Clinical placement—sometimes referred to simply as clinicals—is one of the most important phases of becoming a nurse practitioner (NP). Clinicals allow aspiring NPs to put into practice the knowledge and skills they learned and developed in their degree programs.

During their education and training, aspiring NPs learn theories of patient care in lab and classroom settings. Clinical placement then gives them the opportunity to apply what they learned in clinical settings under the supervision of physicians.

In addition to being students of medicine, nurse practitioners who are in clinical training are also critical players in a health system that is facing increased demand and rising costs, supporting current health care professionals as they hone their skills and prepare for their own futures.

To prepare for their roles as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), aspiring NPs must pursue advanced nursing degrees. Students in these programs typically need to find NP clinical placements as part of their education.

Clinicals are a form of guided nurse training in a hospital or other clinical setting.

A clinical experience consists of hundreds of hours of work under the supervision of an experienced licensed NP called a preceptor. Nurse practitioner clinical placement occurs during Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs, with some programs requiring students to find their own preceptors and others assisting with placements.

Clinical placement is one of the many benefits of earning a DNP, giving future nurse practitioners the opportunity to develop skills in a practical setting. It also prepares nurses to enter the workforce with the highest level of nursing education, promoting better practice and more positive patient outcomes.

Clinicals provide future NPs a chance to perform the various duties of the job with assistance and supervision before working independently. Preceptors are available to answer any questions nursing students may have and help them acclimate to a hospital environment. It’s like working with a safety net: preceptors provide the necessary guidance to keep students from making any significant errors.

The duties that nursing students perform during clinicals may include:

• Assessing patients
• Obtaining vital signs
• Updating patient records
• Dressing, bathing, and assisting patients
• Preparing hospital rooms for incoming patients
• Starting and discontinuing IVs
• Providing medications to patients
• Administering treatments
• Educating patients and their families
• Providing comfort to patients and demonstrating good bedside manner

According to the nursing advocacy organization ANA Enterprise, nursing students in clinicals are graded on factors like homework, preparedness, participation, and attendance.

The length of NP clinicals varies according to state regulations but typically comprises 600 to 800 hours of clinical rotations, sometimes spread across multiple semesters or even years. This gives student nurses an extended opportunity to explore a variety of health care settings and to experience the rigors and advantages of working a real-world nursing schedule—which may include shifts of up to 12 hours or more, according to ANA Enterprise.

Nursing students are provided with an itemized list of essential and recommended things to bring to their shifts. The list typically includes items like:

• A badge or other form of identification
• Nurse scrubs or uniform
• Comfortable closed-toe shoes
• Snacks
• A pocket-sized notebook
• A clipboard
• Relevant educational materials to study during downtime

Nurse practitioner clinicals solidify the lessons learned in the classroom by putting them into practice in a clinical setting, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and private practices. Clinicals help nursing students navigate their future work environment while under the supervision of an experienced nurse.

For example, students have the opportunity to work with experienced professionals to learn how to use the equipment and perform the duties required of nurse practitioners—so they don’t encounter these tools and tasks for the first time during a more critical moment while on the job.

Nurse practitioner clinical placement provides exposure to several health care environments and patient demographics. By the time clinicals have concluded, nursing students will have had the chance to develop the skills needed to administer effective care and achieve positive patient outcomes.

Clinicals also provide NP students with clarity on their intended career direction. By working with multiple patient demographics in their chosen specialty, nursing students can develop an informed opinion about the area of medicine where they intend to practice and confirm that it’s the right path for them.

Finding a nurse practitioner clinical placement can require time and effort, but many nursing schools provide assistance or guidance for students looking to connect with a nursing preceptor.

The following tips can help nursing students secure clinical placement:

• Leverage all personal health care connections and colleagues.
• Start researching clinical sites and potential preceptors as soon as possible.
• Network with health care professionals to identify placements, establish contacts, and gain insights.
• Reach out to local hospitals and health care organizations about clinical placement opportunities.
• Before starting the NP program, take the time to shadow an NP and establish a personal connection.
• Speak to nursing instructors about contacting alumni who may be good preceptor candidates.
• Leverage social media networks such as LinkedIn or Facebook to connect with NPs.
• Reach out to relevant NP organizations—some offer resources for NP students.
• Always prepare a backup clinical site just in case the primary one falls through.

There are several paid services online that match NP students with preceptors. Although paying for a preceptor service may be an unwanted expense, some NP students are willing to incur it to avoid conducting hours of research, networking, and outreach.

Nurse practitioner clinical placement is one of the most important aspects of an NP student’s journey to becoming an effective and competent health care professional.

The hands-on practical application of nursing concepts and skills in a clinical setting is essential for an NP’s development and acclimation to a health care environment. Clinicals are where NPs discover themselves while developing their clinical abilities and soft skills.

Those who are ready to pursue a career as an APRN should explore their options in higher education, such as the online Master of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program offered at Regis College.

Offered in six different NP specialties, the MSN to DNP program provides nursing students a top-quality educational environment in which they can build the skills and knowledge to start on the path toward becoming leading clinicians in their field.

Learn more about the program and discover how it can help you achieve your professional goals.