Department of Nursing Experiential Nursing Learning Requirements

The RN to BSN program defines a preceptor as a qualified individual who works one-to-one with a student in a public/community health area to promote the students' learning course outcomes. The qualification of the preceptors includes the following established criteria:

Qualifications of Preceptor
1. Hold an active and current licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state where experiential nursing learning experience(s) will be completed.
2. Having a minimum of 1-3 years of experience as a registered nurse is preferred.
3. Hold a Baccalaureate (BSN) or higher degree in nursing.
4. Currently working in a community/public health role.
5. Are willing to serve as preceptors.
6. Possess effective communication and interpersonal skills and enjoys working with RN to BSN students.
7. It is recommended the preceptor not be a family member or close friend.
8. The experiential nursing course faculty is responsible for ensuring licensure checks of preceptors every two years unless a preceptor is identified is new to the role.
9. The qualifications of experiential nursing learning sites/locations include the following:

• Allow students to develop their student learning health promotion objectives in collaboration with preceptor and course faculty feedback.
• Allow students to assume leadership roles in the public/community health experiential nursing area
• Provide opportunities to expand the interprofessional partnership
• If required, establish a written signed memorandum of agreement

Preceptorships
A preceptor is a health care professional who is recognized as a clinical expert in his/her field. This individual voluntarily assumes the role of teacher, supervisor, facilitator, role model, and evaluator for a selected BSN nursing student studying a nursing role that is different from the one in which he or she is currently employed. The student and preceptor enter into a contractual agreement that further defines the boundaries and objectives of the preceptorships. Students will have a current CPR certification, unencumbered and current RN license, Minnesota Department of Human Services Background Study, and a Health History form with current immunizations on file before being placed within the preceptor experience. A preceptor is a BSN nurse employed in a public/community health clinical setting who serves as a role model and clinical resource person for a specific period of time to an individual enrolled in an approved nursing education program. The preceptor has four fundamental roles, as described below.

Role Model - As a role model, the preceptor demonstrates effective leadership and interpersonal skills are clinically competent, skilled in the use of the nursing process, and demonstrate the ability to engage the critical thinking process in both routine and complex nursing situations. Decision-making by the preceptor is based on scientific and behavioral principles. The preceptor, as a role model, demonstrates the application of evidence-based practice skills. Clinical expertise also includes patient/client teaching, knowledge and use of resources and expertise in both basic and advanced nursing skills.

Educator - As an educator, the preceptor must be familiar with the principles of adult learning. Integration of these principles into the educational process helps meet the needs of the learner. The preceptor, course instructor, and the student will collaborate to design experiential learning experiences to meet individual learning goals and objectives and the course learning outcomes listed in the syllabus. Ideally, the experiential learning assignments should reflect the content of the course at that point in time. The preceptor also shares expertise and experience with the nursing student, develops the student’s abilities and confidence, encourages the student to reflect on the learning experiences, and encourages questions and discussion.

Facilitator - As a facilitator, the preceptor is in a supportive role. The preceptor provides support by creating an environment to facilitate a sense of psychological safety, removing obstacles so that learning opportunities are enhanced, and helping the student integrate into the work setting. The student is guided toward self-direction using the strategies of collaborative goal setting. The preceptor facilitates the social and professional transition of the student into the role of the professional nurse.

Evaluator - As an evaluator, the preceptor is to provide formal and informal feedback to the learner that is objective and based on achievement of course learning outcomes. The preceptor participates in the evaluation process, providing feedback that motivates learning by validating that the student is achieving the expected outcomes or by identifying additional needed knowledge or skills. Progress in the achievement of learning objectives and outcomes is reviewed periodically with the student. Post-conferences should be held after each experiential learning shift/session to help the student evaluate the experience and progress toward course outcomes and individual learning objectives. Evaluation conferences are arranged as needed and at the end of the required experiential learning experience. Together the preceptor and student must review the completed evaluation form before the evaluative conference at the end of the experiential learning experience. The forms will be maintained in the student’s academic file within the course. All forms must be submitted on or before the due date set by the course instructor. The preceptor may make written recommendations for future learning experiences and will be asked to voluntarily evaluate the preceptor's experience.

