FAQs: MSN Clinical Preceptorship

WSSU trains students to become Family Nurse Practitioners who meet the primary care needs of individuals and families across the life span. Family nurse practitioners provide comprehensive, holistic health care, including a broad range of preventative, acute, and chronic disease services, to patients of both sexes and all ages within the context of family and community.

Students will learn how to practice autonomously and in collaboration with health care professionals and other individuals to assess, diagnose, treat and manage the patient's health care/needs. Students will learn to serve as health care researchers, interdisciplinary consultants and patient advocates.

Primary Care is the provision of integrated, accessible healthcare services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community (Institute of Medicine).

Clinicals begin the first spring semester for full-time students. Part-time students will begin clinicals during their second spring semester.

• NUR 6423 (192 clinical hours) -- In NUR 6423 Primary Health Care of Adults/Older Adults Practicum (Internal Medicine or FP site)- spring semester
• NUR 6327 (144 clinical hours) -- In NUR 6327 Primary Health Care of Women in Families Practicum (Ob/Gyn or FP)- summer semester
• NUR 6326 (144 clinical hours) -- In NUR 6326 Primary Health Care of Children in Families Practicum (FP or Peds site)- fall semester
• NUR 6444 (192 clinical hours) -- In NUR 6444 Residency Practicum (FP site)- spring semester

For the FNP student, you must seek sites where you will function as a PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER. Thus family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, etc. are appropriate sites. An opportunity to do a specialty clinical rotation may be available during Residency Practicum. Emergency rooms, absolute urgent care, surgical centers, etc. will NOT serve as appropriate sites during other rotations. Rural and underserved areas are the focus of the WSSU FNP program and students should concentrate their clinical preceptorship search on sites that serve rural and underserved areas.

Must be actively involved in clinical practice and:

• Nationally certified as an NP, NM, MD, PA, or ANE.
• Hold master’s degree or higher with at least 1 year of clinical experience in the setting you are in
  that semester.
• For the APRN or PA in North Carolina, must have prescriptive authority and if in federal agency must be recognized as an APRN meeting federal guidelines. [Federal facility requirements as VA clinics, military, US Public Health Service Corps (USPHSC), etc.].
• Licensed in North Carolina as NP, NM or PA.

Students must secure their own clinical sites.

• Use personal contacts (family, friends, and acquaintances) to get information on established, credible practitioners (Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant or Physician) i.e. your own PCP, children’s pediatrician or your parent’s PCP.
• Use professional contacts (current NP, PA, and MD, you work with now or in the past).
• Utilize email and phone contacts when available to you, then when possible go by the clinical site in person. (Be sure you do not cause a disruption to the clinic flow.)
• DRESS PROFESSIONALLY and be prepared to wait, wait, wait, if needed.
• Introduce yourself to the office personnel.
• The Office Manager (OM) is the most important person to meet.
• Only if possible, meet with the Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant and/or Physician.
• Ask if they would be interested in serving as a clinical preceptor. (You are asking for a few minutes of their time to discuss this possibility.)

The Clinical Coordinator will provide a clinical orientation session at the beginning of the fall semester and all of the NC AHECs can provide students with a list of preceptor candidates. Be mindful that the Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and Charlotte areas are saturated with NP, medical, and PA programs in addition to competition for sites from on-line programs. It is extremely difficult at times to find a clinical site in these areas so your chances of finding a clinical site increase when you spread your borders. Be prepared to travel up to two hours from your home. Therefore, students must begin looking for clinical sites for all four semesters as soon as they receive their acceptance letter.

Typhon is the computerized data management system utilized by the MSN program. Students are responsible for uploading all clinical documents and updating appropriate documents as they expire. Students pay a one-time fee of $80 for the Typhon system.

Typhon is the computerized data management system utilized by the MSN program. Students pay a one-time fee of $80 for the Typhon system. Familiarize yourselves with Typhon Group Healthcare Solutions website.

Along with your professional personal resources for clinical sites, the Nursing Careers in Allied Health, North Carolina Board of Nursing, and North Carolina Medical Board are helpful additional resources to begin your search for clinical sites. A clinical agency may require additional approval processes that must be met.

Students will not be allowed to begin class or their clinical experiences until clinical compliance requirements are met and they are cleared by their WSSU assigned clinical faculty for the semester.

Clinical Documentation Compliance Checklist 

Required Upon Admission

• Immunizations
• Statement of physical fitness
• Criminal background check
• Drug screening
• Signed copy of the Clinical Confidentiality Agreement (HIPPA) form
• Nursing license
• BLS certification
• Liability insurance
• Negative TB status
• CPR certification
• HIPPA/OSHA education
• Flu Vaccine

Required for Annual Renewal

• Nursing license
• BLS certification
• Liability insurance
• Negative TB status
• CPR certification
• HIPPA/OSHA education
• Flu Vaccine

The WSSU MSN Advanced Nurse Educator (ANE) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) options are 2-year programs for full-time study and 3-year programs for part-time study.

Advanced Nurse Educator (ANE) courses are completely online. Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) courses are mostly face to face.

Yes, all ANE courses are provided in an online format, but you should plan to attend clinical practicum for 240 hours, which averages approximately 1 day per week. Clinical can be done locally if you secure an educational site.

You should expect to be on campus or in clinical 2 days per week for full-time students and 1 day for part-time students.

The tuition information can be found on the WSSU tuition and fees website.

Yes. You must complete the FAFSA application to see if you qualify for any grants and or loans. You should also check the College Foundation of NC website.

You can complete the application online or download an application and mail to Office of Admissions. You must also complete an Admissions Essay. Please note only completed applications will be considered for admission.

The deadline to submit applications is February 15 to be considered for admission in the upcoming year Fall class. Decisions are made 6-8 weeks after the deadline. Applications are reviewed after the deadline.

Once a year, in the Fall semester.