Walden university fnp preceptor commitment form

Psychotherapy With Individuals

· Review the media Clinical Interview: Intake, Assessment,& Therapeutic Alliance in your Learning Resources.

· Select one nursing theory and one counseling theory to best guide your practice in psychotherapy. Note: For guidance on nursing and counseling theories, refer to the Wheeler textbook in this week’s Learning Resources.

· Explain why you selected these theories. Support your approach with evidence-based literature.

· Develop at least three goals and at least three objectives for the practicum experience in this course.

· Create a timeline of practicum activities based on your practicum requirements.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nurse Practitioner Specializations:  Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse

Practitioner  Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse

Practitioner  Family Nurse Practitioner  Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

MSN Practicum Manual: Nurse Practitioner Specializations (November 2017) Page ii

Walden University 100 Washington Avenue South, Suite 900

Minneapolis, MN 55401 1-800-925-3368

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org..

Walden University practices a policy of nondiscrimination in admission to, access to, and employment in its programs and activities. Walden does not discriminate on the basis of race,

color, sex, age, religion or creed, marital status, disability, national or ethnic origin, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or other legally protected status.

Walden is committed to providing barrier-free access to its educational services and makes appropriate and reasonable accommodations when necessary. Students requesting

accommodations per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must contact the Office of Disability Services at disability@mail.waldenu.edu.

This publication represents current curricula, educational plans, offerings, requirements, tuition, and fees. These may be modified or discontinued from time to time in the university’s sole

discretion to carry out the university’s purposes and objectives. Neither the provisions of this document nor the acceptance of students through registration and enrollment in the university

constitutes a contract or an offer of a contract. Find information on costs, occupation types, completion rates, and median loan debt for this

program at http://programdata.laureate.net/walden/master-of-science-in-nursing.html.

Walden University is a registered trademark of Walden University, LLC.

© 2017 Walden University, LLC

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MSN Practicum Manual: Nurse Practitioner Specializations (November 2017) Page iii

Contents Section 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1

Purpose of This Manual............................................................................................................... 1 Walden University ....................................................................................................................... 1

Vision....................................................................................................................................... 1 Mission .................................................................................................................................... 1 Social Change .......................................................................................................................... 1

School of Nursing ........................................................................................................................ 2 Vision....................................................................................................................................... 2

Mission .................................................................................................................................... 2 Goals ........................................................................................................................................ 2

MSN Program Outcomes ............................................................................................................ 2

Nurse Practitioner Licensure ....................................................................................................... 3 Note on Certification ............................................................................................................... 3

Note on Licensure, Authorization, Endorsement, or Other State Credentials Necessary to Practice as a Nurse Practitioner ............................................................................................... 3

Field Experience Terms............................................................................................................... 4

Practicum ................................................................................................................................. 4 Practicum Site .......................................................................................................................... 4

Primary Care ............................................................................................................................ 5 Acute Care ............................................................................................................................... 5 Supervision .............................................................................................................................. 5

Field Experience Roles ................................................................................................................ 6 Preceptors ................................................................................................................................ 6

Students.................................................................................................................................... 6 Practicum Course Faculty Members........................................................................................ 7 Clinical Instructors................................................................................................................... 7

Specialization Coordinators ..................................................................................................... 8 Program Director ..................................................................................................................... 8

Field Education Coordinators .................................................................................................. 8 Working Together.................................................................................................................... 9

Field Experience Regulatory Requirements .............................................................................. 10

State Requirements ................................................................................................................ 10 State Board Requirements ..................................................................................................... 10

Non-U.S.-Based Student Requirements ................................................................................ 10 Licensure Review .................................................................................................................. 10

Section 2. NP Practicum Program ................................................................................................ 12

Specializations Overview .......................................................................................................... 12 Required Activities .................................................................................................................... 12

Individualized Learning Objectives....................................................................................... 16 Conference Call ..................................................................................................................... 16 Journal and Time Log ............................................................................................................ 17

Performance Evaluation......................................................................................................... 18 Formal Preceptor and Student Feedback ............................................................................... 19

MSN Practicum Manual: Nurse Practitioner Specializations (November 2017) Page iv

Course-Specific Guidance ......................................................................................................... 19

Section 3. Getting Started ............................................................................................................. 25

Finding Practicum Sites and Preceptors .................................................................................... 25 Tips for Practicum Site and Preceptor Search ....................................................................... 25

Choosing a Site ...................................................................................................................... 26 Choosing a Preceptor ............................................................................................................. 26 Change of Preceptor .............................................................................................................. 28

Affiliation Agreements With Practicum Sites ....................................................................... 28 Field Site Onboarding Requirements ........................................................................................ 29

Completing and Submitting the Practicum Application............................................................ 31 Policy on Electronic Signatures ............................................................................................. 31 Verification Documents ......................................................................................................... 31

Obtaining the Required Information...................................................................................... 33 Application Deadlines ........................................................................................................... 35

