Direct focused client care and integrative practicum experiential learning are integral to successful completion of a prelicensure academic program. These experiences allow the learner to observe and apply essential nursing knowledge and skills as well as develop sound clinical reasoning. Specific learning objectives and outcomes dictate which types of experiential learning sites are selected for direct focused client care experiential learning. Every direct focused client care experiential learning session in a prelicensure program is concept-based and expects specific learning outcomes. Learners must successfully complete the direct focused client care and/or integrative practicum experiential learning to receive a passing grade in each course with these learning components. Learners do not receive any compensation for direct focused client care or integrative practicum experiential learning and are not allowed to accept tips or gifts.

The College contracts with multiple healthcare agencies to provide opportunities for on-ground direct focused client care and integrative practicum experiential learning. Based on site and/or preceptor availability, some on-ground experiential learning schedules may extend outside the academic semester. The agencies may be located at short or long distances from a learner’s residence. Based on the requirements for the course in which they are enrolled, learners who must travel to their assigned site may be required to spend between four (4) to twenty-five (25) days in the assigned region.  Placements may include breaks between scheduled on-ground days. Schedule Support will begin to distribute integrative practicum (IP) schedules to learners beginning the fourth week of the academic semester. 

Learners are responsible for providing reliable transportation to attend the required on-ground direct focused client care and integrative practicum experiential learning sessions. Depending on the agency’s location, learners may need accommodation at a hotel near the assigned direct focused client care experiential learning site. Any travel completed up to 100 miles in each direction is considered local travel and is not eligible for reimbursement of travel funds under the Experiential Learning Schedule (EL) policy. Learners are responsible for all expenses associated with transportation, lodging, and meals in conjunction with on-ground direct focused client care and integrative practicum experiential learning.

Certain direct focused client care and integrative practicum experiential learning sites may require drug screenings, immunizations, and/or background checks in addition to previously submitted credentials. Learners are responsible for paying for and completing the additional requirements prior to participating in experiential learning at these sites.

Note: The integrative practicum (preceptorship) must be completed by the end of the semester to pass the course. Learners will be assigned one integrative practicum in the last semester of their program.  An integrative practicum may not be rescheduled during the same semester as the originally assigned integrative practicum.  Learners who cannot attend their integrative practicum may be required to complete the practicum the following semester. However, in rare circumstances, when scheduling the integrative practicum prior to the end of an academic semester is not feasible, learners may receive an I (Incomplete) in the course and may fulfill the remainder of the integrative practicum requirement by the end of the following semester.