Clinical Placements and Learning

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For Students

Transportation

Students are responsible for transportation to clinical sites, which may require travel. Students should consider this when planning their educational expenses.

For Community Partners

The UM-Flint School of Nursing is always looking for those clinicians who wish to give back to the nursing profession or enhance the advancement of nursing education.  We value partnership with those who wish to contribute to UM-Flint’s educational mission.

Clinical Teaching Associates/Preceptors at UM-Flint School of Nursing

Clinical Teaching Associates/Preceptors serve as crucial links between theoretical knowledge and practical application for RN to BSN and Advanced Practice Nurses. A CTA supports students by teaching, coaching, evaluating, and guiding them as they transition into the clinical practice landscape. This partnership allows students to develop new skills, gain confidence, and achieve validation in their practice.

Expectations of Preceptors

To ensure a high-quality educational experience, preceptors are expected to:

• Dedicate time and share expertise.
• Demonstrate professional behaviors and attitudes.
• Support and guide students while encouraging independence.
• Provide constructive, balanced feedback regularly.
• Tailor the clinical setting to the student’s learning goals and objectives.
• Foster reflective learning to help students learn from their experiences.

Becoming a Preceptor

Are you interested in becoming a CTA/Preceptor for the UM-Flint School of Nursing? As a preceptor, you have the unique ability to mentor and influence the future of your profession. Below are the requirements.

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For BSN Pre-Licensure

Clinical faculty are interviewed and appointed by the Director of Undergraduate Nursing Affairs. Preceptors are chosen by the healthcare facility and must have at least a BSN degree, two years of RN experience, and a minimum of one year on the unit where they will serve as preceptors.

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For RN to BSN

NUR414 | Preceptors at the Community Site

Required Qualifications:

• Registered nurse working in the community health field with a BSN or higher.
• If not a nurse or not BSN-prepared, needs over 2,000 hours of experience in the field of community and serve as a health care worker, such as a social worker or case manager or a non-health care worker, such as a principal, teacher or business owner.

NUR424 | Preceptors at the Community Site

Required Qualifications:

• Registered nurse in a leadership role within a health care agency with a BSN or higher.
• If not a nurse or not BSN-prepared, needs over 2,000 hours of experience in a leadership role within a health care agency, such as a director, manager or supervisor.

Preceptors are used in pre-licensure courses (NUR 410, NUR 430 and NUR 435).

These preceptors are selected by the facility and must meet the following requirements:

• A minimum BSN degree
• At least two years as an RN
• At least one year on the unit where they will precept.

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For Graduate Programs

• At least one year of full-time clinical practice.
• Nursing license in good standing in the state of practice. 
• Current certification if serving as a graduate program Advanced Practice Registered Nurse clinical preceptor.
• Site offers conducive values similar to the UM-Flint School of Nursing’s mission and values.
• Site offers appropriate learning experiences for students to meet course objectives.

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Expectations

In order to ensure high-quality learning experiences for our students, preceptors should be able to:

• Commit time and expertise.
• Model professional practice, attitudes and behaviors.
• Guide and teach students while promoting independence and self-directed learning.
• Provide frequent, balanced and constructive feedback.
• Structure the clinical experience to meet the learning goals and objectives of the student.
• Use reflection to help students learn from experiences.

Contact for More Information

Do you desire to become a clinical teaching associate or a preceptor? Please contact Laura Lovasco at  [email protected] for more information.

Health Requirements for Student Clinical Experiences

*Clinical Faculty Requirements

Measles, Mumps, Rubella*

• Two doses or a positive titer for each component.
• If a negative titer, you will need to begin the series to be deemed temporarily compliant. You will be removed from the clinic if the dose schedule is not followed.

Varicella (Chickenpox)*

• Two doses or a positive titer.
• If a negative titer, you will need to begin the series to be deemed temporarily compliant. You will be removed from the clinic if the dose schedule is not followed.

Hepatitis B*

• Three doses or two doses of Hepislav-B or a positive titer.
• If a negative titer, you will need to begin the series to be deemed temporarily compliant. You will be removed from the clinic if the dose schedule is not followed.