Practicum Approval and Start ................................................................................................... 36 Application Approval ............................................................................................................ 36 Practicum Course Registration .............................................................................................. 36

Application Steps ................................................................................................................... 37

Section 4. Practicum Policies........................................................................................................ 39

Student Conduct and Responsibilities ....................................................................................... 39 Academic Standing.................................................................................................................... 39 Student Professional Competence Policy .................................................................................. 39

Problem Behaviors................................................................................................................. 40 Inappropriate and/or Unprofessional Conduct....................................................................... 40

Critical Behaviors .................................................................................................................. 41 Nondiscrimination and Sexual Harassment Policies ................................................................. 41

Nondiscrimination ................................................................................................................. 41

Sexual Harassment................................................................................................................. 41 Problem Resolution and Process ............................................................................................... 42

Section 5. Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................................ 45

Section 6. Contact Information ..................................................................................................... 48

School of Nursing ...................................................................................................................... 48

Other Important Resources ........................................................................................................ 49 Field Education Resource Links ............................................................................................ 49

Academic Advising Team ..................................................................................................... 49 Office of Disability Services ................................................................................................. 49

Section 7. Programs of Study........................................................................................................ 50

MSN Core Courses .................................................................................................................... 50 MSN NP Specialty Track Courses ............................................................................................ 50

MSN NP Specialty Track Courses ............................................................................................ 51 Course Descriptions................................................................................................................... 54 Course Descriptions................................................................................................................... 57

Section 1. Introduction

Purpose of This Manual

Welcome to the field experience component of Walden University’s Master of Science in

Nursing (MSN) program. This manual describes the structure and timing of the classroom-based and on-site practicum experiences and the policies students must follow to be successful in the nurse practitioner (NP) specialties. For more information about the nursing programs, students

should refer to the School of Nursing Handbook.

This manual is intended to provide MSN-NP students with information they need related to practicum policies and procedures as well as to serve as a reference for practicum preceptors and other practicum personnel.

This manual refers to the Walden University Catalog and the Walden University Student

Handbook for specific information on university policies and courses. These resources can be accessed at catalog.WaldenU.edu.

Note: Walden University reserves the right to make program changes as needed to help ensure the highest quality program.

Walden University

The MSN program at Walden University is designed to promote Walden University’s vision,

mission, and ongoing commitment to social change. These guiding principles serve as a framework for the program curriculum and outcomes and are included here as a reference.

Vision

Walden University envisions a distinctively different 21st-century learning community where knowledge is judged worthy to the degree that it can be applied by its graduates to the immediate

solutions of critical societal challenges, thereby advancing the greater global good.

Mission

Walden University provides a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to

transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change.

Social Change

Walden University defines positive social change as a deliberate process of creating and

applying ideas, strategies, and actions to promote the worth, dignity, and development of individuals, communities, organizations, institutions, cultures, and societies. Positive social change results in the improvement of human and social conditions.

http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/son/formsanddocuments
http://catalog.waldenu.edu/
http://catalog.waldenu.edu/
http://catalog.waldenu.edu/
http://catalog.waldenu.edu/
MSN Practicum Manual: Nurse Practitioner Specializations (November 2017) Page 2

School of Nursing

Vision

The School of Nursing envisions recognition as a preeminent 21st-century school of nursing in which the contributions of nursing, health, and related sciences will transform the provision of

nursing services along the continuum of care and across the human lifespan to meet the needs of individuals and local and global communities.

Mission

The School of Nursing provides academically rigorous and culturally and contextually relevant educational programs, based on the scholar-practitioner model, for a diverse array of nursing

professionals seeking enhancement of critical-thinking skills, abilities to select and implement evidence-based practices, and core and specialty nursing knowledge in order to transform society.

Goals

The goals of the School of Nursing at Walden are to:

1. Empower nursing professionals through academic advancement that enhances personal

growth, professional development, and academic achievement.

2. Create an educational environment where learners are able to build on their existing

transformational and professional nursing knowledge, skills, and integrative abilities.

3. Educate nursing professionals with consideration for the complex needs of the diverse learner while upholding professional nursing standards.

4. Encourage learners to integrate biopsychosocial, nursing and health theories, research, and evidence-based practice that exemplify professional nursing standards.

5. Prepare professional nursing leaders who are empowered to promote social change for individuals, groups, and organizations locally, nationally, and globally.

MSN Program Outcomes

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

1. Synthesize organizational/systems leadership for cost-effective specialist nursing practice that contributes to high-quality healthcare delivery, advancement of the nursing profession, and social change.

2. Critique evidence-based literature drawing from diverse theoretical perspectives and pertinent research to guide decision making that demonstrates best practices for specialist

nursing practice in a global society.

3. Integratively assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate cost-effective healthcare strategies that reduce health disparities by patient/population advocacy for access to

specialist nursing care.

