Clinical placement is the required clinical education component of Baylor University’s Online Doctor of Nursing Practice programs (DNP) and the Distance ABSN program. Clinicals work closely with the classroom-based coursework to prepare you for your future providing primary care in the field.

Your preceptor is your on-site role model and will help you develop as a nurse during your clinical rotation. They will:

• Bridge the gap between theory and actual practice
• Orient you to the practice setting (key personnel, organization, and institutional policies)
• Help you plan clinical assignments
• Provide one-on-one supervision and daily feedback
• Review and co-sign all documentation in the clinical records

Your responsibilities during clinical rotations include:

• Reviewing objectives for fulfilling clinical requirements
• Providing your preceptor with daily written objectives and evaluation forms
• Reviewing existing clinical protocols and Baylor University’s protocols with your preceptor
• Documenting all clinical encounters using a SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment and Plan) format
• Ensuring you are always under the supervision of your preceptor

Clinical orientation is different for each site, but you can expect to complete the clinicals clearances, learn about appropriate dress codes and the necessary clinical tools. 

You’ll receive an email notification approximately 30 days before you begin your clinical rotation. This email will detail the site and preceptor information, any additional requirements requested by the site. It is at this time that you will introduce yourself to the site and determine a detailed schedule for completing your clinical hours for that rotation.

The Placement team will ensure your clinical site and preceptor are located within your regional area and meet all the requirements - from restricted settings and support to education and experience. Once you have received your site information, your only responsibility will be to contact the site and discuss your clinic hours.

During the placement experience, you will have access to faculty and other resources to support you. Faculty will be available to mentor and support you throughout the rotation if there are any specific questions about procedures, patient interactions, and general proficiencies. At the end of the placement rotation, you and your preceptor will review requirements, complete surveys and officially end the placement rotation. If you have multiple rotations, you will receive the next preceptor/site details.

Shortly after enrollment, you will be provided with a placement intake form you are required to complete that captures your competencies, experience, and placement preferences. 

Baylor University will collaborate with you to identify a quality placement site and preceptor. While the placement team is securing sites and preceptors, you will be responsible for completing clinical clearance requirements in preparation for placement, including:

• Drug screening
• Background check
• Recommended vaccinations

You will not be permitted to begin your placement rotations without your clearances complete. Once the sites have been approved by the School of Nursing, Baylor University will share the placement site details with you prior to placement.

Baylor University’s Distance ABSN program requirements for clinical hours are:

• CSHA Clinical Skills / Health Assessment Lab [students will go to campus one time for two weeks]
• NUR 3200 Professional Nursing Practice: Intro to Professional Nursing
• NUR 3226 Professional Nursing: Care of the Patient with Mental Health Needs
• NUR 3225 Professional Nursing: Care of the Patient with Medical Surgical Needs
• NUR 4345 Professional Nursing Practice: Community Health Nursing
• NUR 4225 Professional Nursing Practice: Care of the Childbearing Family
• NUR 4226 Professional Nursing Practice: Care of the Childrearing Family
• NUR 4335 Professional Nursing Practice: Transition to Practice

Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing believes you are only as successful as your training, which is why we will collaborate with you to identify clinical sites and preceptors for clinical rotations. This will enable you to focus on coursework and developing core competencies rather than spending a significant amount of time on the logistics of clinical placements. However, if you already have a placement site or preceptor in mind, students are encouraged to refer them to the placement team to secure. Additionally, you may find clinical placement sites to be potential locations for future employment opportunities upon graduation.

Clinical faculty and your preceptor will be your primary support during clinical rotation courses. You will also record your assessment /recommendations in SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment and Plan) Notes. This will be reviewed and critiqued so you can achieve better practice methods.