The community health clinical (NSG 466) is a 45-hour practicum completed over the summer of students’ first year in the program. Please note: Co-enrollment students complete their clinical the summer after they have matriculated as degree-seeking students following their ADN graduation.

Although the lecture course NSG 469 Community Health Nursing that is tied to NSG 466 is online, there are 35 hours of direct patient care and 10 hours of clinical paperwork and debriefing required for the clinical. It is a 10-week course that is done in tandem with NSG 469. Below are the expectations of this practicum.

All students must 

Complete their 35 hours during the summer semester (hours must be completed between the start date and end date of the 10-week summer session) at an approved community health site in their local area. These 35 hours are flexible and can be done any way the student prefers as best fits into their schedule. A list of approved sites is available and will be distributed to students in February.

• Any clinical site without an active contract must be approved by the community health coordinator Professor Secrist (secrisjj@jmu.edu) and a contract established.
• Students may choose a site from the approved list or identify a different agency in their geographical area. Students must:
  1. Receive approval for the site. Send information about the agency (include a link to its website) to Professor Secrist at secrisjj@jmu.edu
  2. Once students have received approval from Professor Secrist, students must submit a completed Contract Request Form to RN-BSN@jmu.edu 
  3. Students will be notified once an affiliation agreement has been completed.
  4. STUDENTS MUST WAIT FOR CONTRACT APPROVAL BY JMU BEFORE BEGINNING ANY CLINICAL HOURS. NO CLINICAL HOURS can be started without a contract in place.
  5. This process can take anywhere between 2-4 weeks and may impact the student's ability to complete clinical hours in the 10-week time frame. **Please note that just because an agency is listed on our 'approved' list, that doesn't guarantee that they are currently accepting students. Students should contact agencies directly to see if they can accommodate them for this experience, even if they are on the list. 
• Use the introduction letter provided to help them initiate communication with an agency. This letter will be distributed to students in February along with the list of approved sites.
• Identify any required documentation or other requirements needed by their selected agency. 
• Be precepted by an RN at the site, who will work with the student's instructors to ensure they are meeting specific practicum goals and objectives. The preceptor must be a licensed RN working at the site and not a peer. The RN does not have to hold a BSN to be a preceptor.
• Complete 35 hours of practicum as well as 10 hours of online coursework. Doing clinical hours while not participating in the online course, or vice versa, will result in an incomplete or failure and will impact program progression.
• Complete practicum hours during the summer semester. Hours started prior to or after the summer semester begins or ends will not be counted toward your clinical hours.
• Be compliant with background check/drug screen, all immunizations and CPR certification throughout course of the practicum. This is something students need to check directly with their clinical site about to ensure that they meet all of their requirements. Background check and drug screen should be completed upon entry into the program. Immunizations and CPR certification should also be uploaded upon entry into the program but should be maintained until the end of the program. myRecordTracker sends notifications of items that need to be updated when they fall out of compliance.
  • Failure to update immunizations and CPR certification, especially while doing clinical hours, will result in an inability to participate in practicum and withheld grades. Program progression will also be impacted.