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Nursing Practicum Manual:
Section 3. Securing a Practicum Preceptorship

Your practicum experience is a crucial part of your nursing program and journey. It serves as a bridge from the academic environment to the professional world, allowing you to apply what you’ve learned in a practical setting. This experience is not just another learning opportunity; it is a significant step in your career development and includes both coursework and site-based experiences.

Practicum is defined as an supervised practical, hands-on experience in which students implement knowledge and skills acquired in coursework and integrate professional knowledge in a real healthcare context. The practicum experience takes place onsite at a practicum site, in-person with a preceptor, providing students with experiences to support learning and developing competencies in their profession. Practicum courses require a minimum number of hours and other required practicum activities.   

Practicum experiences offer students a chance to build professional relationships, gain hands-on experience, and learn more about the work they would like to do after graduation. The practicum experience is designed to provide students with: 

  • The opportunity to apply and integrate the knowledge acquired throughout their program. 
  • A real-world experience of direct practice. 
  • Mentoring from faculty and experts (preceptors) in their area of study. 
  • Experiences to gain proficiency with necessary skills for professional practice. 
  • Learning activities to help contribute to their professional portfolio and network. 
  • The chance to make a difference in their field. 

Securing a practicum preceptorship involves a student identifying a practicum site and a preceptor willing to allow the student to complete practicum experiences.

  • Practicum Site: A healthcare facility, healthcare agency, school, or other appropriate setting where students have supervised, onsite applied learning experiences that are consistent with their area of focus, degree program, and specialization.
  • Preceptor: A qualified individual employed at the practicum site who is responsible for providing mentoring, guidance, support, and feedback to students during their practicum experiences and practicum activities. 

Review Section 1 of this manual to review the roles and responsibilities of practicum sites and preceptors.

Practicum Process Summary

Because Walden students are located around the world, students have the flexibility to identify sites and nominate preceptors based on their region or location. The process of selecting a site for placement begins with the student identifying practicum sites and preceptors that meets requirements for the practicum course to support the learning outcomes for each practicum course. 

The process of securing a preceptorship is similar to the process of searching for a job and can be as intensive as a job search. We hope students will approach it in that way, with the same excitement and effort; it takes time to find a job. The Office of Field Experience has a variety of resources, tools, and services to help support students with securing a preceptorship.  
The search for a preceptorship can take time and effort, and there’s no reason to wait to get the process started. Students often must network with their personal and professional networks along with having to call and visit many potential sites to identify a preceptorship.   

We realize students are busy working professionals, but students should devote time to this process.  

Students begin the process by initiating contact with potential practicum sites and preceptors in order to identify and secure a preceptor(s) that meets the knowledge, education, skill, and certification qualifications necessary to meet the preceptor and site requirements for the practicum course.    

  • Students should have their practicum site and preceptor identified and secured before the practicum application deadline.  
  • Students in programs requiring multiple practicum courses should keep in mind that they are taking multiple courses that focus on different Learning Outcomes and may need different preceptors and practicum sites for their practicum courses over the course of their program.
  • Students must complete and submit a practicum application in Meditrek by the practicum application deadline date for each term to nominate a preceptor and practicum site.

Students have the flexibility to identify practicum sites and preceptors that meet their needs and are convenient to their personal lives, their work schedules, and close to where they live or are licensed. Students are encouraged to identify an area in which they feel the need for further growth or with which they might want application-level experience. Walden provides guidelines to the students on how to identify a qualified preceptor and a practicum site that will provide them with a learning experience that satisfies program requirements and meets their specific needs and interests.

The flexibility that Walden provides:

Gives students the freedom to explore sites and select sites that are geographically convenient.

  • Allows students to identify sites that are located in areas where they are licensed and interested in practicing.
  • Allows students to identify preceptors who students believe will be a good fit for them and their schedule, both personally and professionally.
  • Allows students to identify a site and preceptor in an area of practice that they might want to learn more about if it is aligned with the requirements of their program.
     

