Please Note: This page is currently under construction. If you have urgent questions, please reach out to Jules Sclafani
In order to meet the requirements of the various clinical facilities, and to protect students as well as the individuals being cared for, formal documentation of a criminal background check as well as health and immunization records are required for all clinical courses.
These requirements are separate from and in addition to the immunization requirements for admission to the University of Southern Maine (USM). Students must meet these requirements prior to starting any clinical course and maintain compliance throughout their clinical sequence.
Clinical partners reserve the right to additional and specific requirements per their institutional policies.
The Coordinator of Nursing Student Services administers and oversees all School of Nursing student background checks, health requirement documentation, and compliance through the designated health and background check system.
Please see Clinical Health & Background Check Requirements for details regarding these requirements and ensuring your compliance.
Students are responsible for creating, uploading, and maintaining their own records in the designated health and background check system.
Documents that students should expect to update annually include their:
Influenza Vaccination,
Tuberculosis Screening,
Health Insurance, and
N-95 Fit Test.
Students may also need to update, dependent on their individual expiration dates, their:
TDAP, and
Required Life Support Certification.
All Practicum Placements are arranged by the School of Nursing Clinical Placement Coordinator.
The Clinical Placement Coordinator and School of Nursing work to ensure students will have an optimal practicum experience by requesting placements that align with their educational needs. Student preferences are considered; however, placement at a student's preferred facility or unit cannot be guaranteed.
Placement locations are limited to sites within the states of Maine and New Hampshire.
Students may not swap placements with each other.
Students are required to attend the practicum placement they are assigned to.
Students are not permitted to contact nurse managers, staff nurses, or any clinical facility directly to obtain a placement at any point.
Students may provide specific information on their survey if there is an individual they'd like to request as a preceptor (i.e., a colleague on another unit, a former clinical instructor, etc.) for consideration.
USM does not allow students to complete their clinical or practicum experience:
at their place of employment*,
with their personal healthcare provider, or
with a relative, significant other, or close friend.
*Within healthcare organizations with multiple sites or large facilities, placement within a different department or location of the student’s primary employer may be considered at the discretion of the Clinical Placement Coordinator and School of Nursing.
In addition to the Communication policies outlined, students must use their @maine.edu email address for all practicum-related correspondence with the Clinical Placement Coordinator, the School of Nursing, their nurse preceptor, and others.
Students' preceptors may work any shift during the 24-hour, 7-day-a-week rotation. Students are expected to follow their assigned preceptor's schedule.
The School of Nursing does not arrange student work schedules with preceptors. Students are responsible for coordinating schedules directly with their preceptors.
Students are expected to:
Follow their preceptor’s schedule,
Work alongside their preceptor for their entire shift, and
Complete their minimum required 168 practicum hours within the designated timeframe.
Failure to complete the required hours due to personal scheduling conflicts does not obligate the School of Nursing to secure additional hours or placements.
Students are not permitted to miss classes to complete practicum hours.
Students are required to attend the practicum placement they are assigned to.