Nurse Practitioner Guidelines

Credit/clock hours are designated in parentheses after each course. The credits for each course are followed by 2 sequential numbers: the first number indicates the didactic or classroom hours and the second number indicates the supervised practice hours. Didactic credit hours are computed on a 1:1 credit/contact hour ratio; supervised practice hours are computed on a 1:5 credit/contact hour ratio. Semester calculations are based on a standardized 15-week semester; therefore, everyone credit of supervised practice hours equals 45 hours per semester (1 credit x 1:5 ratio x 15-week semester).

Both part-time and full-time plans of study are available. Each student is assigned a faculty academic adviser to oversee academic progression of the program. The graduate adviser will develop the initial plan of study and will also assist students with development/revision as needed during the program. Remember that the plan of study is designed to help you progress through the coursework in a timely manner. Any changes in your planned course of study must be agreed upon by your academic adviser. The graduate adviser will help you with this process if needed. All DNP students are assigned a faculty academic adviser on admission to the program. Specific questions regarding the program requirements may be directed to the graduate program staff assistant, your faculty academic adviser, the program director, or the Associate Dean for Graduate Education as appropriate. All faculty and staff are ready to assist you in any way possible to make this program of study the richest experience possible, but it is your responsibility to maintain communication (e.g., Penn State email, phone or meeting) with your advisor.

PRECEPTOR SUPERVISED NURSE PRACTITIONER DOCTORAL PRACTICUM EXPERIENCES 

NP doctoral practicum experiences in the graduate program are supervised by qualified preceptors who are licensed and credentialed advanced practice nurses and physicians (MD or DO). Students may work with Physician Assistants if the supervising physician is also willing to work with the student and accepts responsibility as the preceptor of record., including completion of a Preceptor Agreement Students are primarily responsible for the identification of clinical preceptors and sites and may receive assistance from faculty when needed. The Clinical Placement Coordinator, Clinical course coordinator, and local clinical faculty will work with the student to ensure that they are linked with appropriate preceptors within a reasonable distance from their campus. As the student interacts with preceptors, the student needs to remember that they are representing the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing expects professional and courteous interactions.

Preceptor agreements are used to specify expectations for the clinical performance and clinical logs (in Typhon) are used to document those experiences. The student’s role in securing and maintaining these documents will be fully explained in course syllabi and/or class sessions. The preceptor provides input regarding the clinical performance and, likewise, the student will have an opportunity to evaluate the preceptor and clinical agency/site.

Should the student have any concerns or issues regarding preceptors or preceptor-supervised experiences that they feel have not been adequately addressed by the course instructor, the student should contact the Program Director. If the student is still unsatisfied with the resolution, they can contact the Associate Dean of Graduate Education & Research.

CLINICAL DRESS CODE POLICY 

Students are required to wear appropriate professional conservative attire. Professional attire includes dress slacks or skirt and conservative top (no shorts or open-toed shoes). Students need to wear a lab coat* with a name tag. Both can be purchased at a uniform shop.

*Note that some sites prefer students do NOT wear lab coats. Each student should check with the preceptor regarding this. If lab coats are not required by the site, a name tag should be worn at all times.

NAME TAG

The name tag is always worn and should have the following lines:

1) Full name and educational credentials (Ex. RN, B.S.N.)

2) Nurse Practitioner Student 3) Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing

3.) Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing

LAB COAT 

The lab coat may be ordered through the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing’s vendor for the current Penn State Logo, sewn above the breast pocket. They may also be purchased at the vendor of your choice. The logo is not required. The lab coats should be mid-thigh to knee length. (NP students do not wear the hip/waist-length jackets that the medical students wear as NP students are already licensed, professional RNs.)

New Look Uniform Shop 

800 South 20th Street and Pleasant Valley Blvd. 

Altoona, PA 16602  

Phone: 814-944-5515  

Toll Free: 800-752-7986 

Website: http://newlookuniforms.com/  

Fax: 814-941-2694 

Email: NewLookUniform@yahoo.com  

Orders with New Look Uniform Shop should use the following form to place their order. 

Some clinical facilities may have other requirements for their dress code. Students should check with their clinical faculty or the site to identify variations in the dress code. Non-compliance with the dress code policy will result in clinical failure.

