The University of North Dakota Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Specialization prepares the student for advanced practice in family primary care nursing. The Course of Study is five semesters which includes one six-week summer session. The curriculum has 59 required credits with 697.5 practicum hours. Enrollment is limited. Completed applications must be submitted by January 15 for fall admission. A successful interview by the Admissions Committee is a part of the admission process.

The program utilizes a clinical preceptorship model to provide the FNP student the opportunity to obtain extended clinical experiences in a primary care setting. The preceptorship bridges theory and actual practice and allows the student to try new skills and develop the nurse practitioner role. Students are provided the opportunity to socialize into the nurse practitioner role by becoming a health care team member with the preceptor providing guidance as a role model, mentor, and resource person.

Students may identify a potential preceptor prior to application to the FNP Program. Final preceptor selection, orientation, and evaluation is the responsibility of the Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization faculty.

Preceptorships provide the clinical experience for three practicums during the course of study. The first practicum focuses on interviewing and health assessment skills. This is a six-week practicum of approximately 32 clinical hours per week (180 total hours). The second and third practicums focus on acute, emergent, and chronic conditions, interviewing, health assessment, diagnosis, and patient education with each practicum lasting 13 weeks (225 clinical hours). Students participate intense weeks on campus in the second and third praticums, preparing for Drug Therapy and Management of Common Conditions -- the two didactic courses for these semesters. Over the following 13 weeks of each semester, these two courses will be continued through distance learning.

Responsibilities of Preceptors Educational/Legal

Primary preceptors may be nurse practitioners or physicians. They must meet the licensing and/or certification requirements in the state in which they are practicing. Nurse practitioners in the primary preceptor role must be master's prepared. All primary preceptors must return a completed Memorandum of Agreement to UND prior to clinical start date.

Clinical Practice

• The preceptorship must be in a successful practice, highly respected by the health care profession. The preceptorship must provide the student with a variety of clients across the lifespan. If the clinical practice of the preceptor is limited in a particular area or the preceptor "needs a break" from the intense teacher-student role, the preceptor should recommend and/or assist the student in arranging speciality rotations. Scheduling speciality rotations should be done as early as possible in the semester by approval of the faculty.
  

Personal/Professional

• Professionally, the preceptor must exhibit interest and involvement in the advanced nurse practitioner role. The preceptor serves as host, sponsor, teacher, and role model for the student at the clinical site. Professional qualities that are needed to preceptor the FNP student are: interest in professional growth and continued learning; involvement in the agency and community; secure in role; confident, knowledgeable, and competent; has respect of peers; and is able to deal with conflict.

• Helpfulness, caring, flexibility, and enthusiasm are personal qualities that students value. Enjoyment of teaching, commitment to students, and willingness to work with beginners are important characteristics in the development of a positive student/preceptor relationship.

• The preceptor must be willing to review course objectives and determine feasibility of meeting them and assist the student and faculty in modifying objectives as needed. Additionally, time must be allowed to visit informally and formally with faculty for feedback. This is accomplished by telephone visits and at least two site visits per semester. Preceptors should contact FNP faculty if there are any problems with the student. 

Faculty Responsibilities to Preceptors

Orientation to FNP Program

• Faculty must provide the preceptor with a description of the Family Nurse Practitioner program, overview of preceptorship expectations, the course syllabus, student performance expectations, and evaluation tool for the clinical experience.
  

Educational/Legal

• It is the responsibility of faculty to negotiate the clinical experience contract and letter of agreement with the agency and/or preceptor. Faculty validates student health requirement completion, liability insurance, licensure, and CPR certification.
  

Support in the Clinical Setting

• Faculty utilize telephone contacts and site visits to elicit informal and formal feedback from the preceptor, assist the preceptor in evaluation of student performances and program performances by providing evaluation tools to the preceptor, and offer professional support by encouraging student/preceptor team to utilize educational references and resources available in the library. 

Evaluation

• Faculty observe role performance of the student onsite visits and evaluate students achievement of program objectives.

Student's Responsibilities to Preceptorship Scheduling

Students should arrange an interview, share student resume with preceptor, and plan time and dates for clinical experience. Students are expected to be prepared and punctual for clinical experiences and schedule any make-up time at convenience of preceptor. Faculty should be contacted by student if conflicts arise regarding scheduling. Students are also responsible for coordinating a site visit date and time with faculty and preceptor.

Professional/Personal

• Students must conduct themselves at all times in a professional manner. They must dress appropriately and wear a name tag. They should contact faculty if conflicts arise regarding course objectives or if they experience interpersonal difficulties. In addition to adhering to the University of North Dakota's student policies, students must maintain a R.N. licensure for every country and state of their practicum sites, CPR certification, and complete all health requirements