating, as well as subsequently disseminating, scholarship that addresses an evidence-based need or problem in their focused area of practice. 

The DNP Project will focus on a quality improvement initiative that integrates project management tools and techniques addressing a gap in nursing practice or an identified practice change. Project activities qualify as quality improvement (as opposed to research) because the project involves synthesis and application of established and tested quality standards and/or systematic monitoring, assessment, or evaluation to ensure that existing quality standards are being met. For this project, a quality improvement initiative is defined as a process that supports improvement in healthcare outcomes. This project may include development and evaluation of a staff education program, development and evaluation of a clinical practice guideline, or an evaluation of an existing quality improvement process. The DNP Project will emphasize evidence-based practice approaches to support improving practice at a healthcare organizational site.

The DNP Project is a tailored experience for each student. By working closely with their faculty instructor and the site, the site provides the impetus for the student’s DNP Project to implement and evaluate a quality improvement evidenced-based practice change. During the DNP Project, students learn a step-by-step approach to project management and quality improvement that is timely, current, and addresses real-time needs in our communities. In compliance with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) DNP program expectations, students complete a scholarly work that aims to improve clinical practice as required for a practice doctorate in nursing. The DNP Project provides opportunities for students to enhance their leadership and nursing skills. 

DNP Project - Students with a Catalog Beginning Summer 2024

Students complete the DNP Project during practicum activities within the following practicum courses:  

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

For these practicum courses, students must have an approved preceptor who helps guide the practicum experience and assist in the contextualization of the DNP Project in terms of its value to the organization (practicum site) and/or the wider scholarly community. Throughout these courses, students complete the five phases of the project management process: design, plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate in the practicum courses. Students must utilize the same practicum site, and preferably the same preceptor, for all three practicum courses in order to complete the DNP project to prevent repeating coursework and assignments.   

While the Office of Field Experience will approve the preceptor and practicum site for the student’s practicum experience to ensure the preceptorship is appropriate for the practicum course, they do not approve the project, project focus, or project plan. An approved practicum application is not approval of your project. Once the course begins, students must follow instructions outlined in the course syllabus for details on the practicum assignments and project. Students must follow all directions in the course to obtain approval for the project from the assigned faculty instructor for the practicum course during the practicum course. 

DNP Project - Students with a Catalog Before Summer 2024

Students complete the DNP Project and practicum experiences in separate courses. Students complete the DNP practicum experience within the following practicum courses:  

• Traditional Track: NURS 8502 and 8503
• Executive Leadership Track: NURS 8504 and 8505
• Nurse Practitioner Tracks: NURS 8502 and 8503

The DNP practicum experience in these practicum courses involves a small organization driven practicum project as part of the practicum activities during the practicum course. This project is NOT the DNP Project. Within each practicum course, there is a guide for what activities can be included for the practicum and practicum project for the practicum hours. Activities completed for the DNP Capstone Project, which is completed in the DNP Project Mentoring course NURS 8700/8702, cannot be included in the 160 hours practicum hours for the practicum course. 

The DNP Project is completed in DNP Project Mentoring courses, NURS 8700/8702 and/or NURS 8701/8703. Students work on the development and implementation of their DNP Project in these courses. These courses do not require practicum application approval.  Students are assigned to a DNP chair (faculty advisor). The DNP Project Chair or Advisor will mentor and guide each student in the development and implementation of the scholarly DNP Project. Students will be assigned to the DNP chair’s (faculty advisor’s) section of NURS 8700/8702 (and NURS 8701/8703, as needed) each term until project completion. The DNP chair/faculty advisor will guide the student on the DNP Project process and the requirements.

View resources related to the DNP Project for 8700 level courses for more information. 

DNP Project Examples

Project Examples for DNP Traditional and Nurse Practitioner Specializations:

Translate research into practice application:

• Quality improvement (Care processes, Patient outcomes).
• Develop, or implement and evaluate evidence-based practice guidelines.
• Analyze policy: Develop, implement, evaluate, or revise policy.
• Design and use databases to retrieve information for decision-making, planning, and evaluation.
• Conduct financial analyses to compare care models and potential cost savings, etc.
• Implement and evaluate innovative uses of technology to enhance/evaluate care.
• Design and evaluate new models of care.
• Design and evaluate programs and/or staff education materials.
• Provide leadership for inter-professional and/or intra-professional collaborative projects to implement policy, evaluate care models, transitions, etc.

