FNP Clinical Internship Placement

OVERVIEW

FNP Clinical Internship Placement

The WGU FNP program culminates with three clinical internship courses that together consist of 650 precepted direct patient care clinical hours. You will work with preceptors in clinics in your local community, as available, to train in the provision of primary care. To do so, you will need to be in clinical sites that allow you access to patients across the lifespan, with sufficient experiences in treating the wide variety of conditions and the full spectrum of complexity found in primary care.

You must be actively engaged with your assigned Placement Coordinator one year prior to starting Clinical Internship I. If not, your placement and graduation will be delayed.

Field Experience Requirements are completed through the Student Facing Field Experience Page, which is accessed through your Student Portal in the Student Support Tab or within your Degree Plan. Utilize this link to learn more about the Student Facing Field Experience Page.

ALL CLINICAL INTERNSHIPS REQUIRE:

Attendance at the Clinical Information Session in D115
Completion of Clinical Information Session Knowledge Check
Submission of the FNP Student Clinical Profile
Scheduling of an Intro Call with your Placement Coordinator
Completion of ADB/Complio Immunization Tracking Package
Identification of Appropriate Clinical Preceptors

Identification of Appropriate Clinical Sites
Submission of Placement Details for each of the Clinical Internships
Submission of Placement and Site-Specific Documents and Onboarding
WGU Nursing Review & Receipt of Confirmation Emails for each Internship

Site-Specific Requirements

Depending on the Agreement that WGU has with your Clinical Site, there may be additional requirements for you to complete.Clinical Learning and Placement Support will guide you through the steps required for placement at your chosen Clinical Site. Every site has different requirements, and requirements often change. Please note that many of these requirements of 3rd party sites have additional student fees associated with them.

3rd Party on-boarding:

ACEMAPP
Castlebranch
My Clinical Exchange
San Diego Consortium

Site-Specific Documents and Forms:

Confidentiality Agreements
Criminal History Reports
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approvals
Site Orientation and Badges

Clinical Placement Process Overview

In Preparation of the Field Experience:

Students will network with peers, co-workers, and personal providers to identify potential preceptors.
Attend the Clinical Information Session
Complete the Clinical Information Session Knowledge Check
Submit the FNP Student Clinical Profile
Schedule an Intro Call with your Placement Coordinator
Submit Placement Details for your Clinical Internships
Complete compliance and site-specific requirements
Request your WGU Clinical Badge
Obtain official clearance from CLPS Manager before engaging in hours.

To avoid delaying your degree progression, stay in close contact with your Placement Coordinator.

FNP Clinical Internship Preceptors

Students must engage a minimum of 2 Preceptors at two different primary care sites for Clinical Internships throughout the program.
Preceptors must have an active, unencumbered license, have earned national certification in their specialty area by a recognized credentialing agency, and have a minimum of two years of current experience in their current credentialing.

Doctors of Podiatric Medicine and Chiropractors are NOT approved preceptors for the WGU Family Nurse Practitioner Track. Family members or close family or personal friends are NOT allowed to serve as preceptors for the students in the Family Nurse Practitioner Track.

Appropriate Preceptors:

Board-certified nurse practitioner (family, adult, pediatric, neonatal, women's health, geriatric)
MD board-certified in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, or Pediatric Medicine
DO board-certified in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, or Pediatric Medicine
Certified Nurse Midwife with a Master's degree or higher
Physician Assistant with a Master's degree or higher in Physician Assistant Studies (requires additional review and approval from WGU Program Leadership) *Certain states do not allow PAs as preceptors.
Clinical Nurse Specialists (requires additional review and approval from WGU Program Leadership)

Students must identify their own Preceptor as this is a volunteer (unpaid) position, we do not have a list of Preceptors for students to choose from. Working with a self-Identified preceptor ensures that you have a preceptor who is personally invested in your academic success and will be available at a time and geographic location most suitable to your needs within each Internship.

Below are talking points to provide confidence in expressing the Clinical Preceptorship clearly and professionally when networking to secure a Preceptor. Students should find their own style, but use the following information as basic content.