MSN Practicum Manual: Nurse Practitioner Specializations (November 2017) Page 3

4. Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate using audience-specific oral, written, and information technology for professional delivery of specialist nursing care.

5. Evaluate health needs of diverse populations for necessary teaching/coaching functio ns based on specialist nursing knowledge to restore/promote health and prevent illness/injury.

6. Exhibit ongoing commitment to professional development and value of nursing theories/ethical principles (altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice) in accordance with ethically responsible, legally accountable, specialist nursing practice.

7. Implement specialist nursing roles to promote quality improvement of patient-centered care in accordance with professional practice standards that transform health outcomes for diverse

populations.

Nurse Practitioner Licensure

Note on Certification

The MSN-NP specializations are designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for national NP

certification exams, which are required for practice as an NP in most states. Because no university program can guarantee that graduates will be permitted to practice as an NP upon graduation,

Walden encourages students to consult with the appropriate Board of Nursing or state agency to

determine specific certification exam requirements. Walden enrollment advisors can provide information relating to national certification exams; however, it remains the individual’s

responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification exams for the state in which he or she intends to practice as requirements vary widely.

Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs

will permit an individual to obtain national certification. For more information about NP certification exams, students should visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners at

www.aanpcertification.org, the American Nurses Credentialing Center at

www.nursecredentialing.org, and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses at www.aacn.org.

Note on Licensure, Authorization, Endorsement, or Other State

Credentials Necessary to Practice as a Nurse Practitioner

The MSN-NP specializations are designed to prepare graduates with an active registered nurse (RN) license to practice as NPs. However, each state Board of Nursing has its own academic and

certification requirements and issues its own credential for an RN to be permitted to practice as a NP

in that state. Because no university program can guarantee that graduates will be permitted to practice as NPs upon graduation, Walden encourages students to consult with the appropriate Board

of Nursing or state agency to determine specific requirements in the state in which they wish to

practice. Walden enrollment advisors can provide guidance relating to the state-by-state requirements for practice as a NP; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and

comply with all requirements relating to the practice as a NP in the state in which he or she intends to practice as requirements vary widely. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion

of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure, authorization,

endorsement, or other state credential. For more information about the requirements to practice as a NP, students should contact the appropriate Board of Nursing or state agency. After graduation, all

file:///C:/Users/spotler/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/ZK3VPQH1/www.aanpcertification.org
file:///C:/Users/spotler/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/ZK3VPQH1/www.nursecredentialing.org
file:///C:/Users/spotler/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/ZK3VPQH1/www.aacn.org
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certification, credentialing, and licensure forms and requests must be sent to Nursing Licensure at

nurslicensure@mail.waldenu.edu.

Field Experience Terms

For the purposes of this manual, the following terms are defined in this way:

Practicum

A practicum is a distinctly defined supervised on-site experience in which students develop applied skills and integrate professional knowledge in the provision of advanced practice nursing care. All NP students with catalog years before Spring, 2018 must complete four practicum

courses, with a minimum of 576 hours of supervised clinical experience (144 hours in each course). Students with catalog years after Spring, 2018 must complete four practicum courses,

with a minimum of 640 hours of supervised clinical experience (160 hours in each course). The didactic (classroom) and clinical components of the courses are integrated. The courses vary by specialization:

 Students in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) specialization

must complete NURS or NUNP 6531, 6540, 6550, and 6560.

 Students in the Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) specialization must complete NURS or NUNP 6531, 6540, 6551, and 6565.

 Students in the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialization must complete NURS or

NUNP 6531, 6541, 6551, and 6565.

 Students in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialization must

complete NURS or NUNP 6640, 6650, 6660, and 6670.

Practicum Site

A practicum site is a health agency or other appropriate setting at which students have

supervised, applied practice experiences that are consistent with their education and training. Officials at practicum sites enter into an affiliation agreement with Walden, stating they will provide appropriate support and supervision for students during the practicum experience.

Virtual sites are not allowed for practicum courses.

In general, students must spend the majority of their clinical experience time in general primary care settings seeing a good overall mix of age groups over the lifespan (FNP) or with adolescents and adults (AGACNP, AGPCNP) with a broad range of health promotion, disease prevention,

and acute and chronic health problem assessment and management needs. Appropriate practicum sites for the AGPCNP/FNP specializations can include physician’s offices (family practice,

pediatric practice, women’s health, or internal medicine); clinics that provide primary care, such as health departments; and hospital-based primary care clinics. AGACNP students may use some of these sites in NURS or NUNP 6531 and 6540 and acute care facilities for NURS or NUNP

6550 and 6560.

Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners will have practicum experiences in a wide range of setting with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. NURS or NUNP 6640 and NURS or

mailto:nurslicensure@mail.waldenu.edu
MSN Practicum Manual: Nurse Practitioner Specializations (November 2017) Page 5

NUNP 6650 focus on psychotherapy practice where NURS or NUNP 6660 and NURS or NUNP 6670 are integrative experiences (psychopharmacology coupled with psychotherapy).

