OVERVIEW
Understanding the PMHNP Clinical Preceptorship
WGU's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program requires students to complete a minimum of 650 direct patient care clinical hours distributed across three clinical internship courses.
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical Internship I (215 HOURS) Note: Heavier Supervisory role due to students first time in clinical practice. This role requires up to 215 hrs. per clinical internship.
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical Internship II (215 HOURS) Note: Moderate Supervisory role with active coaching that pushes student beyond the comfort zone in order to provide growth opportunities. This role requires up to 215 hrs. per clinical internship.
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical Internship III (220 HOURS) Note: Light Supervisory role with continued coaching that pushes students beyond comfort as they move towards expert practice. This role requires up to 220 hrs. per clinical internship.
To do so, students must identify appropriate Clinical Preceptors and Clinical Sites that allow them access to patients across the lifespan, with sufficient experiences in assessing individuals, diagnoseing diseases, prescribing medications, devising treatment plans for mental needs of the patient, as well as providing therapy, and prescribing medications for patients with mental health disorders or substance abuse problems.
PMHNP Clinical Internship Preceptors
Students must engage a minimum of 2 Preceptors at two different Psychiatric 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.
Appropriate Preceptors:
- Board-certified nurse practitioner (family, adult, pediatric, neonatal, women's health, geriatric)
- MD board-certified in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine
- DO board-certified in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine
- Certified Nurse Midwife with a Master's degree or higher
- Physician Assistant with a Master's degree or higher (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)
Preceptor Criteria
- 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.
- 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.
Explanation of Clinical Internships
The WGU FNP 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.
Clinical Internships are precepted learning experiences that will help the student develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the role of an Advanced Practice Nurse by delivering care to individuals across the lifespan.
These required experiences, obtained during the clinical internship courses, provide a student with an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned during the family nurse practitioner specialty courses in a real-world setting.
- Clinical Internship I - minimum of 215 hrs.
- Clinical Internship II - minimum of 215 hrs.
- Clinical Internship III - minimum of 220 hrs.
In preparing students to become a primary care provider, students are required to complete a minimum of 650 direct patient care clinical hours distributed across 3 Clinical Internship courses with a minimum of 2 Preceptors.
Overview of Clinical Internship Courses
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 three to four 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 one to two 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.
Clinical Preceptorship Process
Student & Preceptor Conversation. Students will reach out to potential preceptors to share clinical course goals and discuss the clinical and preceptor requirements of their FNP Clinical Internships. This conversation will provide a foundational understanding of expectations and aid in identifying meaningful internship experiences.
Review of the Preceptor Resources. After reviewing this landing page and the associated resources. Preceptors will determine if they meet the preceptor criteria and are willing to support the student in preparing to become a primary care provider through a clinical internship experience in a real-world setting. Preceptors will also determine the total number of hours they are able to commit to.
Next steps if you are agreeing to precept a WGU Family Nurse Practitioner Student
Online E-Form Preceptor Agreement. If you can accommodate the student, you will complete the Preceptor Agreement online utilizing the link from the menu. In the Preceptor Agreement, you will be asked to describe the type of clinical setting you practice in and the patient population you serve. You will also be asked which Clinical Internship you are agreeing to support and the total number of hours you are able to commit to.
Affiliation Agreement. An Affiliation Agreement between WGU and the Preceptors Clinical Site is required. The WGU Outreach Team will work with the Clinical Site Contract Administrator to negotiate an Affiliation Agreement prior to the start of the student's Clinical Internship.
The Clinical Site and Preceptor Agreements will be reviewed by WGU's Nursing Operations.
Nursing Review & Approval. 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 WGU and the Family Nursing Practitioner Program.
Clinical Internship Placement Confirmation Email
Once a student has:
- Identified Clinical Internship Preceptors and Clinical Sites
- Confirmed Preceptor Approval
- Confirmed Site Approval
- Completed Compliance and Site-Specific Requirements
A Clearance Confirmation email will be sent to the Preceptor confirming the student is cleared to begin their Internship. Students cannot engage in any Clinical Internship hours prior to receiving a Clearance Confirmation from Clinical Learning & Placement Support.
Preceptor Community Training
Affiliated Clinical Sites
Affiliated Clinical Sites are health facilities that have or are willing to enter into an Educational Affiliation Agreement between the site and WGU. Preceptors must be employed by the Clinical Site.
Appropriate Clinical Sites are outpatient allow student 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.
The Clinical Learning & Placement Support Team will assist in establishing Affiliation Agreements as needed to support Clinical Internships.