Course Description
Students will work with the course faculty to determine public/community health experiential nursing learning experiences. Students will collaborate with community partners and health agencies to assess populations, develop health promotion projects, provide health education, and assist vulnerable populations within communities to maintain optimal health.

Student Learning Outcomes
1. Plan interprofessional collaboration activities with public/community health nursing leaders and community partners/liaisons to meet the health-related needs of individuals, families, aggregates, communities, and populations for the upcoming experiential nursing learning experience.
2. Analyze evidence-based community health nursing actions to guide health promotion and prevention activities, including self-care practices for self and others.
3. Prepare for the upcoming experiential nursing learning experience through the application of contemporary population-based health knowledge, attitudes, and leadership skills to provide holistic care to the community as the client.

Course Description
Students in this public/community health experiential nursing learning experiential nursing learning course study the baccalaureate nursing leadership role in population health settings. Students partner with community agencies to apply and evaluate the population-focused nursing process. Students consider levels of disease prevention and practice, community assessment, and interprofessional collaboration in various community settings to promote optimal health. Students explore a variety of community-based settings that promote and advocate for healthy outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and populations. 

Student Learning Outcomes
1. Take part in ethical caring behaviors with a focus on the value of autonomy by respecting the patient’s right to self-determination.
2. Develop skills of critical thinking, communication, assessment, quality improvement, safety, and population-based interventions to improve health outcomes of diverse populations.
3. Participate in interprofessional collaboration, and public health interventions, including health promotion, health education, teaching, screening, illness prevention, and follow-up.
4. Use management/leadership and quality improvement skills to meet the needs of the population served in the public/community health experiential nursing learning experience.
5. Evaluate social determinants of health, culturally appropriate health promotion practices, and disease-prevention strategies for self and others.
6. Evaluate lifelong learning, informatics/technology, and research evidence to promote population health and nursing actions to guide health promotion, prevention, maintenance, and restoration activities.
7. Function as a nurse leader and change agent using the Scope and Standards of Public Health Nursing to advocate for policy changes that promote population-based health.

STUDENT/PRECEPTOR/FACULTY COMMUNICATION AGREEMENT
This agreement is to provide an acceptable learning environment for the education of a Southwest Minnesota State University RN to BSN nursing student enrolled in the NURS 450 Public/Community Health Experiential Nursing Learning course. The learning agreement is mutually beneficial and is therefore agreed to by Southwest Minnesota State University RN to BSN faculty, the BSN-prepared nurse preceptor, and the RN to BSN student to complete the 24 required preceptor hours.

This LEARNING AGREEMENT entered as of ________________, 20___ by, and between, the RN to BSN Program at Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, MN.

RN to BSN STUDENT
Name and Title_______________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________
City, State, Zip________________________________________________
Telephone___________________________________________________
Email_______________________________________________________
STUDENT SIGNATURE (electronic)___________________Date________

BSN-PREPARED RECEPTOR
Name, Title, and Experiential Learning Site/Location________________ Address______________________________________________________
City, State, Zip_________________________________________________
Telephone____________________________________________________
Email _______________________________________________________

I have received the Preceptor Handbook and understand it is my responsibility to read and be responsible for the contents of the Preceptor Handbook and understand its contents.  

       No              Yes     (Circle One)

All practicum experiences are to be conducted in accordance with Title IX with regard to discrimination against any person based on age, sex, race, or creed.

PRECEPTOR/SITE MENTOR SIGNATURE________________Date______

SECOND PRECEPTOR/SITE MENTOR (if applicable)
Name, Title, and Experiential Learning Site/Location ________________ Address______________________________________________________
City, State, Zip_________________________________________________
Telephone____________________________________________________
Email _______________________________________________________

I have received the Preceptor Handbook and understand it is my responsibility to read and be responsible for the contents of the Preceptor Handbook and understand its contents.  

       No              Yes     (Circle One)

All practicum experiences are to be conducted in accordance with Title IX with regard to discrimination against any person based on age, sex, race, or creed.