Planning and Preparation Process

Preparing and planning early is critical to practicum success. Walden provides guidelines and resources for identifying preceptors and practicum sites. Students should read this manual in its entirety, follow the Practicum Planning Checklist, complete steps on the Steps to Practicum Success webpage, and utilize resources on the Field Experience website to begin the practicum planning process. 

It is highly recommended that students start the search process for a practicum site and preceptor early in the program, as it can take a significant amount of time to identify and secure a preceptor and practicum site and complete the application process. Students waiting until the term before the practicum application deadline may experience a delay in their academic progress if they do not identify a preceptorship and submit their practicum application by the deadline.

Students at Walden are considered adult learners who are capable of seeking educational opportunities to meet their personal and professional goals. Walden expects students to collaborate with staff and be self-directed to meet educational requirements. Because each student and each practicum experience are unique, students play a critical role in the practicum placement process. Students collaborate with field experience coordinators, field placement coordinators, advisors/coaches, faculty instructors, and preceptors to ensure they obtain a well-rounded educational experience.  

The practicum planning process is an important part of the student’s learning experience. The identification of a site and preceptor provides students opportunities to hone skills needed as a competent and successful nursing professional. For example, by engaging in the practicum planning process, students can:

  • Develop and practice important networking skills in their area.
  • Simulate a job search in their desired future role and practice interviewing skills.
  • Explore various practice areas and settings where they may have interest. 
  • Learn what it might be like to work in a particular practice setting. 
  • Interact and network with leaders in healthcare settings in their area. 
     

Plan for Practicum

Preparing and planning for practicum early is critical to practicum success. Review these resources to appropriately plan for practicum:    

Develop a Plan with Advisor/Coach

Students must schedule a phone appointment with their Student Success Advisor or Academic Coach during their first term in their nursing program to develop a degree plan and a plan for their practicum course(s). Students must discuss the following with their Advisor/Coach and develop a plan accordingly.  

  • Discuss the required practicum course(s) for the program.  
  • Discuss the required prerequisite courses for the practicum course(s). 
  • Develop a degree plan to determine when to take the practicum course(s).
  • Discuss the practicum requirements for the practicum course(s). 
  • Determine the practicum application deadline(s) for the practicum course(s). 

Understand Preceptorship Requirements

Students must understand the requirements for practicum courses to be successful in securing an appropriate preceptorship. It is important to fully understand the requirements to avoid securing a preceptorship that is not appropriate and/or does not meet the requirements for the practicum course. Review these resources to understand the requirements for practicum sites and preceptors before securing a preceptorship: 

Identifying and Securing a Preceptorship

At Walden, like many universities with post-licensure programs, students begin the practicum process by identifying potential practicum sites and preceptors for each practicum course that aligns with the student’s specialty area, geographical location, preferences, and schedule. Walden students are located around the world and our services and resources support students through the practicum process while also providing students with the necessary flexibility to secure preceptorships based on their location, goals, preferences, and schedule.  

Students are encouraged to start the search to identify practicum sites and preceptors at least three terms before they plan to begin their practicum course because it takes time to secure a practicum site and preceptor for practicum in order to submit a practicum application by the deadline. Students are also strongly encouraged to identify alternative practicum sites and preceptor nominees as back-ups and submit application prior to application deadline, to increase their opportunity for placement during the students’ desired term and to avoid academic delay.

“Identifying” a practicum site and a preceptor means that the student has initiated contact with potential preceptor(s) or practicum site(s) and has received confirmation from a site and/or preceptor that they are willing to host the student for a practicum experience, and the preceptor is available to supervise the student for the practicum experience during a specific term. Students must identify and nominate a practicum site(s) and preceptor(s) that meets all practicum site and preceptor requirements for the practicum course as outlined in Section 2 of the Practicum Manual.

Students should consider their career goals after graduation when they are choosing a preceptorship.  Students should also consider the following when identifying a preceptorship:

  • The preceptor and site are available for the desired term.
  • The practicum experience provides an opportunity to advance knowledge in the area of specialization.
  • The practicum experience will meet the Learning Objectives for the course. 
  • The site will provide opportunities for appropriate learning experiences for the course.   
  • The practicum experience will provide opportunities to enhance leadership and professional skills.
  • The preceptor has expertise in the area of specialty for the practicum course.  
  • The preceptor and practicum site meets all practicum requirements for the practicum course as outlined in Section 2 of this Practicum Manual.  

