Clinical experiences are facilitated by Blessing Health professional providers, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical nurse specialists and physicians to provide students opportunities to work alongside other professionals in a multidisciplinary healthcare environment. Not all applicants may be accepted or able to be accommodated for clinical rotations. 

Students who do not follow the outlined policy are at risk of having arranged clinical hours revoked. 

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

The availability of rotations will be based on perceived community, regional and statewide need, as well as preceptor availability. Applications must be submitted online during the published time period for each respective semester. The Student Experience sub-committee will review applications submitted and make determinations on adequate placement and preceptor availability. 

Graduate students wishing to participate in a clinical rotation at Blessing Health must:

Have a current, signed Educational Affiliation Agreement between an approved graduate institution and Blessing Health Submit a completed application and required documentation no more than 36 months *prior to start of rotation but no later than: By October 1 for desired rotations January through May of subsequent year.  By March 1 for desired rotations June through July of same year By May 1 for desired rotations August through December of same year

*Note: if educational program requires approved clinical rotation more than 36 months in advance, please note this on application. 

Complete the application and submit the additional required documentation including: Documentation describing your motivation for seeking an advanced practice degree, your career aspirations, where you see yourself working in five years and why you are seeking an experience at Blessing Health.  Letter from your academic department on school letterhead indicating you are a current student in good standing within your program Current immunizations including Hep B, MMR and current TB (non-Blessing employee) Current flu vaccination verification if rotating between Nov 1 and Mar 31 (non-Blessing employee) Background check done within the past year (it may be a background check submitted by your school or another institution) Liability insurance (your school will have a copy of the certificate of insurance) Confidentiality agreement  Copy of your current required professional license (note: students licensed in both IL and MO may have more options for placement available) 2 professional references Clinical hour requirements from your program (Clerkship/rotation form) Total number of hours you are hoping to arrange by specialty Anticipated start and end dates  Any program-specific deadline for clinical placement  Preferred schedule (to be considered but not guaranteed)  Complete a virtual or in-person interview as requested

 

STUDENT SELECTION

Due to high demand, graduate students employed by Blessing Health, in good standing, will have priority over non-employees. Employment at Blessing Health does not guarantee acceptance for clinical rotations at Blessing. Current students in good standing who have additional clinical rotation requirements will be given priority over new applicants. A student's likelihood to work within the health system after graduation will be preferred. Programs which require early scheduling will be taken into consideration. Students are encouraged to apply for a clinical rotation spot as early as possible. 

If more applicants exist than the capacity to serve, the Student Experience sub-committee will select the final candidates by prioritizing those whose profile and interests are the best fit for Blessing Health. 

Students will be notified in writing of the decision, up to 12 weeks from application review. If approval is granted, Blessing Health staff will work directly with students to arrange the clinical experience. 

 

REVIEW PROCESS 

Service line leaders and APP Council members will meet at least three times a year to review placement requests. 

 

HOURS AND SCHEDULED CLINICALS

While we understand graduate students are often working to maintain full-time nursing employment while going to graduate school, in order to receive the best learning experience, students learning at Blessing Health must commit to a set schedule for the duration of their clinical hours with minimal exceptions, as agreed upon between student and preceptor/service line leader liaison. 

FNP students selected to participate in this program will be considered for placement of up to 144-hour rotations, based on preceptor availability, in each of the following departments: Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Walk-In, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Cardiology, Surgery and Women's Health. 

Specialty NP/CNS students selected will commit to hours placement commensurate with the training requirements and the availability of preceptors. 

PA students selected to participate in this program will be considered for placement, based on preceptor availability, in each of the following departments: Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Walk-In, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Cardiology, Surgery and Women's Health. 

Best efforts will be made to provide all core rotations required by an accepted student's program. In the event that Blessing Health is unable to accommodate all core rotations, notice will be given to the school coordinator and student. Elective rotation requests will be handled on a case by case basis. Preference for core rotation requirements will be provided or elective rotation requests. 

 

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS 

Student schedules will be tailored to the needs of the individual student, program requirements and availability of preceptor. Students are required to comply with all health system policies, including but not limited to: appearance standards (dress code), confidentiality, fitness for duty and parking. Students should attend all days of scheduled rotation. Advanced notice of at least 12 hours should be provided to the preceptor or designee of any absence. Failure to show to a clinical assignment without notice may lead to the revocation of clinical experience. 

Students are expected to adhere to standards of medical care as they are instructed and are to notify the provider or staff immediately if an urgent medical or social issue becomes apparent and to follow instructions of the preceptor at all times when providing or engaging in medical care. 

After application acceptance and prior to first clinical experience, a student is required to complete all assigned computer-based learning (CBL) modules. Students will not be allowed to start a clinical experience until all documentation and educational requirements are completed. 

 

PRECEPTOR AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCE RESPONSIBILITIES 

If a change to a preceptor's schedule should occur, preceptor or designee will notify the Service Line leader as soon as possible. If a new precept cannot be secured, the student and program coordinator will be notified of the change. 

Blessing Health will provide sufficient student access to the electronic medical record as per the medical staff Preceptorship policy.

Any concerns involving a student will be reported immediately, in accordance with the Risk/Occurence Reporting policy.