Guide for Prospective NP and CRNA Students
Before enrolling in a program
Understand clinical placement responsibilities before you enroll
Pursuing an advanced practice nursing degree is a significant investment of time, energy and financial resources. Before enrolling in a Nurse Practitioner or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program, make sure you understand how required clinical education will be arranged. Clinical placements are supervised, hands-on learning experiences completed at an approved clinical site with an eligible clinician who serves as a preceptor.
Before enrolling, determine whether the school arranges clinical placements or expects you to find your own preceptors and clinical sites. Do not assume that admission to a program includes a guaranteed clinical placement.
Already enrolled and looking for a placement?
If you are currently enrolled in an NP or CRNA program and want to request a clinical placement at PeaceHealth, visit our clinical placement requests for current NP/CRNA students page.
Who is responsible for securing clinical placements?
Program models vary. Some schools identify and arrange clinical placements for their students. Other schools expect students to identify potential preceptors, clinical sites or both.
If students are expected to identify potential placements, ask what responsibilities the school retains for:
- Evaluating and approving the clinical site
- Confirming that the preceptor meets program requirements
- Establishing required agreements with the clinical organization
- Ensuring that the experience meets academic and regulatory requirements
- Supporting the student if the original placement becomes unavailable
Ask the program to explain its placement process and responsibilities in writing before you enroll.
Do not assume a placement is guaranteed
A student’s qualifications do not guarantee that an appropriate placement will be available. Placement opportunities may be affected by:
- Availability of qualified preceptors
- Clinical specialty
- Geographic location
- Timing and required clinical hours
- Competition from other educational programs
- Existing academic relationships
- Patient care needs
- Organizational capacity
A delayed placement may extend the time needed to complete a program. Before enrolling, ask whether a delay could result in additional tuition, fees, travel costs or lost income.
Questions to ask before enrolling
Placement responsibilities
- Does the program arrange clinical placements?
- Am I expected to find my own preceptor or clinical site?
- Who contacts potential preceptors and clinical organizations?
- When does placement planning begin?
- What happens if my planned placement becomes unavailable?
- What assistance will the school provide if I cannot find a placement?
Placement results
- What percentage of students receive placements by the date needed?
- How many students have experienced delayed graduation because a placement was unavailable?
- Are placement results available for my specialty and geographic area?
- Can the school provide placement results in writing?
Program requirements and approvals
- Is the program appropriately accredited?
- Is the program authorized to enroll students in the state where I live?
- Will the program meet licensing and certification requirements in the state where I intend to practice?
- Can the school place students in my state?
- Are there limitations on completing clinical education across state lines?
Students should verify requirements with the school and the appropriate nursing regulatory body for the state in which they intend to practice.
Program outcomes
Ask the school for its:
- Graduation rate
- On-time completion rate
- Certification examination pass rate
- Student withdrawal rate
- Employment outcomes
- Available academic and student support services
When possible, request outcomes specifically for your intended clinical specialty and program format.
Costs beyond tuition
Ask whether you may be responsible for:
- Clinical placement or placement assistance fees
- Additional tuition if your graduation is delayed
- Travel and temporary housing
- Background checks and required health documentation
- Drug screening
- Required insurance
- Equipment, technology or documentation fees
Consider the availability of your specialty
Some specialty tracks may have fewer available preceptors or clinical sites. Examples may include:
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
If you are considering a highly specialized track, ask the school for placement results specific to that specialty and the geographic area where you hope to complete your clinical education.
Understanding PeaceHealth’s role
PeaceHealth supports the education of future healthcare professionals through relationships with educational institutions and the service of clinicians who volunteer as preceptors. Placement decisions must also account for patient care needs, preceptor availability, organizational capacity and existing educational commitments.
Please understand:
- PeaceHealth does not guarantee clinical placements.
- Admission to or enrollment in an academic program does not guarantee placement at PeaceHealth.
- Opportunities vary by location, specialty, timing, organizational capacity and available preceptors.
- All placement requests are subject to review and approval.
Students should not enroll in a program based on an expectation that PeaceHealth will provide a placement.