The Preceptor Role:

Preceptors must have earned national certification in their specialty area by a recognized credentialing agency and have a minimum of two years of current experience in their specialty area in their current credentialing.
Preceptors must hold an unencumbered license in the state where the organization is located or hold a multistate license in another state which allows them to practice in that state.
Preceptors will orient the student to the site and provide information, contacts, and resources for completing the clinical internship.
Preceptors will facilitate experiences that immerse students in the provider role.
Preceptor will complete a brief online training module as well as work with students' Course Instructors.
Preceptor will verify a students' hours and provide a mid-term and end of term evaluation of the students' progress.
Preceptors will receive no monetary compensation from the student or WGU.

All clinical hours must be completed working with a preceptor.

Student Talking Points:

Why: The WGU FNP program is preparing me to become a primary care provider through required clinical internship experiences. These experiences, obtained during the clinical internship courses, provide me with an opportunity to apply what I have learned during my family nurse practitioner specialty courses in a real-world setting.

What: These experiences are precepted learning opportunities that will help me develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the role of an Advanced Practice Nurse by delivering care to individuals across the lifespan.

When: I am required to complete a minimum of 650 direct patient care clinical hours distributed across 3 clinical internship courses.

Clinical Internship I - minimum of 215 hrs.
Clinical Internship II - minimum of 215 hrs.
Clinical Internship III - minimum of 220 hrs.

How: The program prepares graduates to assess individuals, diagnose diseases, prescribe medications, and devise treatment plans for acute and chronic health conditions, as well as deliver disease prevention and health promotion within the full scope of FNP practice.

WGU MSN FNP Preceptor Orientation

Overview of Clinical Internships

Expectation of Clinical Hours

Full-Time: To complete the three internship courses in one 6-month term, you will need to follow the standard pace of the program and dedicate four 10-hour days or five 8-hour days per week until you reach 650 total direct patient care hours.

Part-Time: If you choose to complete your clinical hours on a part-time basis, then you will spend two 10-hour days or three 8-hour days per week in precepted clinical practice until you reach the required 650 direct patient care clinical hours. It’s important to note that a part-time schedule will increase the length of your program by one additional 6-month term.

Family Nurse Practitioner Internship I
Note: Heavier Supervisory role due to students first time in clinical practice.
This role requires 215 hrs. in this clinical internship.

Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Internship I prepares the graduate nursing student to perform the role of an advanced practice nurse with the essential competencies and skills necessary to deliver primary care to individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan. In the precepted clinical setting, the student will combine competencies developed in preparatory advanced practice coursework to deliver consumer-centered healthcare. Therefore, the graduate will conduct advanced health assessments and utilize the competencies of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health promotion for individuals and populations across the life span to build self-efficacy in individuals and groups, to determine correct diagnoses, and to establish plans of care that include consumer and population preferences.

Course Competencies: D122 | FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER CLINICAL INTERNSHIP I (215 HOURS)

Competency 7071.08.1 Assessing Patients across the Life Span
The graduate demonstrates advanced health assessment techniques that are comprehensive and focused to gather patient health data from the care of individuals and groups across the life span.

Competency 7071.08.2 Diagnosing Acute and Chronic Diseases across the Life Span
The graduate synthesizes subjective and objective data from across the patient life span to provide accurate diagnoses.

Competency 7071.08.3 Creating Evidence-Based Patient- and Family-Centered Health Plans
The graduate creates evidence-based and family-centered health plans including guidelines, clinical expertise, consumer preferences and values, organizational context, and resource limitations.

Competency 7071.08.4 Evaluating Patient-Centered Health Plans and the Modification of Health Plans
The graduate evaluates the effectiveness of patient health plans to modify the plan, offer additional education, or refer the patient to improve quality outcomes.

Competency 7071.08.5 Demonstrating Primary Care Procedures for the Family Nurse Practitioner
The graduate demonstrates advanced practice procedures needed to successfully perform job tasks in the primary care setting.

Family Nurse Practitioner Internship II
Note: Moderate Supervisory role with active coaching that pushes student beyond the comfort zone in order to provide growth opportunities.
This role requires 215 hrs. in this clinical internship.

Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Internship II prepares the graduate nursing student to perform the role of an advanced practice nurse with the essential competencies and skills necessary to deliver primary care to individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan. In the precepted clinical setting, the student will combine competencies developed in preparatory advanced practice coursework to deliver consumer-centered healthcare. Therefore, the graduate will conduct advanced health assessments and utilize the competencies of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health promotion for individuals and populations across the life span to build self-efficacy in individuals and groups, to determine correct diagnoses, and to establish plans of care that include consumer and population preferences.

Course Competencies: D123 | FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER CLINICAL INTERNSHIP II (215 HOURS)

Competency 7071.09.1 Assessing Patients across the Life Span
The graduate demonstrates advanced health assessment techniques that are comprehensive and focused to gather patient health data from the care of individuals and groups across the life span.

Competency 7071.09.2 Diagnosing Acute and Chronic Diseases across the Life Span
The graduate synthesizes subjective and objective data from across the patient life span to provide accurate diagnoses.

Competency 7071.09.3 Creating Evidence-Based Patient- and Family-Centered Health Plans
The graduate creates evidence-based and family-centered health plans including guidelines, clinical expertise, consumer preferences and values, organizational context, and resource limitations.

Competency 7071.09.4 Evaluating Patient-Centered Health Plans and the Modification of Health Plans
The graduate evaluates the effectiveness of patient health plans to modify the plan, offer additional education, or refer the patient to improve quality outcomes.

Competency 7071.09.5 Demonstrating Primary Care Procedures for the Family Nurse Practitioner
The graduate demonstrates advanced practice procedures needed to successfully perform job tasks in the primary care setting.

Family Nurse Practitioner Internship III
Note: Light Supervisory role with continued coaching that pushes students beyond comfort as they move towards expert practice.
This role requires 220 hrs. in this clinical internship.

Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Internship III prepares the graduate nursing student to perform the role of an advanced practice nurse with the essential competencies and skills necessary to deliver primary care to individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan. In the precepted clinical setting, the student will combine competencies developed in preparatory advanced practice coursework to deliver consumer-centered healthcare. Therefore, the graduate will conduct advanced health assessments and utilize the competencies of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health promotion for individuals and populations across the life span to build self-efficacy in individuals and groups, to determine correct diagnoses, and to establish plans of care that include consumer and population preferences.

Course Competencies: D124 | FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER CLINICAL INTERNSHIP III (220 HOURS)

Competency 7071.10.1 Assessing Patients across the Life Span
The graduate demonstrates advanced health assessment techniques that are comprehensive and focused to gather patient health data from the care of individuals and groups across the life span.

Competency 7071.10.2 Diagnosing Acute and Chronic Diseases across the Life Span
The graduate synthesizes subjective and objective data from across the patient life span to provide accurate diagnoses.

Competency 7071.10.3 Creating Evidence-Based Patient- and Family-Centered Health Plans
The graduate creates evidence-based and family-centered health plans including guidelines, clinical expertise, consumer preferences and values, organizational context, and resource limitations.

Competency 7071.10.4 Evaluating Patient-Centered Health Plans and the Modification of Health Plans
The graduate evaluates the effectiveness of patient health plans to modify the plan, offer additional education, or refer patients to improve quality outcomes.

Primary Care vs Specialty

Primary Care

Per AANP, “the provision of care at first contact for undifferentiated conditions, ongoing management of acute and chronic conditions, health promotion and care coordination.” In other words, healthcare at a basic rather than specialized level. Addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, and developing a sustained partnership with patients.

Examples: Pediatric clinics, family practice clinics, internal medicine clinics, women’s health clinics, geriatric medicine clinics.

Specialty Hours

A maximum of 65 hours is allowed for the entire program, not 65 hours per specialty or course, but 65 hours total for the program. Some examples of specialty placements include neurology, oncology, radiology, psychiatry, orthopedics, ENT, obstetrician-gynecology, dermatology, pulmonology, aesthetics, nephrology, and weight management.

Note that specialty placements do not count towards the minimum number of required placements.

Quality Placements - students are required to find a minimum of two quality placement locations and a preceptor at each site.

Must be an ambulatory, outpatient facility. No hospitals, rehabilitation, or skilled nursing centers.
Students must have lifespan experience during clinicals (pediatrics through geriatrics).
Students are allowed one urgent care placement for a maximum of 220 hours total.
General cardiologists can be considered for a primary care placement for a maximum of 220 hours.

