Roles and Responsibilities
Student Responsibilities
• Upon enrollment, the student must identify a practice immersion site and Project mentor. Project Mentor and Practice Immersion Placement Interest Sheet (Appendix G) that can be contacted by the OFE. Incomplete contact information for site and Project Mentor may result in delays.
• A Project Mentor Information and Acknowledgement Form (Appendix H) must be on file with OFE for your Project Mentor and any additional preceptors students will be working with prior to the student starting their practice immersion hours. The student is responsible for providing the Project Mentor Information and Acknowledgement Form to be completed and signed by the Project Mentor. A copy of this form is to be given to the Project Mentor and any additional preceptors utilized, and a copy is sent to the OFE. This form should be accompanied by the Project Mentor and any additional preceptor’s CV/Resume and the Project Mentor/preceptor’s professional license.
• A change of address (especially a move to another state) may cause the inability to progress in your program of study. The inability to progress in the program of study may delay a student’s graduation or require program withdrawal. The United States University College of Nursing and Health Sciences program is not responsible for guaranteeing a practice immersion placement when a student moves after the start of a term, or after a move two terms before practice immersion starts in the case of out-of-state placements. Traveling nurses should proactively identify where practice immersion will take place and update their address on file accordingly.
• The student must thoroughly complete all OFE Requirements, including Complio (American Data Bank) prior to completing any practice immersion course. Note: Students cannot start practice immersion until all Complio and site affiliation requirements are completed. Complio and site requirements must be current throughout each Practice Immersion course.
• Meet with the appropriate person at the practice immersion site (Project Mentor, preceptor, office manager/supervisor) to negotiate the dates, times, and activities to be included in the practice immersion experience.
• Provide practice immersion location with required information requested by the site (i.e., Immunizations, fingerprints, criminal background checks, Health information, OSHA training, copy of nursing license, American Heart Association Healthcare CPR lesson, drug screening, patient confidentiality statement, or any other agency requirements).
• The student’s personal and work schedules are expected to accommodate the required number of hours for each course.
• Students must meet all orientat=ion, health and safety, and administration expectations of the facility before scheduling field experiences.
• Complete the Student Evaluation of Project Mentor/Preceptor for Project Mentor and any additional preceptors (example in Appendix).
• If students change project mentor and/or practice immersion site, the student must obtain this approval at least 16 weeks prior to the practice immersion course in which the change is needed.
Practice Immersion Faculty Responsibilities
At United States University, the practice immersion faculty responsibilities include the following:
• Work with Office of Field Experience for contract assignment availability
•Provide timely and constructive feedback to students. Document and send any practice immersion or project development and progression concerns to the student via email. For any student or patient safety concern, please contact OFE at ofe@usuniversity.edu immediately.
• Complete the Project Mentor and Practice Site Evaluation (example in Appendix) for each student with the Project Mentor via email or phone call by the completion of DNP 712.
OFE Practice Immersion Coordinator Responsibilities
• Ensure that students understand the nature of the practice immersion experience and the expectations involved.
• Assist students in ensuring all required health and safety documents and site requirements have been met.
• Be available to counsel with students as situations dictate.
• Act as the centralized point of contact for any student or Practice Immersion faculty issues or concerns brought forth.
• Works with all students in assigned load following enrollment into the DNP program.
• Responsible to ensure students are aware of and complete requirements for placement in the practice immersion setting and maintain their approved status.
• Will work with students to ensure all necessary health and safety documentation is uploaded and cleared in required systems in advance of the start of the practice immersion experience.
• Works with students to assist in identifying best placement options.
• Works collaboratively with other OFE staff and management as well as CONHS leadership. Will manage the Affiliation Agreement legal review as necessary with the USU legal department and the legal departments of the site.
• Will monitor and ensure all Project Mentors have been approved by CONHS based on submitted documentation and will provide access to required systems.
Project Mentor Responsibilities
• Meets the credentialing requirements of either a Project Mentor.
• DNP Mentors may be used to enhance faculty-directed practice immersion learning experiences, but not to replace faculty. A Project Mentor shall be approved by program administration and be actively involved in practice or patient outcomes.
• Once the Office of Field Experience receives the mentor’s CV/Resume, the documents are sent to the Program Director who reviews and provides final approval or denial of the Project Mentor. The approval process time varies between 2-16 weeks on average depending on the type of review and if it involves external site approvals/verification.
• Project Mentors may not be a spouse, domestic partner, or first-degree relative of the student.
• Possess Practice Immersion expertise appropriate to accomplish the goals of the Project Mentorship and has at least one year of work experience at or above the level of licensure of the student’s program.
• Be authorized to practice in the state or currently licensed as a health care professional as required by state regulations and as applicable.
• Possess current unencumbered license in the specialty when required for the role.
• Be professionally certified in their area of specialty.
• Provide the student with ongoing constructive feedback that relates performance standards to student performance
• Participate in faculty/Project Mentor conferences and communicate with faculty to clarify roles and the nature of the learning experience.
• Provide an orientation for the student to the practice area and expectations of care standards
• Participate in orientation as applicable.
• Participates with the faculty and student in the evaluation of the student’s Practice Immersion competence.
• Complete the Project Mentor of Student evaluation.
United States University College of Nursing & Health Sciences is responsible to orient the Project Mentor on the following items:
• Mission, goals, and curricular outline of the program.
• Student objectives, course objectives and course outline.
• Role of the Project Mentor and faculty.
• Performance expectations of the student.
• Evaluation responsibilities and standards for the student, course, and Project Mentor.
• Avenues of communication between the program, faculty, Project Mentor, facility, and student.
• Student assignments related to the experience.
• Expected initial level of knowledge, skills, and abilities of the student.