No Senior Practicum?

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Hello! The nursing program I am in does not offer a "senior practicum" to its student during their final semester. We will just have a regular didactic/clinical schedule like past semesters. The question existing is will this hinder me in my job searches/applications after graduation? I am currently working as a PNA in an Emergency Department so I am gaining experience, but the hospitals I am looking into wants mentioning of where your practicum was, etc., so I will have to put N/A. If there's anything I can do in its place that would be just as fulfilling as a practicum, please let me know. Thanks a million!!

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Some programs just don't have them. I am currently in one that doesn't offer a senior practicum. The hospital system I work for has a nursing intern program independent of any school that they do during the summer. Unfortunately I didn't know this until applications were already due for this year's cycle. There is no point in doing it for next year because I should be graduated by then. I am assuming that a PNA is like a PCT/PCA/Tech/Nursing Assistant? That alone is great PAID experience and should open doors at your current facility if not elsewhere.

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Okay, good to know I'm not alone in this (: & yes PNA is a "professional nursing assistant". Thanks so much for your advice!!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Senior practicum? I've never completed one, nor did I need the experience. Keep in mind I've completed three different nursing programs (LVN, ASN, and BSN).

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Senior practicum? I've never completed one, nor did I need the experience. Keep in mind I've completed three different nursing programs (LVN, ASN, and BSN).

Okay! It's something nursing schools are doing now to help students get experience on a floor of their choosing/interests. Hopefully, I'm just panicking for no reason :whistling: Thanks for responding!

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care-Family Medicine.

The local program where I live stopped doing theirs. Our two local hospitals didn't want to do it anymore, I'm betting a student screwed up somewhere and it became too much of a liability because they pulled the plug on it out of nowhere. A practicum is not required (at least in my state) to sit for boards.

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Really? That's a shame. That's where I feel I learned the most in nursing school.

I think your experience as an aide will help you to find a position after graduation.

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Really? That's a shame. That's where I feel I learned the most in nursing school.

I think your experience as an aide will help you to find a position after graduation.

Yes, that's what I'm hoping. :saint:

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

We do 40 hrs one on one with a med surg nurse but that's the extent of it and I got to one of the top programs in my geographical area. I know the other school in the area does the same as us as well.

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My program didn't offer a senior practicum either. None of us who graduated were hindered by our lack of a senior practicum.

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