Primary Care

A primary care practice serves as the patient's first point of entry into the healthcare system and as the continuing focal point for all needed healthcare services. Primary care practices provide

patients with ready access to their own healthcare providers. These practices provide health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counseling, patient education, diagnosis, and

treatment of acute and chronic illnesses in a variety of healthcare settings. These practices are organized to meet the needs of patients with undifferentiated problems, with the vast majority of patient concerns and needs being cared for in the primary care practice itself. Primary care

practices are generally located in the community of the patients, thereby facilitating access to healthcare while maintaining a wide variety of specialty and institutional consultative and

referral relationships for specific care needs. The structure of the primary care practice may include a team of physicians and non-physician health professionals. Appropriate settings for primary care should be in outpatient primary care settings.

All students in NP specializations require primary care experiences. FNP students must complete

all clinical hours in primary care settings, AGPCNP students may complete clinical hours both in primary care and specialty care settings, and AGACNP and PMHNP students may complete clinical hours in primary care, specialty care, and acute care settings.

Acute Care

Acute care refers to a level of specialty care focused on the management of severe injuries, urgent medical conditions, exacerbation of chronic illnesses, and/or recovery after surgical

procedures. Acute care settings provide patients with secondary healthcare services that address active healthcare problems. Acute care practices provide access to healthcare teams that span the

gamut of nursing, medical, and surgical specialties. Acute care practitioners perform assessments, order and interpret diagnostic tests, formulate diagnoses, perform procedures, and develop and/or implement treatment plans. The quintessential acute care setting is the in-patient

hospital, but acute care is also provided in emergency rooms, urgent care centers, or surgery centers. Essentially, comprehensive care of patients with acute, critical, and/or exacerbated,

complex, chronic conditions falls under the realm of the acute care provider regardless of the practice setting. The acute care provider is specialized in addressing the needs of high acuity patients along the illness-to-wellness spectrum.

Supervision

Supervision by a preceptor is composed of a tutorial and mentoring form of instruction in which practicum preceptors monitor students’ activities in the practicum during the provision of

primary care and facilitate learning and skill-development experiences. Preceptors guide students and provide feedback on their practicum work.

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Field Experience Roles

Preceptors

Preceptors are qualified practitioners within a clinical site who are responsible for guiding students’ practicum experiences (see Preceptor Requirements in Section 3). Preceptors must be

employed at the field site. Walden expects preceptors to be accessible to students and to provide guidance and feedback that promotes growth of knowledge, skills, and competencies consistent

with Walden’s educational goals as well as with best nursing practices. Preceptors provide mentoring and guidance appropriate to students’ roles in their clinical sites, including ongoing feedback about the students’ progress in meeting clinical goals.

Students

Students at Walden are considered to be adult learners who are capable of seeking educational opportunities to meet their personal and professional goals. Walden expects students to

collaborate with faculty members and be self-directed to meet educational requirements. Students work with faculty members, clinical instructors, and preceptors to ensure they obtain a

well-rounded educational experience. Students are expected to complete adhere to the following:

 Develop a learning contract to meet course objectives and outcomes for the practicum.

 Adhere to the learning contract as established by the student, clinical instructor, and

preceptor.

 Comply with the policies and protocols established by the practicum site.

 Seek direct and indirect supervision from the clinical instructor and preceptor.

 Be appropriately prepared for each laboratory and clinical experience.

 Incorporate theory and research into clinical practice to provide evidence-based care to patients.

 Provide safe, competent, and quality care under the supervision of the clinical instructor

and preceptor.

 Maintain an ethical and professional manner at all times.

 Use acquired knowledge and clinical skills for appropriate clinical setting.

 Use various educational resources to provide evidence-based care to patients.

 Be on time and be prepared for each clinical session.

 Develop a clear and concise plan to meet course outcomes.

 Be respectful and professional.

 Participate in regular conferences with the clinical instructor.

 Seek regular feedback from the clinical instructor and preceptor about progress in the

clinical setting.

 Adhere to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines at all

times.

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 Maintain a clinical journal, time logs, patient logs, and other pertinent clinical records as

required by the clinical instructor and/or preceptor.

 Be adaptable and flexible learners.

 Evaluate the course, clinical experience, and preceptor.

 Develop long-term and short-term goals during the program.

 Participate in group and individual conferences.

 Complete the required hours needed for the didactic and clinical portions of the courses.

 Complete all course assignments satisfactorily.

 Contact the clinical instructor and practicum site if unable to attend a clinical experience.

 Use critical-thinking skills and sound clinical judgment in providing patient care.

Students With Disabilities

The School of Nursing at Walden will not discriminate on the basis of disability and is

committed to providing all qualified students with disabilities equal access to its programs, services, and activities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

In postsecondary education, it is the students’ responsibility to self-identify disability status and

register with the Office of Disability Services prior to requesting accommodations. To register, students should submit documentation of disability along with Walden’s Accommodation Request form to disability@mail.waldenu.edu.