Students are highly encouraged to utilize the Preceptorship Prescreen Checklist to check if the potential practicum site and preceptor meets the practicum requirements once a preceptorship is identified to ensure the practicum experience will meet the site and preceptor requirements for the course and prevent denial of a practicum application. Students who have questions about whether a practicum site and/or preceptor are appropriate for a practicum course after using the Preceptorship Prescreen Checklist, may send an email to nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu to inquire about the requirements.    

Once a practicum site and preceptor are secured, students must complete and submit a practicum application in Meditrek by the application deadline to nominate the preceptorship to obtain approval by following steps for the practicum application and approval process outlined in Section 4 of this Practicum Manual.  

Steps for Searching for a Practicum Site and Preceptor

Securing practicum placement experiences is an essential component of your nursing education, one that requires preparation, time, and work from each student. We encourage students to take the lead in identifying their preceptorship while using our resources, tools, and support throughout the process. 

Identifying a practicum site and preceptor can be as intensive as a job search. We have found that students have the most success with securing placements when they utilize their own personal and professional networks. Our resources will help you prepare for this search process.  

The search can take time, but with the right tools, a proactive approach, a plan, and support, Walden students are successful in securing a preceptorship. Review the following materials to begin the planning process for securing a preceptorship:   

Being flexible, adaptable, creative, and proactive is an effective approach to searching for a preceptorship. Think of the long-term benefits and outcomes while considering making a brief temporary adjustment to your life and schedule to secure a preceptorship. For example, expanding your search to other geographic locations may require a longer commute, but it would only be temporary for a brief period of time. Review the “Brainstorming Ideas - Get Creative and Be Flexible” list with ideas for getting creative and flexible with identifying a preceptorship.  

The steps listed in this section should be followed for students to be successful in securing a practicum site and preceptor.

Professional Preparation

Searching and engaging with prospective sites and preceptors is the first opportunity to impress. Thus, it is important to activate your professional skills in the same way you would for a job search. Students should use the following resources to prepare professionally by building their professional toolkit such as bolstering their resume, developing an elevator pitch, practice interviewing, and networking.     

Students should utilize the resources and support offered through the Career Planning and Development team for help in preparing professionally before communicating with practicum sites and preceptors. Visit the Career Planning and Development website.

Identifying and Searching for Sites and Preceptors 

Researching and brainstorming ideas of potential practicum sites is an important step to be successful in the search process. There are a variety of ways to begin researching possible sites for practicum. It helps to be creative, flexible, and think outside the box when researching possible sites. Some ideas include networking, using online directories, using the Internet to research, volunteering, joining associations, and visiting local healthcare facilities. 

One of the most effective ways to find a preceptor is through networking. Networking is an important activity for students to engage in as part of the planning process to identify and search for practicum sites and preceptors. Students should plan to engage in networking early in their program by tapping and leveraging their personal and professional networks.   

Identifying an appropriate site requires research, engagement, and evaluation to determine an appropriate match. It is helpful to stay organized in your research by using the Site Research and Contact Record tool.

Students should use the following resources to help in researching and identifying possible sites and preceptors. 

Communicating with Sites and Preceptors

Once you have identified possible sites and preceptors to contact, you should develop your professional toolkit for how you will market yourself and communicate with them. Developing a strategy and plan to communicate and how to communicate with practicum sites and preceptors is a critical step to be successful. While you may utilize email or phone calls, we highly recommend face-to-face visits.

Effective communication is the foundation of any successful preceptorship. While students may start contacting potential sites via email and phone, visiting sites in person is the best way to secure a preceptorship. Students should use the following resources to help with communicating and contacting potential sites and preceptors.

 

Site Research and Contact Record

As you contact potential sites and preceptors, it is helpful to stay organized with your contacts to assist with tracking and follow-up. You should track your progress by using the Site Research and Contact Record tool. Students seeking support from a Field Placement Coordinator to find a preceptorship must document all their contacts with potential sites and preceptors on the Site Research and Contact Record.

