Graduate nursing education consists of three basic Graduate Nursing Degree Instruction Components: academic instruction, simulation laboratory, and clinical practicum. Which of these Instruction Components you will participate in depends on the practice role of the degree or certificate you are pursuing.
All degrees will include an Academic Instruction Component. However, only practice roles with a clinical focus will have Simulation Laboratory and Clinical Practicum components. These practice roles include:
Academic Instruction
Academic Instruction is a foundational Graduate Nursing Degree Instruction Component that includes lectures and the study of related written material, often called didactic instruction. This instruction provides students with a theoretical understanding of the area of study. Written and illustrative course material provided in print or online format.
Academic Instruction provides the knowledge that develops into practice expertise in a simulation laboratory and clinical practicum.
Simulation Laboratory
Simulation Laboratories provide a practice-based bridge between academic instruction and real-world patient care. Exercises in a Simulation Laboratory usually occur during the clinical practicum. This instruction component is a risk-free, non-threatening setting where students can apply their current knowledge in a simulated patient care environment.
A Simulation Laboratory includes mock hospital rooms such as birthing suites, nurseries, surgical suites, emergency departments, and intensive care units. These rooms are complete with real-world equipment and computerized patient mannequins designed to exhibit specific patient symptoms.
In this simulated environment and with no risk to patients, students can develop new patient care skills, solve problems, think critically, and apply their knowledge of clinical best practices. Students gain expertise in patient safety and improving patient care. In turn, this expertise results in improved quality outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
Students in a clinically oriented Online program might have limited or no access to a Simulation Laboratory.
Clinical Practicum – Real-World Patient Care
Some students find the Clinical Practicum the most challenging of the three Graduate Nursing Degree Instruction Components. In this component, the student provides direct patient care under the immediate supervision of a Preceptor.
The Preceptor is a nursing professional or Physician with extensive experience and knowledge in the student’s nursing specialization. Preceptor routinely provides the school with written evaluations of the student’s performance.
Clinical Practicums take place at healthcare organizations such as hospitals, medical centers, clinics, or physician offices with an established practicum program with the nursing school. In some situations, the student may need to initiate locating a Preceptor.
Students usually begin their Practicum by shadowing their Preceptor. The student observes the Preceptor’s interactions with patients and other healthcare providers, the tasks they perform, and the decisions they make. The student and Preceptor maintain an ongoing dialog to ensure students learn from their observations and participation. As students progress, they become more involved in direct patient care and more complex patients.