How does your school obtain new clinical site agreements?

[NurseRiss]

Hello All,

I have tried to do a search for this info but did not come across any threads specific to what I'm looking for. If you find something please feel free to point me in the right direction…

I am a nursing instructor tasked with obtaining new clinical agreements for RN and LPN clinical rotations. The problem I keep running into is that facilities are just not receptive to having students, many cite liability” issues. I explain all students have Liability Insurance and offer to send them the specific information to review. At that point I usually don't get a call back. My messages go unreturned, and emails unanswered.

I have had luck with local non profit community health organizations. They seem to be very receptive to having students. I have even gone as far as looking on craigslist and employment ads to see if I can spot a facility or doctors office in need of staff or extra hands”. On a few occasions I have sold them on allowing students in to observe, take vitals, take histories, etc.

So my questions are, how does your facility obtain new agreements? How do you approach the subject of allowing students out? How do you reach out? Cold Calls? In person visits? How do you overcome the we don't do students” objections?

Thanks All!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Can any Educator offer insight to this member?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I work at a post-acute specialty hospital that has chronic staffing issues. My former CNO actually contacted a local community college nursing program to see if they needed an additional clinical site.

My former CNO figured that the patients would be less likely to notice understaffing on days students were completing clinical rotations.