Compliance Requirements

Do not send any personal health records to WGU. We cannot accept, view, or store personal health information in accordance with HIPAA regulations. For compliance questions, students should email clpscompliance@wgu.edu with “FNP Compliance Questions” in the subject line of the email.

NOTE: there is a $80 student-incurred fee for a 36 month subscription.

The COVID-19 vaccine, although not required by WGU for the FNP Program, may be required by your placement site.

Documentation of immunity to communicable diseases and screening for tuberculosis is stringently required for all FNP students at WGU. Even if a student is seeking placement with their employer, a fully compliant ADB account is required, as employment status and placement are not interrelated.

Compliance Steps

1. Create or Update your Complio/American Databank Account.

You will complete these requirements by either updating an existing account you previously created upon enrollment or by creating a new account.

Access Complio

2. Order the "Nurse Practitioner Compliance Package".

Utilize the shopping cart in the top right of your Complio account to:

Place an Order
Select Program - Nurse Practitioner
Select Your State of Residence
Click on Load Packages
Purchase the Nurse Practitioner Bundle

Utilize this link for access to step by step instructions: Ordering your Nurse Practitioner Immunization Tracking Package.

3. Upload proof of vaccination or proof of immunity (positive antibody titer) as well as a negative tuberculosis test.

MMR
TDAP
Varicella
Influenza
Hepatitis B

Titer results for the above pathogens must be positive. A negative result will require additional boosters doses. Verification of immunity to communicable diseases may include documentation of vaccinations and/or serologic evidence of immunity via IgG antibody titer screenings.

Tuberculosis

Verification of immunity against Mychobacterium tuberculosis requires a negative skin tests, blood test or chest x-ray.

Use this form as a reference on what is needed to complete each compliance item: Compliance Requirements Information Pages (ADB)- FNP.

Immunization records must have:

Patient full name
Date of test or vaccine
Test results
Facility or physician office where completed

We cannot accept handwritten immunization records/cards.

A declination form is not appropriate unless there is a documented medical limitation to a vaccine. In order to decline a compliance item, you will need to submit an Exception Request within American DataBank/Complio providing documentation of necessity with proof from your Physician. It will be reviewed by the WGU Compliance Team and if the exception is approved you may receive a final declination form to fill out.

4. Proof of CPR and Health Insurance.

CPR card BLS through AHA - front & back required
Proof of Health Insurance - front & back required

5. HIPAA Training - WGU can only accept Training through American DataBank.

Purchase HIPAA ONLY Package

HIPAA Training is included in the Nurse Practitioner Bundle
Training modules must be completed within the American DataBank
Upon completion of the training, you must upload you Certificate of Completion to the HIPAA Category in your Complio account

6. OSHA Training - WGU can only accept Training through American DataBank.

OSHA Training is included in the Nurse Practitioner Bundle
Training modules must be completed within the American DataBank
Upon completion of the training, you must upload you Certificate of Completion to the OSHA Category in your Complio account

ONLY complete the items below if advised to do so by your WGU Placement Coordinator.

Add-on Compliance Packages have an additional fee associated.

Background Check

Please renew before it expires. It must be current throughout your entire program. Your site may require you to renew your background check sooner than two years (some sites may require a background check to be within six months, one year, etc.). (Additional Fee)

Please note you may have completed this upon admission to WGU. Your background check expires after two years and must be current throughout your entire FNP program. There may also be a site-specific requirement of an additional background check. You will be notified, by your Placement Coordinator, if your placement requires an additional or updated background check.

Physical Exam

Site-Specific. Only needed if advised to do so by your Placement Coordinator.
(Additional Fee)

The WGU Physical Exam Form must be completed by a licensed M.D., N.P., C.N.M., or P.A. Once you have completed your physical examination, you will upload the signed form into the Miscellaneous Sub-Category within your American Data Bank account.

10 Panel Drug Screening

Site-Specific. Only needed if advised by your Placement Coordinator. (Additional Fee)

To order a drug screening within your ADB/Complio compliance account, please complete the following steps:

Log into your Complio account at wgucompliance.com
Select Place Order in the top right of your Complio account next to the shopping cart icon
Select Program from the drop-down menu
Select Location/State from the drop-down menu
Click the Load Packages button
From the Screening Section – Select Drug Screening 10 Panel

After you purchase the drug screening package, you will receive an email with materials and directions guiding you to complete the screening at a testing center nearest you. Your drug screen voucher expires 30 days from purchase. Some clinical sites require drug screening to be completed within a certain time-frame in relation to your start date, i.e 30 days from your start date.