The process and form are available from the Office of Disability Services. Students with

disabilities requesting accommodations to access field experiences, such as a practicum and/or internship, should register with the Office of Disability Services prior to registering for those field experiences and clarify their specific accommodation needs. In most cases, field experience

sites have their own systems for ensuring equal access for employees/interns with disabilities. The Office of Disability Services will help address any gaps in those systems.

Practicum Course Faculty Members

Walden nursing faculty members, who are doctorally prepared, teach the didactic portion of the courses and communicate with clinical instructors and preceptors regarding the students’

successful mastery of all competencies prior to recording the final course grades. Practicum course faculty members collaborate with students and clinical instructors and inform specialization coordinators about any difficulties that arise during the practicum experience.

Didactic faculty members may also serve as clinical faculty.

Clinical Instructors

Clinical instructors are a critical element of the NP student practicum experience. These

instructors monitor and assess appropriate learning experiences to facilitate students’ achievement as it relates to the practicum course objectives. The clinical instructors are NPs

responsible and accountable for assuring that students meet the course objectives at a specific practicum site and work closely with preceptors.

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Clinical instructors communicate on a regular basis with NP students and their preceptors

regarding student progress and learning needs; they are also available to resolve problems that may arise. Clinical faculty make practicum site visits (virtually and/or physically) to review

students’ experiences and the appropriateness of the setting. Clinical instructors are responsible for evaluating the students’ clinical work.

Specific clinical instructor responsibilities include the following activities:

 Providing guidance to students in formulating the learning contract.

 Conferring with students individually and in groups.

 Assigning student grades following review of the learning outcome measures identified in

the course and the learning contract.

 Completing final student evaluations in Meditrek.

 Forwarding all evaluation forms to the specialization coordinator.

The clinical instructors and their assigned students should touch base very early in the quarter

and arrange date(s) for the site visit(s). Students should turn in their subjective, objective, assessment, plan (SOAP) notes and their journal entries to their clinical instructors and maintain their time logs within Meditrek. The clinical instructors are the students’ primary resource

regarding any problems or issues that arise related to the practicum experience.

Specialization Coordinators

Specialization coordinators are doctorally-prepared Walden faculty members whose primary role

regarding the MSN practicum is to oversee the experience for a given MSN specialization (i.e., AGACNP, AGPCNP, PMHNP, or FNP). The specialization coordinators are an important resource for students during the program, especially if any problems arise during the practicum.

Program Director

The program director (PD) is a doctorally-prepared full-time academic administrator who reports to the dean and supervises the specialization coordinators and faculty. The PD’s primary role is

to maintain the quality and integrity of the degree program and oversee day-to-day program management. While working with specialization coordinators, the PD supports students

throughout the MSN-NP program, including during the practicum experience.

Field Education Coordinators

Field education coordinators are Walden employees who help students understand the practicum

policies and procedures. They answer questions about the practicum application process, review materials to ensure that students have completed all required application and documentation steps, and work collaboratively with the specialization coordinators and the PD throughout the

approval process. Once practicum applications have been approved, the field education coordinators ensure that students are enrolled in their appropriate practicum course. Field

education coordinators are assigned to students by region and are available to students via e-

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mail, phone, or appointment. Students can find their field education coordinator online at http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/son/contactus.

Working Together

Walden’s program directors, director of field placement, specialization coordinators, field education coordinators, practicum course faculty members, and clinical instructors are

committed to working collaboratively with students and preceptors to support the successful completion of practicum experiences.

Process for Mentoring and Evaluation of Students

The practicum process is collegial, with the recognition that NP students are adult learners who

are capable of critical self-reflection, open to constructive feedback, and responsible for their own learning. Expectations for clinical practica performance correlate with the stage of the students’ learning; i.e., greater clinical practicum expertise is anticipated as students’ progress

through the program.

Once students enroll in a practicum course, they are mentored and evaluated by their preceptor and a Walden clinical instructor who is assigned to them at the beginning of the quarter. Preceptors provide the experiences, supervise students, and provide evaluations to the clinical

instructors. Practicum course faculty members grade students’ coursework and, in general, return students’ written work within Walden guidelines on returning grades. Students are encouraged to

consult with practicum course faculty members by phone or e-mail about their progress throughout the quarter as stipulated in the course syllabus.

Students meet with their clinical instructor during the first or second clinical practicum seminar of the quarter. Clinical instructors are experienced NPs who grade students’ written work (SOAP

notes, clinical logs, and reflections); in general, clinical instructors return students’ written work within Walden guidelines on returning grades. Students are encouraged to consult with clinical instructors by phone or e-mail about their progress throughout the quarter as stipulated in the

course syllabus.

