When you choose to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree online at Walden University, you’ll find an innovative student support feature called Practicum Advantage™. 

Walden’s Practicum Advantage™ provides the coaching, resources, and self-help tools you need to identify a local practicum site and nursing preceptor that fit with your education goals—an important step in advancing your skills as a healthcare professional.

For MSN candidates enrolled in nurse practitioner or specialty care online degree program specializations, completing a practicum is vital to developing the skills as an advanced practice nurse. Finding the right nursing preceptor who can help train, mentor, and inspire is equally important. In fact, a strong partnership with a nurse leader in a mentor/mentee relationship can help nurses make an easier transition to a new role and contribute to recruitment and retention, according to the American Nurses Association.¹

At the heart of Practicum Advantage™ is a dedicated regional field experience team that is available by chat, phone, or email to help explain the process and practicum requirements, assist with submitting documents, approve nurse preceptor credentials, and help with securing affiliation agreements between Walden and a site.

Practicum Advantage™ also provides: 

• Access to a robust database of potential sites: The database lists sites where other Walden students have completed their field experiences and where the accredited university may already have an agreement in place. This can make it easier to identify a potential site.
• Guidance from Walden’s Career Services team: Many students earning online nursing degrees say that finding the ideal practicum site and nursing preceptor is similar to applying for a job. It can take time, and Walden is here to support you in your search by offering resources such as networking tips and interview and resume tools.  
• Support from Student Success Advising: Your dedicated Student Success Advisor can assist you with all aspects of your online degree planning, including helping you to understand the requirements of your nursing program, determine when your practicum will begin, and more.

Walden’s Practicum Advantage™ is also available in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) Completion Program and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) online nursing school degree program, as well as the Post-Master’s Certificates in Nursing programs.

Another Component: Walden University Practicum Pledge^®

Walden University understands that finding a site or preceptor can be challenging and we are dedicated to supporting you at every step of the way to ensure a timely and successful placement. Practicum Pledge® creates a collaborative search process between our BSN, MSN, and DNP students and our large network of field sites and preceptors. If after several tries you’re unable to identify your own site and preceptor, we pledge to help match you with a preceptor and site. We’ve added a dedicated Field Placement Team to explain the process and requirements and proactively partner with you to offer site and preceptor matching. The Walden University Practicum Pledge® gives our students added confidence as they embark on their practicum experience.

The Walden Nursing School Advantage

Walden offers an online MSN degree program that lets you tailor your studies to your career interests.

If you want to provide direct patient care, these nurse practitioner specializations can prepare you to pursue certification and credentialing: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Primary Care, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). 

If specialty care is your passion, Walden offers the following online nursing school paths to these nursing areas: Nursing Education, Nurse Executive, Nursing Informatics, and Public Health Nursing.

Walden’s online MSN degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which signifies a nursing program’s quality and integrity. Another Walden advantage is flexibility. In the university’s online nursing school, you can earn a degree while working and staying active in your personal life. Log in to the coursework for your online classes wherever you have an internet connection.

An Enrollment Specialist can help you explore Walden’s online nursing programs and understand how Practicum Advantage™ supports your practicum experience—so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

Walden University is an HLC- accredited institution offering a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) online degree program with multiple specializations. Earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

¹Source: www.nursingworld.org/content-hub/resources/nursing-resources/benefits-of-mentorship-in-nursing/

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing (BSN), master’s degree program in nursing (MSN), post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Walden University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.