CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE of NURSING
Master of Science in Nursing Degree Program Family Nurse
Practitioner (MSN/FNP)
Specialty Track
Practicum Handbook
Welcome to your MSN/FNP practicum experience.
Table of Contents
In the five Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) practicum courses,
learning requires collaboration among you, your faculty and Practicum Guidelines & Procedures.........................................2
your practicum preceptor. It is critical that each student identifies I. General Guidelines.............................................................2
and formalizes arrangements in advance of the practicum experience. II. Student & Preceptor Eligibility for Practicum.................2
The information in this handbook will help you plan for optimal
III. Roles & Responsibilities.................................................4
practicum learning experiences. Please read all information
IV.MSN/FNP Program Outcomes........................................5
carefully and follow the guidelines provided.
In the practicum courses, learning activities will help contribute The MSN/FNP Specialty Track Toolkit...................................6
to your professional portfolio, which provides evidence of your
progress and development in achieving program outcomes. Review
each practicum syllabus carefully and discuss milestones with your Comprehensive consumer information is available at
practicum preceptor and faculty to avoid missing deadlines and chamberlain.edu/studentconsumerinfo.
valuable learning opportunities. The practicum coordinator will
email a copy of this handbook to your preceptor to ensure that
you both understand course requirements.
Enjoy your practicum experience and take advantage of
every opportunity to apply your new knowledge and skills.
Sincerely,
Robin Kirschner, EdD, MA, CPAN, CRN, CRA, RN
Dean, MSN Specialty Tracks
Chamberlain College of Nursing
, CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING MSN/FNP PRACTICUM
Practicum Guidelines & Procedures
I. General Guidelines
The FNP Practicum Log must be submitted to the faculty and included
in the student’s portfolio. Documentation must demonstrate activities
The practicum courses offer nurse practitioner students an related to course outcomes, specialty competencies and the student’s
opportunity to apply newly developed skills and relate theoretical learning agreement.
content to advanced practice nursing situations. This professional All hours must be documented on the FNP Practicum Log and signed
experiential learning helps further prepare students for the highest by the preceptor. Travel time to and from the practicum site and time
level of advanced practice. On a larger scale, it allows students spent working on the practicum portfolio documentation shall not
to enhance skills in communication, teamwork, critical thinking be included in the practicum hours.
and professionalism.
Students are responsible for identifying an appropriate location and II. Student & Preceptor Eligibility for Practicum
preceptor for their practicum experiences. Students must secure an
acceptable site a minimum of 120 days prior to the beginning of the
first practicum course. It is highly recommended that students select 1. Prerequisite Requirements for Students
a practicum site that will be available for support and learning in • Students are required to complete all core courses before
all four practicum courses. Planning ahead enhances the student’s registering for the FNP specialty courses. A suggested curriculum
ability to identify a clinical practice issue and design, implement plan is available (see back page).
and evaluate an evidence-based practice-change project.
• Completion of NR-500, NR-501, NR-505, NR-506, NR-509, NR-512
Students must identify a preceptor for the five practicum courses or MIS-566 (MSN Core Courses) and NR-507, NR-508, NR-510.
before starting the first practicum course. Although having the
same preceptor for all practicum courses is not required, it is 2. Practicum Site Selection
highly encouraged as this promotes continuity of learning and Students must take a proactive role in finding a practicum site that
the development of a professional and collegial relationship for will ensure their success. Students begin the process by identifying
the student. Students must have a current and active, unrestricted their own learning goals for the practicum courses in collaboration
registered nursing license in the state where they will be completing with course faculty. After identifying these goals, students initiate
their practicum. the process of selecting a site that provides the best opportunity
Prior to each practicum course, the student and faculty will to promote learning. Student goals should be integrated and lead
collaborate to develop a learning agreement, which includes to the achievement of course outcomes and the development of
expectations, student learning goals and measures of success. competencies noted in The Essentials of Master’s Education for
During the practicum, students will inform their preceptor(s) about Advanced Practice Nursing as published by the American Association
course requirements and personal learning goals. Students are of Colleges of Nursing and the Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies
also responsible for developing a log of the practicum experiences, published by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties.
including accurate reflections on activities and attainment of course
outcomes and specialty competencies. Each assigned faculty A.Location for practicum experience
member is responsible for evaluating the student’s performance • Students may have working relationships in the field and
and all associated assignments completed during the practicum may use their networks to determine a location for completing
experience. Students are responsible for making travel the practicum
arrangements and paying for all related practicum expenses.
• Students who identify a learning goal that is outside of their
Students must be scheduled, and are responsible, for completing network may need assistance in finding a potential practicum
a total of 625 hours of practical experience in approved and site. The practicum coordinator will assist students in exploring
supervised settings (125 hours in each practicum course). opportunities in their area. The practicum coordinator can be
The scheduled hours will be arranged in conjunction with the reached at
practicum site and the preceptor (as is reasonable to satisfy the
practice experience requirement). Chamberlain allows flexibility in • It is important to remember that the practicum gives personnel
scheduling these hours. The requirement may be met with full in facilities the opportunity to observe the student as a potential
days, partial days or consecutive days as agreed upon with the employee; students may consider employment goals in selecting
preceptor. A student who cannot complete the required 125 a site as well
practicum hours within the time frame of the practicum course but
has completed 75 percent of the course requirements will receive a
grade of Incomplete. Incompletes must be resolved within six
weeks of the end of the course or sooner, as determined by the
practicum course faculty. As a professional responsibility, students
are required to schedule practicum hours so that patient safety is
assured.
