Regis College has clear requirements and expectations for our Nurse Practitioner (NP) students in preparation for and during their clinical experiences. From insurance and certification, to professional behavior and communications, we outline this information below:
Before starting any clinical course, all our NP students are required to provide proof of the following items:
- RN and APRN (if applicable) Licensure in the state where the student intends to complete clinical hours
- Student malpractice insurance
- CPR/ACLS certification
- Health insurance
- Physical exam and record of immunizations and TB screening
- HIPAA and OSHA training
- Urine drug screen
- Federal fingerprint security check and nationwide background security check
- Current professional résumé
- Acknowledgement and assumption of risk form
- VIRTUS training if clinical hours will be completed at a Catholic institution
In all cases, the student is responsible for maintaining currency throughout the program; licensure, insurance, and certification cannot expire while the student is taking clinical courses.
Professional Behavior
Our NP students represent Regis College and the School of Nursing and are to assume accountability for their learning, be respectful, maintain professional standards, and always demonstrate professionalism while at your site. Violations of the Regis College Student Code of Conduct and expected professional behavior will result in a Clinical Warning or other actions, as appropriate.
Students are instructed to prepare for their clinical experience by reviewing the clinical objectives as outlined in each course syllabus and developing individual clinical objectives. They are expected to review textbooks, professional journals, and online resources to become familiar with common clinical problems relevant to the clinical site population. As their preceptor, you may also recommend specific materials and topics for them to review prior to clinical. Following each clinical day, students should seek evidence-based resources to enhance critical analysis of particular aspects of patient care.
Dress Code, Attendance, and Communication
Dress Code
Students are advised to review the clinical site dress code with their preceptor. They must dress professionally and wear a lab coat, unless doing so is not considered appropriate for the site. They must also wear a Regis identification card and name pin. Students in the online NP program are required to have their own equipment for practice and patient assessments in the clinical setting.
Attendance
It is the student's responsibility to monitor the number of hours completed, and plan to complete the required number of hours for the term. The student is responsible for adjusting his/her personal and employment commitments to complete the required number of clinical hours. If the planned hours are not completed, an extension of the clinical rotation requires approval by their preceptor, clinical agency, clinical faculty, and Program Director.
The student must notify their preceptor prior to the beginning of the clinical day if they will be absent due to illness or emergency. They should alert their preceptor directly and use the procedure for communication discussed at the initial planning meeting. During the next scheduled clinical day, the student should discuss with their preceptor the option of rescheduling any missed hours, recognizing that your schedule may not accommodate the requested change. The student is also responsible for notifying their clinical faculty of the absence as directed in the course guidelines.
Communication
Students must maintain the patient's HIPAA right to privacy in verbal and written communication. The patient's name or other identifying data must not be included on any assignments submitted for grading. All students will communicate with preceptors, colleagues, faculty, staff, clinical site personnel, patients, and families in a professional, respectful manner, using proper email etiquette. Students will allow ample time for a response to emails, usually 24 hours Monday through Friday. Students are encouraged to send a personal, handwritten note to each of their preceptors upon completion of their experience to express appreciation for their dedication, mentoring, and teaching.
