Advanced Nursing Practicum - T NURS 503 and 505

Each quarter of practicum requires 90 hours of hands-on experience. To prepare for practicum, students must attend the practicum orientation session offered in the academic year prior to their planned practicum quarter. 

To enroll in their practicum courses, students must be clinically cleared per Clinical Placement Northwest's guidelines. The Clinical Placement Manager will give clearance instructions per the student's UW email, once they have set-up their UW email.

1. Students submit a practicum interest survey to the Clinical Placement Manager during winter quarter of their first year. If the survey is not completed on time, students will be placed by the Clinical Placement Manager and practicum faculty. Practicums allow for growth and expanding horizons and opportunities to change or appeal placements are limited. Students are not allowed to make their own advanced nursing practicum arrangements. 
    
2. Students who have not completed the clinical clearance process by the deadline will not be able to register for advanced nursing practicum. 
    
3. Students will receive their advanced nursing practicum assignments no later than the end of summer before their practicum. Students need to reach out to their advanced nursing practicum preceptor before their first day of practicum, introduce themselves, and make an appointment to meet with their preceptor in the first week of the quarter. ​

Participation in practicum is contingent on complying with all clinical clearance requirements. Students use the CastleBranch website in order to review and submit records for clearance purposes. Students are given instructions for establishing CastleBranch accounts upon admission. Clearance requirements include:

• Immunization Requirements determined by Clinical Placements Northwest (CPNW). The requirements include records of specific immunizations and annual tests detailed in the CPNW Clinical Passport. If records are not available, titers or re-immunizations must be administered. 
• Basic Life Support (BLS) - present an American Heart Association BLS card with expiration date visible to the Nursing program office; this certification must be current at the time of advanced nursing practicum.
• Current Washington State healthcare providers must provide proof of unrestricted license status (does not apply to non-licensed applicants). License must be unencumbered and current while enrolled in the Master of Nursing program.
• Bloodborne Pathogens Policy Acknowledgement - UW bloodborne pathogens policy acknowledgement must be signed and submitted.
• Annual Background Check Authorization - students are required to complete forms required for implementation of the Washington State Child Abuse and Adult Abuse Information Law (CAAL) and related Department of Health regulations. This includes completion of and a criminal background check, which the UW Tacoma Healthcare Leadership program will treat confidentially and process through the Washington State Patrol.
• Training with UW Compliance Learning Portal (or Learning Management System) - students must complete assigned training in either CPL or LMS (UW Employees only) systems. Training includes information on UW HIPAA and Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Policies.
• Consent to Release Records - UW form must be signed and submitted.
• CastleBranch Criminal Background Check - National and State background check conducted by CastleBranch. Acceptable results are required; background checks expire after two years. Continuing students will be asked to renew their background checks biennially until they graduate.
• Annual Washington State Patrol Background Check (WATCH Report) - Included with initial CastleBranch order and required annually. Subsequent reports will be ordered by School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership and cost will be assessed to student accounts in quarter of advanced nursing practicum.

In addition to the items listed above, students are STRONGLY ADVISED to have personal health insurance or join a healthcare plan to cover the expenses of their healthcare and treatments in case of a catastrophic illness or injury and/or the development of a serious chronic condition.

Transportation

Advanced nursing practicum placements are arranged throughout the region. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from advanced nursing practicum sites. Hours for advanced nursing practicum are to be arranged, Monday - Friday during daytime hours.

Attire

Students are expected to adhere to the dress requirement of the agency where they are assigned for advanced nursing practicum experiences.

UW Student ID (Husky Card)

All students are required to carry their UW student photo ID. Instructions for obtaining a UW ID can be found here.

Name Badge

A UW Tacoma student name badge must be worn at all times when participating in course-related activities, but it should be worn only when you are functioning as a UW Tacoma student. You will required to purchase the name badge for a nominal fee that will be charged to your student account.