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 your practicum Practicum Guidelines & Procedures.........................................2
preceptor. It is critical that you identify and formalize arrangements in I. General Guidelines.............................................................2
advance of the practicum experience. The information in this handbook II. Student & Preceptor Eligibility for Practicum.................2
will help you plan for optimal practicum learning experiences. Read all
III. Roles & Responsibilities.................................................4
of the information carefully and follow the guidelines provided.
IV.MSN/FNP Program Outcomes........................................5
In the practicum courses, learning activities will help contribute to your The MSN/FNP Specialty Track Toolkit...................................6
professional portfolio, which provides evidence of your progress and
development in achieving program outcomes. Review each practicum Comprehensive consumer information is available at
syllabus carefully and discuss milestones with your practicum preceptor chamberlain.edu/studentconsumerinfo.
and faculty to avoid missing deadlines and 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,
John Distler, DPA, MBA, MS, FNP-C, FAANP
Dean, Nurse Practitioner Tracks
Chamberlain College of Nursing
, CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING MSN/FNP PRACTICUM
Practicum Guidelines & Procedures
I. General Guidelines
2. Preceptor Qualifications
The FNP preceptor must possess a master’s degree in nursing at
the minimum, be nationally board-certified as a nurse practitioner
The practicum courses offer nurse practitioner students an opportunity
and hold an active, unencumbered advanced practice license which
to apply newly developed skills and relate theoretical content to
corresponds to their area of clinical practice. The preceptor must
advanced practice nursing situations. This professional experiential
also have at least one year of practice as a nurse practitioner. Other
learning helps further prepare students for the highest level of
types of health professionals may also serve as a preceptor for FNP
advanced practice. On a larger scale, it allows students to enhance
students: (e.g. Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)).
skills in communication, teamwork, critical thinking and
MDs and DOs must have an active medical license.
professionalism.
All preceptors must have applicable expertise and the ability to help
You are responsible for identifying an appropriate location and
you achieve your learning goals. Preceptors must be willing and
preceptor for your practicum – a minimum of two sessions days
available to work with you in a setting where advanced practice
prior to the beginning of the first practicum course. It is highly
nursing is allowed to contribute to the improvement of clinical care.
recommended that you select a practicum site that will be available
for support and learning in all five practicum courses. Although having the same preceptor for all practicum courses is not
required, it is highly encouraged as this promotes continuity of
During the practicum, you will inform your preceptor(s) about course
learning and the development of a professional and collegial
requirements and personal learning goals. You are also responsible
relationships. The use of multiple preceptors must be approved by
for maintaining a log of the practicum experiences, including accurate
the practicum course faculty and communicated to the student’s
reflections on activities and attainment of course outcomes and
practicum coordinator.
specialty competencies. Each assigned faculty member is
responsible for evaluating your performance and all associated You must submit a practicum application and corresponding
assignments completed during the practicum experience. You are documents for all practicum sites and preceptors you wish to use.
responsible for making travel arrangements and paying for all related You may not partner with a site or preceptor without the required
practicum expenses. approvals and documents on file prior to your practicum experience.
You must be scheduled and are responsible for completing a total of When you fill out the practicum application you will be required
625 hours of practical experience in approved and supervised settings to provide the following about your preceptor:
(125 hours in each practicum course). The scheduled hours will be 1.Name
arranged in conjunction with your approved practicum site and preceptor
(as is reasonable to satisfy the practice experience requirement). 2.Contact information (email, address, phone, etc.)
Chamberlain allows flexibility in scheduling these hours, however, 3.Title and credentials
hours may not be carried over between sessions nor completed prior
to the course start. The requirement may be met with full days, partial 4.Degrees, licensure and certifications
days or consecutive days as agreed upon with your preceptor. If you 5.Years of experience (must be a practicing FNP for at
cannot complete the required 125 practicum hours within the time least one year)
frame of the practicum course, and have completed a minimum of 75
6.Resume or CV
percent of the course requirements, you will receive a grade of
Incomplete. Incompletes must be resolved within six weeks of the 3. Practicum Site Selection
end of the course or sooner, as determined by the practicum
course faculty. As a professional responsibility, you are required to Securing a practicum site and preceptor can take several months so
schedule practicum hours so that patient safety is assured. it’s best to begin the process early in your program. The application for
your proposed practicum site, preceptor Curriculum Vitae (CV) and
preceptor license must be submitted to Chamberlain a minimum of
II. Student & Preceptor Eligibility for Practicum
two sessions prior to the start of NR-511, your first practicum course. If
you identified a potential site and/or preceptor during the admission
process, you still must fill out and submit the practicum application
1. Prerequisite Requirements for Students form two sessions before the start of your first practicum. All practicum
site applications are reviewed to ensure alignment with program
• Complete NR-500, NR-501, NR-503, NR-505, NR-506, NR-512
requirements.
(MSN core courses) and NR-507, NR-508, NR-510 and NR-509.
A suggested curriculum plan is available on chamberlain.edu Once your practicum site application is approved, your practicum team
or by clicking here will work with your site to secure a clinical affiliation agreement and
any other legal documents that may be required. If you are currently
• Submit all necessary documents as requested by your
employed at your selected site, these legal documents may still be
practicum and compliance coordination teams.
necessary.