NURSE PRACTITIONER SPECIFIC CLINICAL GUIDELINES CLINICAL ROTATIONS

Graduate students choose their own clinical sites and preceptors when able, although faculty and the clinical coordinator assist when needed. All preceptors must be approved by the course coordinator and clinical faculty member. Preceptors for nurse practitioner students can be nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physicians, or physician assistants but ideally, the graduate nurse practitioner student will spend more than 50% of their time with a nurse practitioner preceptor. The preceptors can be masters or doctorly prepared nurses. Clinical sites for graduate students are typically within an hour of their home location.

The focus of the clinical rotation is Primary Care in both the Family and Adult Gerontology Primary Care options, Acute Care in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care option, and Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan in the Psychiatric Mental Health NP option.  Special emphasis is on experiences with under-served populations. Students need to consider that their clinical rotation will be primarily scheduled Monday through Fridays but may include off shifts and weekends based on your preceptor’s schedule and approval of course faculty. If you work, your work schedule will need to flex around class, clinical practicum experiences, and clinical conferences, plus allow study time.

When students together with faculty and the clinical coordinator identify a clinical preceptor, the student will notify the Clinical Course Coordinator and Clinical faculty. The student, faculty and preceptor will complete an electronic Preceptor Agreement Form which may be accessed from the course. The Preceptor Agreement form must be completed with all signatures according to course deadlines before the first clinical day. It is the responsibility of the student to contact their preceptor to discuss a mutually agreeable schedule and obtain directions to the clinical site. This should be arranged prior to the beginning of the semester. Students may need to complete facility specific paperwork, compliances, and/or attend an orientation at the facility prior to starting clinical.

Some clinical sites require a formal agreement to place students at their clinical site. Please notify the course coordinator and Clinical Placement Coordinator of the program immediately if the site requests a contract. The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing will work with the Penn State legal department to negotiate a binding contract between the clinical site and the University. Please note that this process may take up to 90 days and the student will not be permitted to be at the site until the formal contract has been approved. The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing office will inform the student and clinical instructor once the contract has been approved.

Students will be responsible for bringing all required paperwork to the preceptor by the first clinical day. The focus of the clinical rotation is Primary Care in both the Family and Adult Gerontology Primary Care options and Acute Care in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care option. Special emphasis is on experiences with under-served populations. Students need to consider that their clinical rotation will be primarily scheduled Monday through Fridays but may include off shifts and weekends based on your preceptor’s schedule and approval of course faculty. If you work, your work schedule will need to flex around class, clinical practicum experiences, and clinical conferences, plus allow study time.

When students identify a clinical preceptor, the student will notify the Clinical Course Coordinator and Clinical faculty. The student, faculty and preceptor will complete an electronic Preceptor Agreement Form which may be accessed from the course. The Preceptor Agreement form must be completed with all signatures according to course deadlines before the first clinical day. It is the responsibility of the student to contact their preceptor to discuss a mutually agreeable schedule and obtain directions to the clinical site. This should be arranged prior to the beginning of the semester. Students may need to complete facility specific paperwork, compliances, and/or attend an orientation at the facility prior to starting clinical.

Some clinical sites require a formal agreement to place students at their clinical site. Please notify the course coordinator and Clinical Placement Coordinator of the program immediately if the site requests a contract. The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing will work with the Penn State legal department to negotiate a binding contract between the clinical site and the University. Please note that this process may take up to 90 days and the student will not be permitted to be at the site until the formal contract has been approved. The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing office will inform the student and clinical instructor once the contract has been approved.

Students will be responsible for bringing all required paperwork to the preceptor by the first clinical day. At the end of the rotation, students complete preceptor and site evaluation surveys.

This will include:

1. The Preceptor Agreement Form (electronic)

2. An introductory letter from the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing (may be sent by clinical faculty)

3. The Preceptor Evaluation of Student Clinical Performance (electronic)

4. Student, Preceptor, and Faculty Responsibilities form

5. Copy of the Course Syllabus

These forms will be accessible to the student in the current clinical course. Faculty will discuss students’ progress with preceptors throughout the semester to validate clinical competency. Students may need to complete additional clinical hours to achieve competency, if their skills are lacking.

Revised: 9/29/2025

LAB FEES 

A clinical lab fee may be charged to cover the cost of clinical workshops, such as a one-time clinical lab fee for the duration of the program that will not exceed $100.00. Fee schedules will be reviewed annually for new incoming students and notice of fee changes will be communicated as part of the admission process. 

All clinical experiences / patients will be logged on the Typhon clinical log. There will be an orientation regarding using Typhon your first clinical semester; usually the first week. You must register and pay a one-time fee of $100.00 for use of Typhon. An email will be sent to you with your Typhon login and password during your first clinical semester.