Evaluate interventions, innovations in care techniques:

• Obtain baseline data, design an evidence-based intervention plan and evaluation process.
• Collaborate with NPs or other professional colleagues to compare/evaluate group visits.
• Capture data on common problems and effectiveness of treatments with recommendations for change.
• Evaluate management of psychiatric patients (protocols, meds, metabolic monitoring) and develop a treatment management program based on research evidence.
• Evaluate peer led support groups and measure the outcome.
• Evaluate pain control in palliative care and measure outcomes.
• Promote patient safety by implementing a program to reduce errors in medications and measuring outcomes.
• Evaluate home care comparing and contrasting satisfaction with physician and NP care management.

Health Promotion & Community Health: Epidemiology and Continuity of Care:

• Compare strategies for health promotion/disease prevention based on outcome evidence.
• Evaluate trends in patient visits and the effect of outreach programs.
• Launch a collaborative health promotion program in a vulnerable community population and evaluate outcomes.
• Compare and contrast monitoring tools or screening programs, evaluating effectiveness, cost savings, and outcomes.
• Evaluate screening protocols based on outcome data.
• Evaluate programs (care, training volunteers, education) and demonstrate cost implications.
• Evaluate unit responses to disasters based on selected outcome criteria.
• Develop and evaluate the impact of self-care models for use in chronic illness.
• Develop and test transition protocols to promote continuity of care across settings.
• Evaluate high risk patients and develop approaches for risk reduction (child and elder abuse) for policy change or care improvement

Policy-Related Scholarly Projects:

• Evaluate or compare nursing home policies for treating chronic pain and compare with WHO recommendations.
• Evaluate employer policies regarding health and potential cost savings of new policies.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based policies. 
• Evaluate inconsistencies in scope of practice issues and use evidence-based knowledge to recommend changes.

Integration of Technology in Care and Informatics Related Projects:

• Create a database for monitoring an identified issue.

Project Examples for DNP Executive Leadership Specialization:  

Expansion:

• Service-line expansion: Add outpatient operating rooms (ORs); post-survival program for cancer patients; expansion of wound care options; palliative care services; case management programs; upgrading level of care; management of mental health patients; reduction of emergency room (ER) long stays, hospital long stays for insurance, or placement issues.
• New product lines/certification: Include certifications and product lines for cardiac, stroke, oncology, pediatrics, obstetrics (OB), burn, transplant, urgent care/free-standing emergency departments (EDs), medical offices, mental health services for ED, dialysis center, invasive radiology.
• Renovation projects: Upgrade emergency room (ER), operating room (OR), critical care (CC), or women’s services.
• Add free/charity clinics or strategic partnerships.
• Expand and strengthen the pipeline by including new models for academic-practice partnerships.
• Integrate nurse practitioners into acute care settings—intensive care units (ICUs), trauma centers, and hospitalist roles.
• Telehealth and point-of-care technology management and policies.
• Reorganize services, structure, and policy process by strengthening internal governance structures and magnet preparation.
• Revamp recruitment, clinical training, on-boarding, annual competency assessment, and/or retention efforts.
• Prepare for a Joint Commission visit or a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) visit.

Population Health:

• Conduct a community health needs assessment per Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations for not-for-profit facilities and public health organizations or develop a comprehensive response to the community needs assessment.
• Create a new community service, such as telehealth for specialty care in rural areas; mobile clinics; and school partnerships for health education and mental health awareness.
• Upgrade existing community services by addressing diversity and health equity (LGBTQ, language/culture specific clinics); pre-natal and family planning outreach; vaccination campaign; training community health workers; oral health programs.
• Initiate coalition actions leading to policy change and collaborative relationships/drafting of legislation.
• Write grant(s) for community or foundation support.

Psychiatric Care:

• Work with local National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) chapters to meet the needs of the community.
• Develop programs for Youth on Their Own initiative, as well as other programs for adolescents aging out of foster care.
• Develop training programs for foster care parents.
• Design community transitions for a variety of mental health issues, including incarceration.
• Help communities structure crisis intervention programs and community resilience after natural disasters or incidents of violence.
• Develop programs for elders who experience loss, social isolation, and/or disabilities.
• Create support programs for parents of children with disabilities or chronic/terminal illness. (e.g., normalization programs for autism, etc.).
• Create support programs for parents of acute care hospitalized children or for those whose children have serious mental illness or substance abuse disorder.
• Develop and/or join political advocacy campaigns.

