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It provides students with a real-world nursing experience by pairing them with a nurse preceptor to work their shifts alongside them. This opportunity allows students to apply their nursing knowledge and skills under the supervision of their preceptor, developing their clinical judgment, confidence, independence, and readiness for nursing practice.
Course: NUR 480 - Practicum/Care Management Seminar and Clinical
When: Final semester of the nursing program
Clinical Hours: At minimum, 168 practicum hours
Placement: Arranged by the USM School of Nursing Clinical Placement Coordinator
Preceptor: Assigned by the clinical site
Start Date: Practicum hours may begin approximately four weeks into a student's final semester. Specific dates are published each semester.
In NUR 423, during your second-to-last semester, the Clinical Placement Coordinator will give a presentation about preparing for practicum in the student's final semester and discuss the Practicum Preference Survey
Students complete the Practicum Preference Survey, providing their clinical area interests
The Clinical Placement Coordinator, in conjunction with faculty, determines Practicum placement requests and submits them to clinical partners on students' behalf
The Long Wait
Legitimately will be weeks to months
The Clinical Placement Coordinator negotiates placements with clinical partners until all students have been placed
Students will register for their final semester courses in this timeframe (NUR 480 is Practicum!)
Student notification of placement and onboarding tasks
Everyone's timeline will be different
Can range from 8 weeks out to the week prior to hours starting
If your requested site utilizes Clinician Nexus, you will get real-time updates from the facility on your placement
Students connect with their assigned preceptor to determine their schedule
Students may begin their practicum hours four weeks into their final semester, with specific dates published per semester