Secure a Preceptorship

Securing a preceptor is an important step in your professional journey. The right preceptor not only helps you develop your skills but also becomes a trusted mentor in your growth and development.

Once you have secured a site and preceptor, be sure to check if it will meet the requirements by using the Preceptorship Prescreen Checklist before you submit your practicum application. Once you have confirmed the preceptorship will meet the requirements and the practicum site has agreed to support you with a practicum experience, have your preceptor complete a Preceptor Commitment Form so you can submit your practicum application in Meditrek.

Students should use the following resources to obtain approval for the preceptorship through the practicum application process and prepare for the course.

Resources for Securing a Preceptorship

Walden offers a variety of resources and support to assist students in identifying and securing a preceptorship to ensure students have opportunities for practicum experiences, while giving students flexibility to conduct their practicum experiences in locations and with preceptors that best meet their needs. It is highly recommended that students start the search process for a practicum site and preceptor early in the program, as it can take a significant amount of time to identify a preceptor and practicum site and complete the application process. Students needing help with securing a preceptorship should begin using these resources no later than six months before the practicum application deadline. Ultimately, Walden’s goal is for students to succeed and that means securing a practicum placement to complete practicum and we are here to help students do that. The following resources are available to help support students secure a practicum placement. 

Field Experience Preparation Courses

Walden is committed to providing students with resources and support in preparation for practicum experiences. To help ease anxiety in the field experience process, Walden offers a 0-credit Field Experience Preparation (FECN) course, a structured experience that guides students through the application process and currently available readiness resources. The course is designed to complement other pre-requisite courses needed in preparation for practicum. The goal is that students submit their practicum application by the end of the course.

Students develop readiness for practicum in this course through steps and milestones aligned with the practicum application and orientation process. Steps include affirmation of planning details, identifying a practicum site, confirmation of application submittal, post-application requirements, and personal preparation for success during practicum. Activities focus on organization for searching and securing the site and professional comportment both during the site search and attendance at the site. Students confirm their practicum readiness through milestones designed to provide themselves and field experience coordinators with visibility on their practicum preparation activities and ensure appropriate engagement between students and field experience coordinators to enable a successful transition from coursework to practicum experiences.

  • The course is self-paced as students work through the practicum planning process during their academic program based on their timeline and plan.
  • The course is a zero-credit course, so it is not graded and will not impact a student’s GPA.  
  • There is no tuition or fee for the course.
  • This course is offered every term for students to register throughout the term. 
  • There is no deadline to register for FECN courses.
  • Registration:
    • Course-Based Programs:
      • Students Enrolled Beginning Winter 2024: The FECN course(s) is a required course as part of all nursing program of studies that require practicum courses. Students will automatically be enrolled in the required FECN course(s) typically after they complete their first term. Students should contact their Student Success Advisor if they require assistance with registration in a FECN course(s).  
      • Students Enrolled Before Winter 2024: Students needing help to secure a practicum site and preceptor should register for the FECN course(s)s. Students wanting to register for the course, should email their Student Success Advisor at  studentsuccess@mail.waldenu.edu to request to be registered in the FECN course(s).
      • Students Enrolled in Post Master’s Certificate Programs: Students needing help to secure a practicum site and preceptor should register for the FECN course(s)s. Students wanting to register for the course, should email their Student Success Advisor at  studentsuccess@mail.waldenu.edu to request to be registered in the FECN course(s).  
    • Students Enrolled in Tempo-Based Programs: While the course is not yet available for Tempo students, the same readiness resources are available to Tempo students seeking practicum experiences.   

Of course, there may be reasons why a practicum experience needs to be postponed, or the readiness course may not be needed if a practicum opportunity has already been secured. In this instance, students may opt-out of the course. By opting out of the Field Experience Preparation course without having submitted a complete field experience application you are notifying Walden that you have chosen to delay the beginning of your field experience indefinitely, it is your responsibility to notify Walden when you plan to begin the field experience component of your program. In some instances, opting out of the Field Experience Preparation course indicates the foundational components of the field experience process have been satisfied and submission of the field experience application is pending.