PRECEPTOR/SITE MENTOR SIGNATURE_____________Date_________

SMSU FACULTY: Lindsay Rohlik, MS, RN, PHN
Director/Assistant Professor of Nursing
Address: 1501 State Street, ST 255
City, State, Zip: Marshall, MN 56258
Telephone: 507-537-7385 & cell: 507-401-7060
Email: lindsay.rohlik@smsu.edu

FACULTY
SIGNATURE____________________________Date__________________

RN to BSN Program
PRECEPTOR FEEDBACK of STUDENT PERFORMANCE
NURS 450 – Public/Community Health Experiential Nursing Learning

Date: ___________________
Semester: _______________________________________________________________
Name of Preceptor: _______________________________________________________
Agency/Organization: _____________________________________________________
Name of Student: ________________________________________________________

Preceptor:
Please review this form with the student. The student must submit the completed form to the faculty who assigns a final grade. Without this form, the student cannot pass the course.

Please rate the student’s performance in each of the following areas on a scale of “1” to “10,” with “1” representing the lowest levels of performance and “10” the highest.

			Rating (1 to 10)
1.		Professional appearance/manner/demeanor	________
2.		Motivation (student objectives are met in experience) Each student has created objectives for the experiential nursing learning experience	________
3.		Self-directed resourcefulness	________
4.		Value of the contributions to the agency/organization	________
5.		Reliability/adherence to schedules	________
6.		Function as a member of a collaborative interprofessional team	________
7.		Take part in ethical caring behaviors with a focus on the value of autonomy by respecting the patient’s right to self-determination (Course Student Learning Outcome 1)	________
8.		Develop skills of critical thinking, communication, assessment, quality improvement, safety, and population-based interventions to improve health outcomes of diverse populations. (Student Learning Outcome 2)	________
9.		Participate in interprofessional collaboration, public health interventions including health promotion, health education, teaching, screening, illness prevention, and follow-up. (Student Learning Outcome 3)	________
10.		Use management/leadership and quality improvement skills to meet the needs of the population served in the public/community health experiential nursing learning experience. (Student Learning Outcome 4)	________
11.		Overall Performance	________
Total number of experiential nursing learning hours completed:			________

Preceptor’s comments on particular areas of student growth and performance:

______________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Agency Preceptor                    Date

Student Comments:

______________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Student                                    Date

DIRECTIONS: Please evaluate your Preceptor(s) and Experiential Nursing Learning Experience by circling one letter or writing a short phrase. For items 1-10 circle the letter that best describes your feelings using the following scale.
Student Name: __________________________________________

SA (Strongly agree)   A (Agree)   D (Disagree)   SD (Strongly disagree)   NA (Not applicable/Don’t Know)

1. SA  A  D  SD  NA    My Preceptor demonstrated competence in public/community health.
2. SA  A  D  SD  NA    My Preceptor allowed me to be independent yet was available as needed.
3. SA  A  D  SD  NA    My Preceptor facilitated learning so that I would get the best experiences possible.
4. SA  A  D  SD  NA    If my Preceptor was not available, a suitable substitute helped with my learning.
5. SA  A  D  SD  NA    Preceptor communicated well and frequently provided performance feedback.
6. SA  A  D  SD  NA    If I had a question or concern, I felt comfortable asking my Preceptor for assistance.
7. SA  A  D  SD  NA    My Preceptor provided a suitable orientation and helped me to feel comfortable.
8. SA  A  D  SD  NA    My Preceptor demonstrated professional nursing.
9. SA  A  D  SD  NA    My Preceptor had previous experience working with students.
10. SA  A  D  SD  NA    The experiential nursing learning site met or exceeded my expectations for learning outcomes.
11. The three most valuable things about the experiential nursing learning experience were:
12. I wish that….
13. Describe the Preceptor’s ability to facilitate your learning:
14. Would you recommend a similar experience to a prospective RN to BSN student??
    a. I highly recommend this Preceptor and experiential nursing learning site.
    b. I recommend this Preceptor and experiential nursing learning site but suggest these changes:
    c. I do not recommend this Preceptor and experiential nursing learning site.
15. Overall, on a scale of 1 to 5, how would you rate this experience? Please circle the appropriate number.
        Satisfactory     5   4   3   2   1   Unsatisfactory
16. Other comments:
17. Experiential Nursing Learning site for your experience:
18. Name of site/organization:
19.    Preceptor’s Name:
                                                                                                                   

Student’s Signature                        Date