Essential DNP Practicum Hours Examples for Your Clinical Experience
Introduction to DNP Practicum
The DNP practicum experience provides students with the opportunity to apply advanced level competencies and leadership skills in the development of a DNP scholarly project at the organizational level.
The practicum experience allows students to focus on developing and expanding their advanced level competencies through experiential learning at organizational, systems, community or policy level.
Students are asked to set specific goals for their practicum experience that are consistent with their professional preparation and coursework.
Practicum Requirements and Activities
Students must satisfactorily complete all the requirements of the practicum courses.
The DNP practicum consists of a series of courses outlined in the tables below, which are taken one per term in the following sequence.
Practicum activities should support learning outcomes from the 2021 AACN Essentials as noted by the domains and competencies listed below.
Examples of practicum activities include:
Developing and implementing a quality improvement initiative
Conducting a needs assessment and developing a plan to address a gap in nursing practice
Designing and implementing a project to improve patient outcomes
Practicum Roles and Responsibilities
Preceptors are qualified individuals within a practicum site who are responsible for helping to shape student practicum experiences and provide ongoing feedback on their practicum work.
Students are considered adult learners who are capable of seeking educational opportunities to meet their personal and professional goals.
Walden is responsible for incorporating practicum experiences into its programs, as well as ensuring availability of adequate resources for students to participate in practicum required for completion of the program.
Practicum Course Faculty Members teach the didactic portion of each practicum course, manage the practicum experience, grade student work related to the practicum experience, assign the final grade for the course, and communicate with preceptors regarding the successful mastery of all competencies.
Practicum Site and Supervision
A practicum site is a setting that enables students to increase the depth of knowledge of the DNP roles directly related to the area of specialization.
Students have applied practice experiences (no direct hands-on care) under the supervision of a preceptor, consistent with their education and meet the requirements of their program.
Supervision by a preceptor is composed of a tutorial and mentoring form of instruction in which practicum preceptors monitor students’ activities in the practicum and facilitate learning and skill-development experiences.
Practicum Resources and Support
The Office of Field Experience in the College of Nursing is responsible for managing the practicum application process, ensuring that students’ practicum meets program requirements, and supporting students through the practicum process.
Walden’s Career Planning and Development is one possible starting point for students to begin to learn strategies for networking.
Students may also access additional resources and support through Walden University’s departments, centers, and offices.
Practicum Planning and Preparation
Students must develop individualized Learning Objectives related to their areas of specialization and the relevant issues identified to engage within the healthcare environment.
Students must satisfactorily complete all the requirements of the practicum courses before starting the practicum experience.
Students must receive approval before starting the practicum experience.
Practicum Implementation and Evaluation
Students may NOT log any hours before the start of the course or before they receive approval.
All practicum hours should be completed by the end of Week 10 of the practicum courses.
Practicum hours do not carry over to a different term or practicum course if a student withdraws, drops a course, or fails a course.
Students must evaluate their practicum experience and provide feedback to the preceptor and Walden University.