Professional Preparation for Field Experience Guide

Students should review the Professional Preparation for Field Experience Guide to help get oriented to field experience and help in preparing to locate practicum experience opportunities. The guide will help students learn about some resources and strategies they can use to locate and secure a preceptorship.

In this guide, students will

  • Explore strategies for identifying sites and preceptors
  • Review best practices for engaging and communicating with sites and preceptors
  • Locate resources for professional preparation, including interviewing and updating resumes and cover letters
  • Create a plan for identifying potential sites and preceptors

Develop SMART Goals to help locate a preceptorship for practicum

Preceptorship Prescreen Checklists

Prescreen Checklists are available for each practicum course, which can be utilized to prescreen a practicum site and preceptor to determine if the preceptorship meets the site and preceptor requirements for the course. Students should utilize the Preceptorship Prescreen Checklists to check if a potential preceptor and practicum site meets the practicum requirements for the practicum course prior to submitting a practicum application.  Students should also review Section 2 of the Practicum Manual to review all practicum site and preceptor requirements for the practicum course. 

Field Experience Website

The Office of Field Experience hosts a webpage with resources, tools, and tips to assist students searching for a practicum site and preceptor. Students should utilize resources on the Find a Preceptor and Site webpage on the Field Experience website when needing help to identify and secure a practicum site and preceptor for practicum courses.

Roundtable Sessions

Field Placement Coordinators host Roundtable Sessions to help students plan and prepare for practicum courses. The Roundtable Sessions are webinars, which include a formal presentation on the selected topic and an informal Q&A session to answer questions from students. The Roundtable Sessions are a great resource for students to learn more about the selected topic to help prepare for practicum. Here is the list of Roundtable Sessions to help students with the process of finding a preceptorship:     

  • Planning for Practicum
  • Tips to Find a Preceptor & Site
  • Preceptorship Requirements – Practicum Overview by Program

Review the schedule and register for a Roundtable Session online.

Coaching Calls with a Field Placement Coordinator

Field Placement Coordinators are available to provide students with support and guidance when searching for a practicum site and preceptor. Since it takes time to secure a preceptorship, students needing support to find a practicum site and preceptor must schedule a Coaching Call with a Field Placement Coordinator as early as possible, but no later than three months before the practicum application deadline, to allow enough time to get help to secure a preceptorship. The Coaching Call process is a prerequisite to receiving support to secure a practicum site and preceptor.

During Coaching Calls, Field Placement Coordinators will complete an assessment with students to assess what steps and actions they have already completed to identify a preceptorship. Field Placement Coordinators will then develop a customized Action Plan to help students secure a preceptorship. Students must complete tasks and activities outlined in the Action Plan to receive continued support from the Field Placement Coordinator for help to find a preceptorship. The Action Plan may require students to complete certain tasks and activities such as:

  • Attend Roundtable Sessions
  • Conduct a mock interview
  • Update their resume and cover letter
  • Create a portfolio
  • Develop an elevator pitch
  • Submit email templates  
  • Submit a networking plan
  • Submit a communication plan for communicating with sites and preceptors  
  • Submit a list of possible sites they have researched
  • Call and/or visit sites in person from a list of potential sites
  • Complete networking activities 
  • Complete professional preparation training and webinars
  • Register for the Field Experience Preparation Course (FECN)
  • Submit the Site Research & Contact Record with contacts documented

Students requesting assistance from a Field Placement Coordinator are expected to be actively engaged in the process and work collaboratively with the Field Placement Coordinator. Students must complete all tasks and activities outlined in the Action Plan(s) along with any additional instructions and steps as requested by the Field Placement Coordinator to be successful in securing a preceptorship. It takes time and effort to secure a preceptor so students may need to complete multiple Coaching Calls and Action Plans with a Field Placement Coordinator to work through the process in order to secure a preceptorship.

Students who have completed their Action Plan but were unsuccessful in securing a preceptorship who still need help with securing a preceptorship must schedule an Advanced Coaching Call for additional support from a Field Placement Coordinator. Students must have completed an initial coaching call and completed all tasks outlined in their Action Plan before scheduling an Advanced Coaching Call. During the Advanced Coaching Call, the Field Placement Coordinator will review the students’ progress to determine next steps, which will include updates to the Action Plan and next steps for help to find a preceptorship.    

