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For students taking NU480CL
For students taking NU480CL
Course Overview
Course Overview
Single capstone course: NU480CL
Required clinical hours: 40 hours
Experience must include one patient in each of the Four Spheres of Nursing Practice
What counts toward clinical hours?
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Students should expect to spend approximately 40 hours in your clinical course. On-site activities will include the assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of the clinical project. The clinical course will include detailed information about the required direct‐care clinical activities.
All clinical hours must be supervised by the preceptor during the academic term in which you are registered for the clinical course. Your clinical hour logs must accurately reflect the dates, times, and hours you were present at your approved clinical site and engaged in clinical activities under the supervision of the preceptor. Any instance of fabricated information in your hours or patient encounter logs can result in disciplinary action under the university’s code of student conduct.
The Four Spheres
The Four Spheres
You must work with four separate patients—one for each sphere—and complete a full clinical packet for each.
Preventative
Preventative
The promotion of physical and mental health in all patients as well as management of minor acute and intermittent care needs of generally healthy patients.
Restorative
Restorative
Includes critical/trauma care, complex acute care, acute exacerbations of chronic conditions, and treatment of physiologically unstable patients that generally requires care in a mega-acute care institution.
Chronic Disease
Chronic Disease
Includes management of chronic diseases and prevention of negative sequelae.
Hospice/Palliative
Hospice/Palliative
Includes end-of-life care as well as palliative and supportive care for individuals requiring extended care, those with complex, chronic disease states, or those requiring rehabilitative care.
Key Requirements
Key Requirements
40 total hours spent across all spheres (minimum 10 per packet recommended)
Clinical packet includes: physical assessment, summary of findings, review of an evidence-based practice change assessment, individualized plan, implementation, evaluation, and reflection questions
Preceptor must be BSN-prepared RN, PA, NP, MD, or DO
If a patient is discharged before the packet is complete, you must start over with a new patient
Your preceptor must be present on-site during your clinical engagement
Suggested Clinical Settings
Suggested Clinical Settings
Hospital
Acute rehab units
Independent/assisted living facilities
Long-term care
Home health (pediatric and adult) facilities
Hospice centers
Oncology units
Wound care
Telehealth
Office settings (primary care, psychiatric office, cardiovascular, etc.)
Prison settings
Course Outcomes
Course Outcomes
NU480CL: Four Spheres BSN Capstone Clinical
NU480CL: Four Spheres BSN Capstone Clinical
NU480CL-1: Develop a direct care clinical experience within the preventative sphere of nursing care that is intended to achieve a specific health goal or selected health outcome.
NU480CL-2: Develop a direct care clinical experience within the regenerative/restorative sphere of nursing care that is intended to achieve a specific health goal or selected health outcome.
NU480CL-3: Develop a direct care clinical experience within the chronic disease management sphere of nursing care that is intended to achieve a specific health goal or selected health outcome.
NU480CL-4: Develop a direct care clinical experience within the hospice/palliative sphere of nursing care that is intended to achieve a specific health goal or selected health outcome.
What You Need To Do Each Term
What You Need To Do Each Term
Plan Early: Review your clinical course and begin site/preceptor planning 1-2 terms ahead.
Submit Paperwork: Upload all required documents in CORE ELMS before deadlines.
Get Approved: Wait for official approval via PG email before logging any hours.
Start & Track: Begin clinicals on the approved date and log hours weekly.
Stay Engaged: Attend check-ins and complete evaluations on time.
Next Steps
Next Steps
Use the links below to complete required clinical steps:
Need Help?
Need Help?
Find your Clinical Student Manager (CSM) by Program & State for any clinical questions.
Contact your Student Success Manager (SSM) at 866-522-7747 for any enrollment/registration questions.
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