We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Training

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Nursing Practicum?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 25,969
Share

A nursing practicum provides nursing students with an opportunity to integrate theory and clinical practice under supervision from a mentor. This usually takes place at the end of nursing school, as students are preparing to graduate and enter professional practice. It includes a mixture of hands-on clinical experience, lab work, and classroom education to help students improve their skills. Typically a certain number of units in a nursing practicum are required for graduation and people need to meet a clinical hours requirement before they can apply for their professional licenses.

One part of the practicum involves direct patient care, where student nurses meet with patients, evaluate them, and participate in treatment. They are typically required to keep logs, develop treatment plans, and work with the rest of the team. Clinical rotations can provide opportunities to move through a variety of settings, including specialized environments like pediatric and psychiatric units.

In addition, during a nursing practicum, people may work in a lab. They can practice clinical skills in the lab as well as participating in other activities. This aspect of nursing education also includes seminars and discussions where nurses learn about different topics, present cases, and discuss their experiences. The goal is to help them apply the theoretical education they received to real-world situations, so they can be effective nurses after graduation.

Schools of nursing may have their own attached hospitals as well as relationships with regional facilities to provide clinical experiences for students. During their practicum, people typically need to follow facility-specific policies in addition to guidelines set by their schools. For example, they may be required to wear identification badges so people know who they are, in addition to introducing themselves as student nurses so patients and others understand their role in patient care.

After a nursing practicum is complete, participants are graded on performance. This can include a mixture of criteria including level of participation, professionalism, compliance with medical ethics, and demonstrated knowledge and skills. People who do not pass the practicum will need to repeat it, which can delay a license application because they typically need clinical experience to become fully licensed nurses.

If problems arise on a nursing practicum, they can be brought up with a supervisor. These may include issues like the need for disability accommodations or help with personality conflicts with supervising personnel. A mentor can evaluate the situation and make a determination about how to proceed to ensure the student has a chance to be educated while keeping the practicum experience fair for all participants.

Share
Practical Adult Insights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a Practical Adult Insights researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.practicaladultinsights.com/what-is-a-nursing-practicum.htm
Copy this link
Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.