Answers to common questions about NP clinicals
One of the most important elements of your nurse practitioner (NP) program is the clinical experience. Many schools require a process for nurse practitioner students to identify preceptors and secure clinical sites, and this is often a pain point for prospective nursing students.
Through our Clinical Placement Pledge and Clinical Guidance Process, you receive support for your clinical experience with guidance and information as needed to help you stay on track and meet program requirements.
Not sure what to expect from the whole clinical process? We have answers to your most important questions.
How does the clinical experience at Herzing work?
As a Herzing graduate nursing student, you are supported by a Clinical Placement Advisor and a Clinical Coordinator (a master’s- or doctorally-prepared nurse) who help guide you through the clinical placement process.
You are encouraged to take an active role in identifying a clinical site and preceptor that align with your program’s population focus and course objectives.While utilizing the Clinical Guidance Process, if you experience difficulty in your journey, there are steps along the way where you can request additional support.Your placement team can provide guidance and support with working through the process as needed, partnering with you to work through any challenges that you have identified.
Before you begin clinical, you’ll need to complete an online clinical application and required documentation, including your resume indicating you are a current student, your preceptor’s CV, and a signed preceptor agreement. This information will be reviewed and an approval status must be received prior to the start of your course. All sites and preceptors must be approved before attending any clinical throughout the entirety of your program.
Clinical Sites
What clinical sites can I choose?
Exposure to diverse patient care environments helps you build confidence and competence as a nurse practitioner. Each NP clinical course has specific criteria regarding appropriate clinical settings based on your population focus.
Acceptable clinical sites may include primary care practices, specialty clinics aligned with your specialization, community health centers and other outpatient settings that support course objectives. If there is a nurse practitioner or physician that provides care in a setting that you are interested in, it is recommended that you reach out to your clinical placement team to discuss the possibility of it being an appropriate clinical setting.
Because many nurse practitioner pathways emphasize outpatient and population-focused care, hospital, emergency room and unrelated specialty settings are not generally accepted unless they align directly with course outcomes and receive approval. For instance, students who choose the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Practitioner specialty may choose in-patient and emergency room settings for clinicals.
Can I complete my clinical at my current employer?
Yes. Students may complete clinical rotations at their place of employment, provided:
- Clinical hours are completed outside of paid working hours
- The role and responsibilities are distinct from regular employment duties
- The site and preceptor meet all program approval requirements
Many students choose to leverage professional connections when identifying potential clinical opportunities.
Do students get paid while completing clinicals?
Students do not receive monetary compensation for the completion of their clinical hours. Clinicals are a part of your nursing education and clinical students are not substitutes for facility employees.
Clinical Hours
How many clinical hours do I need?
Clinical hour requirements vary by program and specialty pathway.
Depending on your nurse practitioner specialization and entry pathway, total required supervised clinical hours may range from approximately 540 to 630 or more hours. Specific course-by-course requirements are outlined in the Academic Catalog.
The required number of patient encounters and hour requirements are designed to help you gain meaningful, hands-on experience within your defined population focus as you prepare for graduation and national certification.
What is the best way to schedule my clinical hours?
Clinical courses may run in 8- or 16-week formats, depending on your pathway and course structure.
For many students, this may mean averaging approximately 10–12 hours per week, though actual scheduling depends on course requirements and your preceptor’s availability.
Before your rotation begins, meet with your preceptor to agree on a consistent schedule. Fitting clinical hours into an already busy life can be challenging, so early planning and open communication are essential.
If you are enrolled in multiple clinical courses in the same term and are approved to complete hours at the same site with the same preceptor, you may:
- Attend clinical on separate days for each course, or
- Alternate weeks between courses, if approved
- Clinical hours may not be used for two classes on the same day
If you need to miss a day of clinical, communicate with both your preceptor and faculty as soon as possible and arrange to make up the missed hours according to program guidelines. Failure to show up for a clinical experience without notification to a preceptor and faculty member may result in a course failure.
Clinical Tips
Tips for finding and securing a clinical
1. Start early and stay engaged with your placement team.
Some healthcare organizations require preceptor requests 6–12 months in advance, so early outreach is important.
To qualify under Herzing’s Clinical Placement Pledge for a given term, students must begin the formal placement process at least two months before the clinical application deadline. Your Clinical Placement Advisor will help you understand timelines and required steps.
2. Complete required clinical readiness preparation.
Certain graduate nursing pathways include clinical readiness requirements designed to help you prepare for securing a preceptor and beginning your first rotation.
Be sure to review your curriculum plan and complete all required steps before your clinical term.
3. Treat it like a job search.
Approach potential preceptors professionally.
Whenever possible, request a meeting, dress appropriately and bring required materials.
Strong communication, timeliness and professionalism are essential throughout the placement process.
Still have questions?
Explore our nurse practitioner program pathways and review the curriculum of the program of your choosing to better understand clinical requirements, timelines and expectations as you prepare for advanced practice nursing.
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