2
Master of Science in Nursing Degree Program Family Nurse
Practitioner (MSN/FNP)
Specialty Track
Practicum Handbook
Welcome to your MSN/FNP practicum experience.
Table of Contents
In the five Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) practicum courses,
learning requires collaboration among you, your faculty and Practicum Guidelines & Procedures.........................................2
your practicum preceptor. It is critical that each student identifies I. General Guidelines.............................................................2
and formalizes arrangements in advance of the practicum experience. II. Student & Preceptor Eligibility for Practicum.................2
The information in this handbook will help you plan for optimal
III. Roles & Responsibilities.................................................4
practicum learning experiences. Please read all information
IV.MSN/FNP Program Outcomes........................................5
carefully and follow the guidelines provided.
In the practicum courses, learning activities will help contribute The MSN/FNP Specialty Track Toolkit...................................6
to your professional portfolio, which provides evidence of your
progress and development in achieving program outcomes. Review
each practicum syllabus carefully and discuss milestones with your Comprehensive consumer information is available at
practicum preceptor and faculty to avoid missing deadlines and chamberlain.edu/studentconsumerinfo.
valuable learning opportunities. The practicum coordinator will
email a copy of this handbook to your preceptor to ensure that
you both understand course requirements.
Enjoy your practicum experience and take advantage of
every opportunity to apply your new knowledge and skills.
Sincerely,
Robin Kirschner, EdD, MA, CPAN, CRN, CRA, RN
Dean, MSN Specialty Tracks
Chamberlain College of Nursing
, CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING MSN/FNP PRACTICUM
Practicum Guidelines & Procedures
I. General Guidelines
The FNP Practicum Log must be submitted to the faculty and included
in the student’s portfolio. Documentation must demonstrate activities
The practicum courses offer nurse practitioner students an related to course outcomes, specialty competencies and the student’s
opportunity to apply newly developed skills and relate theoretical learning agreement.
content to advanced practice nursing situations. This professional All hours must be documented on the FNP Practicum Log and signed
experiential learning helps further prepare students for the highest by the preceptor. Travel time to and from the practicum site and time
level of advanced practice. On a larger scale, it allows students spent working on the practicum portfolio documentation shall not
to enhance skills in communication, teamwork, critical thinking be included in the practicum hours.
and professionalism.
Students are responsible for identifying an appropriate location and II. Student & Preceptor Eligibility for Practicum
preceptor for their practicum experiences. Students must secure an
acceptable site a minimum of 120 days prior to the beginning of the
first practicum course. It is highly recommended that students select 1. Prerequisite Requirements for Students
a practicum site that will be available for support and learning in • Students are required to complete all core courses before
all four practicum courses. Planning ahead enhances the student’s registering for the FNP specialty courses. A suggested curriculum
ability to identify a clinical practice issue and design, implement plan is available (see back page).
and evaluate an evidence-based practice-change project.
• Completion of NR-500, NR-501, NR-505, NR-506, NR-509, NR-512
Students must identify a preceptor for the five practicum courses or MIS-566 (MSN Core Courses) and NR-507, NR-508, NR-510.
before starting the first practicum course. Although having the
same preceptor for all practicum courses is not required, it is 2. Practicum Site Selection
highly encouraged as this promotes continuity of learning and Students must take a proactive role in finding a practicum site that
the development of a professional and collegial relationship for will ensure their success. Students begin the process by identifying
the student. Students must have a current and active, unrestricted their own learning goals for the practicum courses in collaboration
registered nursing license in the state where they will be completing with course faculty. After identifying these goals, students initiate
their practicum. the process of selecting a site that provides the best opportunity
Prior to each practicum course, the student and faculty will to promote learning. Student goals should be integrated and lead
collaborate to develop a learning agreement, which includes to the achievement of course outcomes and the development of
expectations, student learning goals and measures of success. competencies noted in The Essentials of Master’s Education for
During the practicum, students will inform their preceptor(s) about Advanced Practice Nursing as published by the American Association
course requirements and personal learning goals. Students are of Colleges of Nursing and the Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies
also responsible for developing a log of the practicum experiences, published by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties.
including accurate reflections on activities and attainment of course
outcomes and specialty competencies. Each assigned faculty A.Location for practicum experience
member is responsible for evaluating the student’s performance • Students may have working relationships in the field and
and all associated assignments completed during the practicum may use their networks to determine a location for completing
experience. Students are responsible for making travel the practicum
arrangements and paying for all related practicum expenses.
• Students who identify a learning goal that is outside of their
Students must be scheduled, and are responsible, for completing network may need assistance in finding a potential practicum
a total of 625 hours of practical experience in approved and site. The practicum coordinator will assist students in exploring
supervised settings (125 hours in each practicum course). opportunities in their area. The practicum coordinator can be
The scheduled hours will be arranged in conjunction with the reached at
practicum site and the preceptor (as is reasonable to satisfy the
practice experience requirement). Chamberlain allows flexibility in • It is important to remember that the practicum gives personnel
scheduling these hours. The requirement may be met with full in facilities the opportunity to observe the student as a potential
days, partial days or consecutive days as agreed upon with the employee; students may consider employment goals in selecting
preceptor. A student who cannot complete the required 125 a site as well
practicum hours within the time frame of the practicum course but
has completed 75 percent of the course requirements will receive a
grade of Incomplete. Incompletes must be resolved within six
weeks of the end of the course or sooner, as determined by the
practicum course faculty. As a professional responsibility, students
are required to schedule practicum hours so that patient safety is
assured.
2
