Practicum Placement

That sounds like a terrible situation for students, but I wouldn't be surprised if this sort of thing happens more often.

The number of nursing programs & students has increased dramatically over the last few years, at the same time that the number of hospital beds & inpatient facilities is actually shrinking. Hospitals are becoming more aware of the productivity & liability burdens associated with hosting pre-licensure students. It is a 'perfect storm' that is already affecting many areas. In some states, programs are allowed to substitute sim lab experience for clinical rotations, while other states have strict limitations & I believe that there's at least one state that prohibits this practice.

In my part of the country, hospitals are much more particular about their academic collaboration agreements... many are only working with BSN programs since they no longer hire ADNs. Schools are travelling longer distances for clinical sites. It's not unusual for student rotations to be scheduled for evening, weekend or even nights - as long as the program can provide clinical instructors to manage the students.

So - With all these things in mind, students with expectations of being granted their first choice are probably going to be disappointed.

In my program everyone gets a practicum placement in their final quarter. They may not get their first choice placement but they do get a placement. My program though is much smaller than yours (~40 students/cohort; 2 cohorts/year). It also helps we are directly affiliated with a university hospital, as well as have many long-standing community relationships with other hospitals and community agencies. The program will only admit as many students as they have guaranteed clinical slots which is why enrollment can vary year to year.

What on earth does you program have everyone who is not the 10-15 chosen for practicum doing? Do you get additional clinical hours elsewhere or does it delay graduation? Or do you mean their are only 10-15 possible locations to do a practicum? The latter doesn't sound completely unreasonable.

That sounds like a more logical way to do practicum, and I believe that is the way my school used to do it. I've never heard of schools only giving out a handful of spaces. The class before mine was not like this. Had I known they did practicum this way I would have probably chosen a different school. I'm a senior now and it's too late. I have a great establishment of myself with my professors and my GPA is good, but there's not even enough slots to offer those at the top of the class a practicum... Thanks for your input.

@verene that makes so much more sense. I would be okay even if I didn't get my top choice as long as I had a place! The rest of us will be in a group of about 10 doing medsurg clinical with one instructor. It's not the best learning experience with so many students and only one instructor. I just didn't know it would be like this and I've never heard of schools only giving so few places. Like they have 4 spots at one hospital, 4 at a mental health hospital, maybe 2 at another hospital and they will be one-on-one placements.

@HouTx it's not a matter of getting my first choice, it's a matter of getting ANY PLACEMENT AT ALL. I'm not just simply whining because the chances of getting my first choice are slim, my chances of getting any placement as of right now 12/122. Those who don't get practicum (a one on one experience) will get medsurg three with a group of about 10 students and one instructor. It's a terrible way to learn when there are so many students and one instructor. I so want the one-on-one.

@HouTx it's not a matter of getting my first choice, it's a matter of getting ANY PLACEMENT AT ALL. I'm not just simply whining because the chances of getting my first choice are slim, my chances of getting any placement as of right now 12/122. Those who don't get practicum (a one on one experience) will get medsurg three with a group of about 10 students and one instructor. It's a terrible way to learn when there are so many students and one instructor. I so want the one-on-one.

Thats how my adn program was, only the 10 - 15 students in my class were selected to do practicums, the rest of class, including myself had to do group clinicals in our last semester. I did not complain and saw nothing wrong with it. Clinical sites are limited, so just finish your program , pass your boards and get a job. You will get enough practice at your job.