WGU cannot accept a drug screening from any other source besides our affiliate.

NOTE: Your drug screening sample can take up to 3 days to process, so please plan accordingly. The results will automatically post to your Complio account. However, please email CLPSCompliance@wgu.edu when you have completed the screening so we can update your compliance status.

Download Compliance FAQ

Acceptable Compliance Document Descriptions. Access the full PDF here.

If you need assistance within the American Databank - Complio Account, please check the video links below for frequently asked questions or contact ADB Customer Service at (800) 200-0853.

Ordering a Drug Screen

Exceptions

WGU Affiliated Clinical Sites & Affiliation Agreements

A WGU affiliated clinical site is a health facility that has or is willing to enter into an Educational Affiliation Agreement with WGU.

You must secure placement a minimum of 2 quality, primary care Clinical Sites. Due to availability and other factors, WGU may not be able to accommodate clinical placements in all areas. As a result, travel to surrounding areas may be necessary.

Maximum number of placements per clinical internship course: 2
Maximum number of placements for the entirety of the program (2 per course): 6

You will work with preceptors in clinics in your local community, as available, to train in the provision of primary care. To do so, you will need to be in Clinical Sites that allow you access to patients across the lifespan, with sufficient experiences in treating the wide variety of conditions and the full spectrum of complexity found in primary care.

Review for Approval & Confirmation Email

Clinical Sites and Preceptors are approved for their ability to provide students with clinical experiences consistent with the course, certification requirements, and the mission of the school. You cannot engage in any Clinical Internship hours prior to receiving a Clearance Confirmation email from Clinical Learning and Placement Support Team.

Who is Involved?

Direct connections during the Clinical Placement Process will include:

Student. Students play an active role in helping to identify their Clinical Sites and Preceptors.

Placement Coordinator. Placement Coordinator is the primary point of contact for all communication and documentation required for placement.

Program Mentor. Program Mentor assists students with constructing and keeping their individualized plan as well as directing students to appropriate resources.

Supportive connections during the Clinical Placement Process will include:

Compliance Coordinator. Compliance Coordinator is the primary point of contact related to student compliance items (immunizations, background check, drug screens, etc.)

Outreach Coordinator. WGU Clinical Learning and Placement Support Team related to Affiliation Agreements with partnering Clinical Sites.

Student Facing Field Experience Page

You will access and complete the placement requirements within the student facing Field Experience Page. You can access the page within your Student Portal within the Student Support Tab under "Field Experience" or within your Degree Plan by clicking the Field Experience Button in the top right corner.

Tour of the New Field Experience Page

On the Field Experience Page, you can access key information regarding your Internships including:

Health Field Experience Start Date,
Current Placement Progress notes from your Placement Coordinator
A Field Experience Toolbox with links to key resources
Contact information for your Placement Coordinator and Program Mentor
Deadline Dates & Status of all Field Experience Requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding WGU’s FNP Clinical Internship, Sites and Preceptors

Documents and Forms:

Clinical Internship Documents:

Explanation of Clinical Internships

FNP Clinical Information Session PPT

FNP Clinical Information Session Video Recording

Preceptor Criteria

Preceptor Orientation

Clinical Education Handbook

Compliance Documents:

Annual TB Screening Form

Compliance FAQ

Compliance Form (ADB) Required Documentation

Ordering Your Immunization Tracking Package

WGU Physical Form

Depending on the Agreement that WGU has with your Clinical Site, there may be additional requirements for you to complete. Your Placement Coordinator will guide you through the steps required for placement at your chosen Clinical Site. Every site has different requirements, and requirements often change. Please note that many of these requirements or 3rd party sites have additional student fees associated with them.

3rd Party on-boarding:

ACEMAPP
Castlebranch
My Clinical Exchange
San Diego Consortium

Site-Specific Documents and Forms:

Confidentiality Agreements
Criminal History Reports
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approvals
Site Orientation and Badges

FNP Clinical Internship Placement