Clinical Placement Process Step-by-Step Guide

Begin preparing at least one term before your clinical term. Review your academic plan, clinical eligibility, and upcoming term requirements. Attend a live clinical webinar or watch the training video. 

Clinical Orientation Webinar

► Watch Video

→ Go to Webinar Website for live webinar dates and more information (coming soon)

Download the Facility Contact Log Template and access a copy of our Clinical Site & Preceptor Networking Checklist and Guide. This guide will provide you with networking tips, sample outreach, and strategies to connect with clinical sites & preceptors.

Plan to complete a minimum of three contacts per week to potential sites and preceptors, beginning in your first term of study. Track your contacts and follow-up on the contact log.

Access information for facilities in CORE ELMS, so that you can provide this to potential clinical sites, if requested.

All new sites must be reviewed for an Affiliation Agreement if one is not already one file.

All preclinical requirements must be approved by your Clinical Student Manager before you begin clinical courses. Step-by-step instructions for completing the preclinical requirements are found in CORE ELMS.

Documents typically take 5-7 business days to review. You'll receive email notification when your submission is approved or if additional information is needed. You must complete all preclinical documentation (immunizations, drug screen, liability insurance, health and safety documents, etc.)

Go to Preclinical Requirements page →

• • Once you have received a verbal agreement from a potential site to host you for a clinical rotation, submit this site for School of Nursing faculty and clinical team review.

  • Your potential site is submitted to the “Site Prospector” area of CORE ELMS.

  • Your submission must include information on the site location, address, type of patients seen, as well as your preceptor’s name, credentials, contact and license information. If available, please submit a copy of your preceptor’s resume/CV.

  • Include any required preceptor documentations in your submission.

Note: Site & preceptor submissions must only be completed once you have identified a potential site or preceptor and they have verbally agreed to host you. Information provided on site & preceptor submissions must be accurate and correct. Any instance of fabricated information on a site submission can result in disciplinary action under the university’s code of student conduct.

⚠️ To prevent any potential conflict of interest, personal friends or relatives, including those by marriage, may not serve as preceptors.

For information about employer sites, preceptor eligibility, and conflict-of-interest rules, see the Employer Sites & Preceptor Rules Page →

For information about program availability guidelines, see the Program Availability Information page →

Once your site submission is approved, you may move forward with submitting site paperwork:

• Affiliation Agreement - a legal contract between us and your clinical site

• Preceptor Resume

• Preceptor Agreement

Note: The process for site paperwork varies by program/state. Please review the instructions in CORE ELMS.

Go to Affiliation Agreements page →

When all preclinical requirements, site submission, and site paperwork are approved, you will be cleared by the Clinical Student Support Team to register for your clinical course.

Please contact your Student Success Manager via email or phone (866-522-7747) to finalize your clinical course registration.

Once your placement has been finalized and you have been cleared to register for your clinical course, you are expected to meet with your preceptor before starting your rotation to arrange a mutually acceptable schedule for your clinical hours. You are expected to modify your personal schedule to accommodate your preceptor. Once a schedule is determined, you are expected to adhere to those hours.

Before starting your rotation with your assigned site, it is your responsibility to complete any site-required training or compliance documents, review the course learning objectives, and arrange for an orientation to the practice setting.

You are expected to remain fully aware of all school and university policies and procedures including, but not limited to, withdrawal dates, criteria for registration, course prerequisites, academic integrity, and so forth. All material is available in the university catalog.

Once in your clinical rotation, you will observe, analyze, and discuss the preceptor’s approach to professional practice, including interactions with clients and colleagues, and the demands of fulfilling the practitioner role in a challenging health care environment.

Use CORE ELMS to enter and categorize your hours. Differentiate between direct and indirect care, if applicable. Entries should be completed each week.

Communication must occur between you, your course instructor, and preceptor to ensure that the clinical activities are arranged and occur in a manner that facilitates your achievement of the course outcomes. Contact your instructor or your Clinical Student Manager (CSM) promptly if issues arise with your site or preceptor.

If you encounter an unusual situation that prohibits you from completing your clinical hours, an “Incomplete” grade may be authorized. You are encouraged to familiarize yourself with the University’s Incomplete policy. For an Incomplete to be considered, you must make a formal, written request to your clinical course instructor, outlining reasons for the Incomplete and provide a written plan for completion of the clinical course in the following term.