Clinical experience for RN-BSN program

[roseynurse345]

Hi everyone!! I would like to do online program such as University of Wyoming, however it is finding a clinical experience such as public health that is scaring me. How hard is it to find a clinic willing to do this with you, I live in NYC area. I like the convience and cost of this program,but trying to find a clinical sounds daunting. Thank you!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I think you are wise to be considering this issue BEFORE you start the program. Many clinical facilities will not provide such experiences from students who are not aleady working them.

Essentially, these schools (and the student) are asking facilities to provide education for a stranger -- for free -- getting nothing in return for their investment. A lot of places simply can't afford to do that, particularly for an increasingly large number of students who find themselves scrambling to arrange clinicals in their local areas on their own. My hospital gets dozens of such requests each year. We turn most of them down and only accept those that already have some connection with us.

My advice is not to enroll in such a program unless/until you have the clinical arrangements all worked out. It might seem "convenient" on the surface, but if you can't get the clinicals you need, it could end up being a mess. Sometimes it's better to go with a school in your local region that has some affiliation agreements already established with local agencies and that can help you get the clinicals you need.

Good luck!