Preceptor Evaluations:  Midterm and Final Evaluation

Preceptors use a formal evaluation in Meditrek to communicate student progress to the Practicum Faculty Instructor twice during the practicum—at midterm and at the end of the practicum course. Preceptors will receive an email from Meditrek with directions on how to log into Meditrek and complete the evaluations. Preceptors can use the same username and password for Meditrek they use to sign time logs to complete practicum evaluations. 

The timeline for the evaluations is as follows:  

• Midterm evaluations are due midway through the course and/or practicum experience.
• Final evaluations are due at the end of the course and practicum experience by the posted deadline.   

These evaluations provide information about the student’s progress and performance during practicum.  Students have access to review the preceptor’s evaluation in Meditrek. The faculty instructor for the practicum course will review the preceptor’s feedback in the evaluation and use the feedback in determining the student’s final grade. Students may receive a failing grade if any of the evaluations are unsatisfactory or if the evaluations are not received by the posted deadlines.  

Students are responsible for ensuring the preceptor has received their Meditrek account information including their username and password. Students are also responsible for ensuring the preceptor signs their time logs and completes the required 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 by the time the midterm evaluation is due.

Student Evaluations

Students complete a formal evaluation in Meditrek at the end of the practicum course to provide feedback about their practicum experience with the preceptor and practicum site. The evaluation is confidential as preceptors and practicum sites do not have access to review the student’s evaluation in Meditrek. The Walden faculty instructor for the practicum course will review the evaluation. Your honest feedback on the evaluation is important to help Walden evaluate your practicum experience and help program leadership continuously improve the courses and the practicum experience as a whole. 

Students should be aware of the policies related to academic progress and grading policies as outlined in the Walden University Student Handbook.   

Failure of Practicum Courses

Conditions and behaviors constituting failure in a practicum course include, however, the following are not limited to, the following:

• • Unsatisfactory performance during practicum.
  • Demonstration of unsafe performance and/or decision-making skills.
  • Failure to satisfactorily complete course assignments and/or logs.
  • Failure to complete the required practicum hours.
  • Failure to complete practicum hours with the approved preceptor.
  • Failure to complete required practicum activities. 
  • Falsification of practicum hours, records, assignments, or documentation.
  • Academic Integrity or Code of Conduct sanctions.
  • Dismissal by the practicum site and/or preceptor.

You must stay in communication with faculty if you have any concerns or issues and need help with problem resolution to prevent failing a practicum course. You must follow the Problem Resolution Process, which is outlined in the Practicum Manual in Section 5, for guidance on resolving problems that pose a barrier to a successful learning experience during practicum.

Failure of a practicum or didactic course may result in academic warning or academic dismissal. Students must review the policies related to academic progress and grading policies in the Walden University Student Handbook. 

Incomplete Grade and Remedial Applications

Grades of Incomplete (I) are given at the discretion of the Faculty Instructor for the practicum course. Incomplete Grades 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 Faculty Instructor to determine eligibility of an Incomplete (I) grade. Students who are granted an Incomplete (I) grade by their Faculty Instructor must establish a plan to complete the practicum requirements directly with the Faculty Instructor. Students who have an Incomplete (I) grade and need to complete practicum hours during the next term, students must have a remedial application approved in Meditrek for the next term.

Students who must complete practicum hours during the next term and have officially received a grade of Incomplete (I), must submit a Remedial Application Request Form in Meditrek to request a remedial application in Meditrek. Students will receive more information about the remedial application process once the form is submitted. Students are NOT to begin practicum hours until after the remedial application is approved and after the start date of the remedial application. Students must have an approved remedial application in Meditrek in order to begin or continue practicum hours to complete the remaining hours for the course. Review more information about the Remedial Application process in Section 4 of this manual.

Failing Grades – Prerequisite Courses & Practicum Courses

Students who do not successfully pass a prerequisite course or fail a prerequisite course for a practicum course are responsible for contacting their Advisor/Coach to discuss the program of study and develop a plan. After developing a plan with their Advisor/Coach, students can contact the Office of Field Experience to discuss possible options for practicum applications. Depending on the timing of the next term start, students may not be eligible to submit a practicum application and may not be approved to retake a practicum course if they do not have an approved application.