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis*

• One adult vaccine or a positive titer for each component.
• If a negative titer, you will need to begin the series to be deemed temporarily compliant. You will be removed from the clinic if the dose schedule is not followed.

Influenza*

• An annual dose to be received in late August and due by October 1. Students who do not receive the dose between August and October will continue to receive the annual dose through April of the next year.
• Students may obtain a medical or religious exemption for the flu shot from the UM-Flint SON.
• Medical exemptions may be temporary (e.g., active illness, other vaccines, pregnancy) and require temporary compliance with a planned future shot. Chronic exemptions (e.g., allergic reactions) will be approved indefinitely.
• Religious exemptions will be approved indefinitely and will be at the student’s decision to receive the flu shot in the future. Students will be directed to attest to their beliefs not changing annually.
• Using an exemption may impact a student’s progress through the program if the UM-Flint SON accepts the exemption, but the clinic does not.

COVID-19*

• Clinics may request proof of COVID vaccine and may allow exemptions. Students will follow the clinic’s procedures for COVID-19 proof.

Tuberculosis Test*

• One negative PPD skin test or IGRA blood test.
• A chest x-ray every two years only for those who have had a BCG immunization or positive tuberculosis test.
• Students with positive tuberculosis results will be referred to the public health department for clearance, possible medical treatment and an x-ray pending the recommendations of the health department.
• If exposed, proof of medical treatment for three-to-four or six-to-nine treatment protocols, a negative chest x-ray and then an annual risk assessment are required.

Physical Fitness Form*

• Form is signed by a health care provider (MD, DO, PA, NP) to verify the student can perform the essential functions of a nurse.
• Students will attest that even though the physical fitness form was signed, they should recognize disclosing any serious underlying health condition to clinical faculty and clinical partner in urgent or emergent situations (e.g., diabetes, seizures).
• Annually, students will attest to reviewing the essential functions of a nurse and answer an annual question regarding any health changes that have occurred in the past year since the Physical Fitness Form was signed.
• Students are directed to the Disability and Accessibility Support Services at the UM-Flint to follow a process requesting ADA support.
• Students are directed to follow a process if injured or have a significant change in health to remain or return to the clinical setting.

Health Insurance*

• The student must be covered by health insurance and provide proof they are covered on the policy of the health insurance card submitted if their name is not present on the health insurance card.

Basic Life Support/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation*

• The American Heart Association for the health care provider will be the only Basic Life Support card accepted by the UM-Flint SON and it will be active for two years.
• Students in the Graduate Adult Acute/Gero Concentration will need Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support by the American Heart Association.

Registered Nurse License*

• Current license must be on file.

Background Check*

• American DataBank through Complio will check for the following:
  • County criminal check
  • Statewide criminal check
  • Social Security trace
  • Nationwide criminal search, including but not limited to criminal, Office of Inspector General, sex offender results
  • Nationwide exclusion list (Office of Inspector General, General Services Administration,  Office of Foreign Assets Control)
• Students will complete an annual attestation disclosure statement that they have not incurred any misdemeanor or felony.
• When students change programs (e.g., RN to BSN or BSN to graduate), a new background and drug screen will be performed.

Drug Screen*

• A ten-panel screen will be completed by Complio American DataBank company.
• Students will complete an annual disclosure statement that they have not used recreational, illegal, Schedule III, or higher meds.
• The UM-Flint SON may request a drug test or perform a random drug screen at any time.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act*

• Students will review material and take an annual competency to receive a certificate for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act material.
• The certificate will have the student’s name, the name of the training to include Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, date completed and official company certificate or health system.

Blood Borne Pathogens*

• Students will review material and take an annual competency to receive a certificate for Blood Borne Pathogens material.
• The certificate will have the student’s name, the name of the training to include Blood Borne Pathogens, date completed and official company certificate or health system.

Handbook

• Students will receive a link to the handbook and sign a form acknowledging access to the handbook.