Clinical instructors also maintain contact with students and preceptors throughout the quarter to determine whether the students’ learning needs are being met at their practicum site and to monitor students’ clinical progress. This culminates in a clinical practicum evaluation toward the

end of the quarter. Clinical instructors arrange a time with students to evaluate the students’ clinical performance. Students should make sure that the date and time of the evaluation is

agreeable with the preceptor, and if this is an on-site visit, that an appropriate number and type of clients are scheduled. During these visits, instructors provide students with mentorship and supervision during one or more patient encounters.

http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/son/contactus
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Field Experience Regulatory Requirements

State Requirements

The ability for students to complete a required practicum in each state depends upon the statutes and regulations of that state. It is the students’ responsibility to know and understand the statutes and regulations of that state and whether completion of the required practicum is permitted.

Students should inform the field education office when moving to another state to ensure successful completion of practicum is permitted.

State Board Requirements

Some state boards of nursing have additional approval requirements. Because of these additional

state board requirements and approvals, students who will perform their clinical practicum experience in the following states must submit their applications via Meditrek at least 11 weeks (one quarter) prior to starting their practicum course as late applications will NOT be accepted

for these states:

 Alabama: (http://www.abn.alabama.gov/nursing-programs/#tab-outofstate

 Wyoming: https://nursing-online.state.wy.us/Default.aspx?page=57

 Rhode Island:

http://www.health.ri.gov/partners/boards/nurseregistrationandnursingeducation/

 Tennessee : http://tn.gov/health/topic/nursing-board

Non-U.S.-Based Student Requirements

To be approved for the field experience, non-U.S.-based students must adhere to the

following:

 Students must apply through the International Office.  Students must be licensed in a U.S. state and complete their practicum in that state.  Students must comply with all other requirements required of U.S. students.

 Students should contact nursing field education coordinators early to ensure that they

have found an acceptable preceptor and meet all the other requirements.

Licensure Review

The School of Nursing Field Education Office will conduct a routine professional license verification search and verification review as part of the practicum application process. This

search and review will be completed for all students applying for practicum and all candidates for preceptorship. Information for this review will be gathered through NURSYS®, state boards

of nursing, state medical boards, or any other applicable professional credentialing authority. Any information attached to a professional license verification will be reviewed by the School of Nursing’s Licensure and Compliance department. The information that will be

reviewed includes past and present credentialing information, such as state licensing board orders, consent agreements, letters of reprimand or censure, complaints, malpractice claims,

http://www.abn.alabama.gov/nursing-programs/#tab-outofstate
https://nursing-online.state.wy.us/Default.aspx?page=57
http://www.health.ri.gov/partners/boards/nurseregistrationandnursingeducation/
http://tn.gov/health/topic/nursing-board
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settlements, and awards or other indication of action taken against the license by the professional credentialing authority.

This information will be reviewed as part of the application and preceptor approval process.

Practicum applications will not be approved until this review has been completed. If a student has a past or present order, consent agreement, letter of reprimand, censure or

complaint, or any other information issued by the professional credentialing authority regarding the student’s professional license, the student will be required to inform their field site and

preceptor of this information. The field site and preceptor will need to confirm that the student will be able to complete field experience at the site prior to the approval of the student’s practicum application. Written documentation from the field site and preceptor, which confirms

that (a) the field site is aware of the past or present board issued information (as described previously) and (b) the field site has agreed to accommodate the practicum placement, must be

submitted to the Walden University SON field office. It is recommended that students review their preceptor’s license verification prior to submitting

their practicum application. This can be done online through NURSYS or the corresponding state board of nursing website if the preceptor is a nurse, or by reviewing the preceptor’s license

verification provided by their professional licensing authority (medical board, Department of Health, etc.)

MSN Practicum Manual: Nurse Practitioner Specializations (November 2017) Page 12

Section 2. NP Practicum Program

Specializations Overview

The practicum experience helps students transition from the role of learner to that of scholar- practitioner. To achieve this transition, students engage in a relationship with a clinical instructor and preceptor, focusing on roles and role functions and the achievement of individualized

learning objectives. The primary objective of the practicum is to provide students with the basic skills necessary to serve as midlevel providers of primary care to selected populations and to

prepare students to take the appropriate national certification exam.

 Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP): Students in the AGACNP

specialization engage in clinical experiences in which they focus on the provision of acute and chronic care for young adults (including adolescents and emancipated minors), adults, and

older adults (including young-old, old, and old-old adults), including health promotion and assessment and management of acute and chronic health problems. There is a special emphasis on managing the care of acutely ill adults in a variety of settings including hospital settings.

The content in the AGACNP specialization builds on concepts related to acute and chronic illness and its impact on individuals and families. This program educates students to work in

an inpatient setting.

 Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP): Students in the AGPCNP specialization engage in clinical experiences in which they focus on the provision of

primary care for young adults (including adolescents and emancipated minors), adults, and older adults (including young-old, old, and old-old adults), including health promotion and

assessment and management of acute exacerbation of chronic health problems and chronic illnesses in primary care settings and specialty care. The content in the AGPCNP specialization builds on concepts related to the trajectory of chronic illness and its impact on

individuals and families. This program educates students to work in an outpatient setting.

 Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): In this specialization, students are provided with the

knowledge and skills necessary to manage health problems of individuals at any age. The management courses address the illnesses across the lifespan that are commonly encountered by advanced practice nurses in primary care settings. This program educates students to work

in an outpatient setting.

 Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP): Students in the PMHNP

specialization engage in a wide range of mental health services across the lifespan provided to patients and families in a variety of settings. The PMHNP content focuses on psychiatric disorders, stress and anxiety disorders, organic brain disorders, and substance abuse issues.

Required Activities

Students must satisfactorily complete all the requirements of their practicum courses (Table 1) in accordance with the information provided in the course syllabi. Students complete the didactic

MSN Practicum Manual: Nurse Practitioner Specializations (November 2017) Page 13

portion of the track online. They must receive a grade of Satisfactory (S) for the clinical components in courses that have integrated didactic (theory) and practicum components to

successfully pass the course. They earn 5 quarter credits and receive a letter grade on a 4.0- grading scale for each course.

Table 1a. NP Practicum Courses by Specialization for Students With Catalog Years Before Spring 2018

Course AGACNP AGPCNP FNP PMHNP

1

NURS 6531 - Advanced Practice Care of Adults

Across the Lifespan (Didactic—3 cr.;

Practicum—2 cr. [144 hours])

NURS 6531 - Advanced Practice Care of Adults

Across the Lifespan (Didactic—3 cr.;

Practicum—2 cr. [144 hours])

NURS 6531 - Advanced Practice Care of Adults

Across the Lifespan (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr.

[144 hours])

NURS 6640 - Psychotherapy With

Individuals (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—

2 cr. [144 hours])

2 NURS 6540 -

Advanced Practice Care of Frail

Elders (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr.

[144 hours])

NURS 6540 -

Advanced Practice Care of Frail

Elders (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr.

[144 hours])

NURS 6541 -

Primary Care of Adolescents and

Children (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr.

[144 hours])

NURS 6650 -

Psychotherapy With Groups

and Families (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—

2 cr. [144 hours])

3

NURS 6550 -

Advanced Practice Care of Adults in Acute Care

Settings I (Didactic—3 cr.;

Practicum—2 cr. [144 hours])

NURS 6551 -

Primary Care of Women (Didactic—3 cr.;

Practicum—2 cr. [144 hours])

NURS 6551 -

Primary Care of Women (Didactic—3 cr.;

Practicum—2 cr. [144 hours])

NURS 6660 –

Psychiatric- Mental Health Nurse

Practitioner Role I: Child

and Adolescent (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—

2 cr. [144 hours])

MSN Practicum Manual: Nurse Practitioner Specializations (November 2017) Page 14

Course AGACNP AGPCNP FNP PMHNP

4

NURS 6560 - Advanced Practice

Care of Adults in Acute Care Settings II

(Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr.

[144 hours])

NURS 6565- Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice Care of Complex Patients in Primary Care Settings (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr. [144 hours])

NURS 6565 - Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice Care of Complex Patients in Primary Care Settings (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr. [144 hours])

NURS 6670 – Psychiatric-

Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Role II: Adults and Older

Adults (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—

2 cr. [144 hours])

Total

Hours

Required

576 576 576

576

Table 1b. NP Practicum Courses by Specialization for Students With Catalog Years After Spring

2018

Course AGACNP AGPCNP FNP PMHNP

1

NUNP 6531 - Advanced Practice

Care of Adults Across the

Lifespan (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr.

[160 hours])

NUNP 6531 - Advanced Practice

Care of Adults Across the

Lifespan (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr.

[160 hours])

NUNP 6531 - Advanced Practice

Care of Adults Across the Lifespan

(Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr. [160 hours])

NUNP 6640 - Psychotherapy

With Individuals

(Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum— 2 cr. [160

hours])

2 NUNP 6540 - Advanced Practice

Care of Frail Elders (Didactic—3 cr.;

Practicum—2 cr. [160 hours])

NUNP 6540 - Advanced Practice

Care of Frail Elders (Didactic—3 cr.;

Practicum—2 cr. [160 hours])

NUNP 6541 - Primary Care of

Adolescents and Children (Didactic—3 cr.;

Practicum—2 cr. [160 hours])

NUNP 6650 - Psychotherapy

With Groups and Families (Didactic—3

cr.; Practicum— 2 cr. [160

hours])

MSN Practicum Manual: Nurse Practitioner Specializations (November 2017) Page 15

Course AGACNP AGPCNP FNP PMHNP

3

NUNP 6550 - Advanced Practice

Care of Adults in Acute Care Settings I

(Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr.

[160 hours])

NUNP 6551 - Primary Care of

Women (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr.

[160 hours])

NUNP 6551 - Primary Care of

Women (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr.