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 your practicum Practicum Guidelines & Procedures.........................................2
preceptor. It is critical that you identify and formalize arrangements in I. General Guidelines.............................................................2
advance of the practicum experience. The information in this handbook II. Student & Preceptor Eligibility for Practicum.................2
will help you plan for optimal practicum learning experiences. Read all
III. Roles & Responsibilities.................................................4
of the information carefully and follow the guidelines provided.
IV.MSN/FNP Program Outcomes........................................5
In the practicum courses, learning activities will help contribute to your The MSN/FNP Specialty Track Toolkit...................................6
professional portfolio, which provides evidence of your progress and
development in achieving program outcomes. Review each practicum Comprehensive consumer information is available at
syllabus carefully and discuss milestones with your practicum preceptor chamberlain.edu/studentconsumerinfo.
and faculty to avoid missing deadlines and 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,
John Distler, DPA, MBA, MS, FNP-C, FAANP
Dean, Nurse Practitioner Tracks
Chamberlain College of Nursing
, CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING MSN/FNP PRACTICUM
Practicum Guidelines & Procedures
I. General Guidelines
2. Preceptor Qualifications
The FNP preceptor must possess a master’s degree in nursing at
the minimum, be nationally board-certified as a nurse practitioner
The practicum courses offer nurse practitioner students an opportunity
and hold an active, unencumbered advanced practice license which
to apply newly developed skills and relate theoretical content to
corresponds to their area of clinical practice. The preceptor must
advanced practice nursing situations. This professional experiential
also have at least one year of practice as a nurse practitioner. Other
learning helps further prepare students for the highest level of
types of health professionals may also serve as a preceptor for FNP
advanced practice. On a larger scale, it allows students to enhance
students: (e.g. Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)).
skills in communication, teamwork, critical thinking and
MDs and DOs must have an active medical license.
professionalism.
All preceptors must have applicable expertise and the ability to help
You are responsible for identifying an appropriate location and
you achieve your learning goals. Preceptors must be willing and
preceptor for your practicum – a minimum of two sessions days
available to work with you in a setting where advanced practice
prior to the beginning of the first practicum course. It is highly
nursing is allowed to contribute to the improvement of clinical care.
recommended that you select a practicum site that will be available
for support and learning in all five practicum courses. Although having the same preceptor for all practicum courses is not
required, it is highly encouraged as this promotes continuity of
During the practicum, you will inform your preceptor(s) about course
learning and the development of a professional and collegial
requirements and personal learning goals. You are also responsible
relationships. The use of multiple preceptors must be approved by
for maintaining a log of the practicum experiences, including accurate
the practicum course faculty and communicated to the student’s
reflections on activities and attainment of course outcomes and
practicum coordinator.
specialty competencies. Each assigned faculty member is
responsible for evaluating your performance and all associated You must submit a practicum application and corresponding
assignments completed during the practicum experience. You are documents for all practicum sites and preceptors you wish to use.
responsible for making travel arrangements and paying for all related You may not partner with a site or preceptor without the required
practicum expenses. approvals and documents on file prior to your practicum experience.
You must be scheduled and are responsible for completing a total of When you fill out the practicum application you will be required
625 hours of practical experience in approved and supervised settings to provide the following about your preceptor:
(125 hours in each practicum course). The scheduled hours will be 1.Name
arranged in conjunction with your approved practicum site and preceptor
(as is reasonable to satisfy the practice experience requirement). 2.Contact information (email, address, phone, etc.)
Chamberlain allows flexibility in scheduling these hours, however, 3.Title and credentials
hours may not be carried over between sessions nor completed prior
to the course start. The requirement may be met with full days, partial 4.Degrees, licensure and certifications
days or consecutive days as agreed upon with your preceptor. If you 5.Years of experience (must be a practicing FNP for at
cannot complete the required 125 practicum hours within the time least one year)
frame of the practicum course, and have completed a minimum of 75
6.Resume or CV
percent of the course requirements, you will receive a grade of
Incomplete. Incompletes must be resolved within six weeks of the 3. Practicum Site Selection
end of the course or sooner, as determined by the practicum
course faculty. As a professional responsibility, you are required to Securing a practicum site and preceptor can take several months so
schedule practicum hours so that patient safety is assured. it’s best to begin the process early in your program. The application for
your proposed practicum site, preceptor Curriculum Vitae (CV) and
preceptor license must be submitted to Chamberlain a minimum of
II. Student & Preceptor Eligibility for Practicum
two sessions prior to the start of NR-511, your first practicum course. If
you identified a potential site and/or preceptor during the admission
process, you still must fill out and submit the practicum application
1. Prerequisite Requirements for Students form two sessions before the start of your first practicum. All practicum
site applications are reviewed to ensure alignment with program
• Complete NR-500, NR-501, NR-503, NR-505, NR-506, NR-512
requirements.
(MSN core courses) and NR-507, NR-508, NR-510 and NR-509.
A suggested curriculum plan is available on chamberlain.edu Once your practicum site application is approved, your practicum team
or by clicking here will work with your site to secure a clinical affiliation agreement and
any other legal documents that may be required. If you are currently
• Submit all necessary documents as requested by your
employed at your selected site, these legal documents may still be
practicum and compliance coordination teams.
necessary.
2