Coaching Calls are structured calls focused on a specific practicum course and term. Students who need individualized support for multiple courses and terms must schedule multiple Coaching Calls for each practicum course and term.

Students wanting help from a Field Placement Coordinator to find a preceptorship must schedule a Coaching Call online at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/practicumpledge/CoachingCalls early in their program, but no later than three months before the practicum application deadline. Field Placement Coordinators do not help students find practicum sites and preceptors after the late application deadline.

Career Services through Career Planning and Development

Walden’s Career Planning and Development Team is available to support students when searching for a practicum site and preceptor. The Career Planning and Development team and website has a full range of resources designed to support students when searching for a practicum site and preceptor. Students are encouraged to use these resources for career planning for professional preparation tasks when searching for a preceptorship:  

Affiliation Agreement Database

The Affiliation Agreement Database includes a list of facilities that have an active affiliation agreement with Walden University and where students have completed their practicum experiences in the past. The database is located in Meditrek, and students have access to search the database in Meditrek. 

The database is only meant to be a starting point to gather ideas of potential sites to contact for practicum and is not meant to be a list for placement for practicum. Students may search the database to help with brainstorming ideas for possible practicum sites. A site being in the database does not guarantee practicum placement for Walden University students, and not all sites where Walden has affiliation agreements have placements appropriate for all programs.

Instructions on How to Use the Affiliation Agreement Database 

The following tutorials are available to help students utilize the database.

 

Important Points and Disclaimers about the Affiliation Agreement Database

  • An active affiliation agreement between Walden and the site does not guarantee that a site is willing or able to accept a Walden student. A site being in the database does not guarantee placement.  An active agreement does not require a site to support a Walden student with a practicum placement. Sites do not reserve spots for Walden University students because space and programs may be limited at the site.
  • The database will show sites with active affiliation agreements with Walden University for all programs at Walden. The database is updated in real-time with active agreements. Sites will remain in the database list until an affiliation agreement either expiries or is terminated. Sites must terminate the affiliation agreement to be removed from the database if they close or choose not to accept students for practicum. 
  • Although an active affiliation agreement exists with a site, this does not mean the site is appropriate for your specific program or course. Sites may not be appropriate for some programs or courses, regardless of the program coverage listed in the database, because requirements change, and sites change their services. Students must review the practicum site requirements for the specific practicum course in Section 2 in this manual and use the Preceptorship Prescreen Checklist to confirm if the site meets the requirements. Students should not rely on a site being in the database as a guarantee that the site is appropriate for a program or course.  
  • While a site may show being used by a previous student in the past, this does not mean the site is currently appropriate for the current program or course. Practicum requirements change so some sites may no longer be appropriate for a specific program or course. Students must review the practicum site requirements for the specific practicum course in Section 2 in this manual and use the Preceptorship Prescreen Checklist to confirm if the site meets the requirements.
  • While a site may show for a specific program in a certain state, this does not mean that Walden is approving practicum in that state for that program. Walden does have restrictions and does not approve practicum in every state/country for every program. Students must review the List of Restricted States and Countries to determine if practicum can be completed in a certain state for their program. 
  • The database is a list of sites and not preceptors. Preceptors are not listed in the database. While there may be names of preceptors in the database, it is only because the name of the facility is the name of the preceptor.  
  • Under no circumstance does the presence of an active affiliation agreement with a site imply an automatic approval of a practicum application. Every practicum application is subject to individual review in accordance with program and course requirements.
  • The database does not include contact information because sites do not authorize Walden to release their contact information to students. Students must search for contact information by conducting an Internet search to obtain contact information for a specific site. 
  • To determine if a site is accepting students for practicum during a specific time period, students must contact the site directly. Students must contact the correct department or office at the site to discuss practicum placement opportunities. When calling larger facilities, we recommend asking for the Education Department, Office of Academic Affairs, Clinical Placement Office, or Human Resources. When calling smaller facilities, we recommend asking for the Medical Director, Office Manager, or Human Resources.  