[160 hours])

NUNP 6660 – Psychiatric-

Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Role I: Child and Adolescent

(Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum— 2 cr. [160

hours])

4

NUNP 6560 - Advanced Practice

Care of Adults in Acute Care Settings II

(Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr.

[160 hours])

NUNP 6565- Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice Care of Complex Patients in Primary Care Settings (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr.

[160 hours])

NUNP 6565 - Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice Care of Complex Patients in Primary Care Settings (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—2 cr.

[160 hours])

NUNP 6670 – Psychiatric-

Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Role II: Adults and Older

Adults (Didactic—3 cr.; Practicum—

2 cr. [160 hours])

Total

Hours

Required

640 640 640

640

Prerequisite Notes: Prior to beginning the practicum component, students must have

satisfactorily completed NURS 6501 - Advanced Pathophysiology, NURS 6512 - Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning, and NURS 6521 - Advanced Pharmacology.

Students enrolled in NURS 6512 must have access to or purchase the following tools to complete the course:

 Otoscope and ophthalmoscope.

 Stethoscope.

 Reflex hammer and tuning fork (256 cps).

 Penlight, measuring tape, and pocket eye chart.

Students with catalog years before Spring, 2018 must complete a minimum of 576 hours of

direct patient care during the four courses. Students with catalog years after Spring, 2018 must complete a minimum of 640 hours of direct patient care during the four courses. Students may start logging practicum hours within each course on the second day of the course provided that

they have received a practicum approval notice from the field education coordinators and their

MSN Practicum Manual: Nurse Practitioner Specializations (November 2017) Page 16

clinical instructor approves. Students may not log any hours before the start of the course, receive practicum application approval from the Field Experience office, are registered for the

practicum course, and receive approval from the clinical instructor. They must complete all designated and required practicum hours for each course by the end of Week 10. Each clinical

course has a suggested number of patients that must be seen to complete the course. Please check this number with the faculty member in each clinical course at the beginning of the term.

The following activities count toward required practicum hours:

 Activities that are directly related to the completion of practicum goals and objectives.

 Shadowing the preceptor (no more than 8 hours).

 Attendance at meetings including short educational offerings, staff meetings, ground

rounds, etc., while in the clinical settings

The following activities are not included as practicum hours:

 Travel time related to and from practicum activities.

 Requirements mandated by clinical agencies.

 Communication (e.g., e-mails, phone calls), unless conferencing.

 Assignments related to the didactic portion of the course.

 Conferences.

Individualized Learning Objectives

Walden expects that the practicum experience will allow students to focus on developing and

strengthening discrete skills as well as integrating a range of skills into a coherent professional identity. Students set specific goals for the practicum experience that are consistent with their professional preparation and coursework. These goals inform the evaluation of their

competencies at the end of the practicum.

In the first week of the practicum, students formulate two to three individualized learning objectives that they want to achieve during their practicum experience; these objectives are based on their previous assignments, practicum experiences, practice setting, 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. Students should discuss the ideas they identify with their preceptors and determine if the

necessary resources are available at their placement sites. Then they prepare a set of measurable learning objectives, using Bloom’s taxonomy, that specify what they want to achieve.

Conference Call

Shortly after the initiation of the practicum course, clinical instructors coordinate a conference call with students and preceptors, which is intended to ensure that

 the clinical goals of the practicum are being addressed,

 students and preceptors understand the key points of the clinical experience,

MSN Practicum Manual: Nurse Practitioner Specializations (November 2017) Page 17

 an opportunity for questions is provided, and

 any problems are identified and resolved.

The clinical instructor informs students of the requirements and procedures for setting up this call. The call is designed to be supportive of students and to monitor the fit of the site for

meeting their educational goals and needs. It also offers students and clinical instructors the opportunity to collaborate with preceptors, answer any outstanding questions and, when needed, identify, address, and resolve any difficulties students may be experiencing at the practicum site.

Journal and Time Log

Journal

Students must periodically submit a journal entry showing how theoretical underpinnings may apply to a selected practicum experience and how that one aspect of their practicum is consistent with or different from learned theory.

The purpose of the journal is to identify activities, issues, or problems that show how theory is or

is not applied and supported in the nursing practice specialization. Drawing from theoretical constructs learned in this program and the specialization content, learning outcomes, and competencies, students analyze their practicum experience.

In a one-page journal entry (250–300 words), students reflect on their practicum experiences and

discuss how practices they observe or conduct differ from (or are in agreement with) substantiated theory. Students focus on one instance of this similarity or gap for each journal entry.

In each journal entry, students do the following:

 Describe a selected observed activity or situation (no more than half of a page).

 Analyze observations in the context of a selected theory.

 State conclusions regarding the fit of the selected theory to the selected event.

 Offer recommendations for improving the fit, if needed.

 Include APA-style citations and references.

Students must submit a journal entry when due, even if they are not on-site that week. If they are