Restrictions listed in the database are not negotiable. The College of Nursing Office of Field Experience is unable to override restrictions because they are either outlined in the affiliation agreement by the site or relates to a Walden policy. If there is a restriction listed in the database for a site, students may contact nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu to inquire about the restriction.

Request Form for Sites That Assign Preceptors

Some practicum sites may require a finalized affiliation agreement or require Walden to complete their placement/rotation process before assigning a student to a preceptor. If a practicum site requires a finalized affiliation agreement and/or requires Walden to complete their placement/rotation process before assigning a preceptor, students must send an email to nursingfield@mail.waldenu.edu to request a link to submit a request form in Meditrek. Students must submit either an “Affiliation Agreement Request Form” or a “Placement or Rotation Request Form” in Meditrek to begin the process. Students must begin the request process early enough before the application deadline to allow enough time to complete the affiliation agreement process and/or the placement/rotation process with the practicum site to ensure its timely completion to allow time to submit the practicum application in Meditrek by the application deadline. Students should submit the request form no later than two months before the application deadline or before the site’s deadline, whichever one comes first, to allow enough time to complete the process before the application deadline and the deadline for the practicum site.

Services for Securing a Preceptorship

Practicum Pledge™

The Practicum Pledge™ is an exclusive service offered to support students on their educational journey through their nursing program. We know that finding a practicum site and preceptor can be challenging. To better ensure a successful placement, we’ve developed a truly collaborative process to help students navigate the process. The Practicum Pledge™ is designed to support qualified students who have been unsuccessful in finding a site and preceptor by matching them with a site and preceptor. If you have worked to identify your own site and preceptor but are not able to do so, the Practicum Pledge™ will match you with a preceptorship if you meet the eligibility requirements and deadline. Students must begin this process early in their program to meet the deadline for this service. For more information about the Practicum Pledge™, including eligibility requirements, process, requirements, and important deadlines, review this webpage: https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/practicumpledge.

Practicum Advantage™

The Practicum Advantage™ provides the coaching, resources, and self-help tools students need to identify a practicum site and preceptor that fit with their education and career goals. At the heart of it is a dedicated Field Placement Coordinator team that is available to support students through the process. The process includes collaboration between you and a regional Field Placement Coordinator working in partnership to develop a plan for your success.

We are committed to helping students identify preceptorships.   

Practicum Advantage™ services include:  

  • Support from a Field Placement Coordinator: Available for 1:1 Coaching Calls, a dedicated regional Field Placement Coordinator is available to help you in your search to identify a preceptorship. To get help from a Field Placement Coordinator, schedule a Coaching Call to begin the process for coaching support to find a preceptor and practicum site. Learn more about Coaching Calls. 
  • Roundtable Sessions: Roundtable Sessions are available to help you prepare for practicum courses by learning some great tips and strategies. You should attend the “Tips to Find a Preceptor and Site” session and the “Program Overview for Preceptorship Requirements” session for your degree program. Learn more about Roundtable Sessions. 
  • Field Experience Preparation Courses: A preparation course is available for each practicum course to help you prepare for practicum courses. The preparation course is designed to help you plan for practicum; identify a practicum site and preceptor; and successfully complete practicum. Learn more about Field Experience Preparation Courses (FECN).
  • Advice from the Career Planning and Development Team: Many students say that finding the ideal practicum site and preceptor is similar to searching for a job. It can take time, and Walden is here to support you in your search by offering resources such as networking strategies, interview tips, and resume advice, and portfolio tools. Learn more about Career Planning and Development.
  • Access to a Robust Database of Potential Sites: The Affiliation Agreement Database in Meditrek lists sites where Walden has an affiliation agreement in place and where other Walden students may have completed their practicum experiences. This resource can make it easier for you to identify potential sites. Learn more about the Affiliation Agreement Database. 
  • Guidance from Advisors/Coaches: A dedicated Student Success Advisor or Academic Coach can assist you with all aspects of your degree planning, including helping you understand the requirements of your nursing program, determining when your practicum will begin, and more.

For information about the Practicum Advantage™ service, review the Field Experience website.