Nursing: Fieldwork
Fieldwork requirements
Health profession student clinical training administrative requirements
In order for students to complete the required clinical training, PCC requires all students to meet the Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) Chapter 409 – Division 30 for students in clinical training prior to the beginning of the program’s first term (fall). Students are to meet any requirements mandated by their clinical site as well. A detailed description of these requirements are listed in Requirements for Clinical & Field Education. They include:
- Successfully pass a criminal background check
- Successfully pass a ten-panel drug screen
- Submit proof of current immunizations
- CPR Certification: Students are required to obtain and maintain current certification in BLS (CPR) for Healthcare Providers by the American Heart Association.
- Complete Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen compliance training modules.
ACEMAPP clearance
An additional requirement that is specific to the Nursing program is the ACEMAPP clearance. ACEMAPP is the program used to assign students and faculty to clinical placements. Without being approved within this program, students cannot be assigned to any of the medical centers in the Portland, Salem, and Vancouver areas. Therefore, it is important that students upload all the clinical requirements and maintain their currency throughout the time they are in the PCC Nursing program.
ACEMAPP procedures
- Students will receive an email from ACEMAPP with a link inside it. Please open the link (copy and paste into the browser). Be sure to check the spam box for this email as they are sometimes diverted there.
- Change the password and agree to the FERPA and Honesty Pledge. Students who fail to do these steps will not be allowed to progress.
- Complete the student profile. 1) Elements that are required to be completely accurate include: name, address, phone number, email address and emergency contact; 2) Elements that are strongly suggested to be completed accurately are: Vehicle make and model, and license plate number; 3) Elements that are not suggested or required but that require something be filled in the blank with numbers or letters include: birth city, home country, US citizenship, last 4 SSN digits, and driver’s license number.
- There are three required courses that students must complete and pass the corresponding assessments. They include HIPAA, OSHA, and Bloodborne Pathogens. There are three attempts to pass each assessment. A passing score is 80% (16 correct answers of 20 questions). Students who do not pass in three attempts should notify the Nursing program dean. These are annual requirements and must be repeated prior to entering fall term of second year.
- Upload all required documents from an original source. These include: immunizations, BLS card, background check, and drug screen. Put in the date in which the immunization was received, not the date it is being uploaded. The flu and COVID-19 vaccines will need to be uploaded in the fall after it is received. Leave the following blank: Health insurance, WA state patrol background check, and OR RN license.
- The student’s profile will show three green checks when all required components are completed, and they are ready to be assigned to a clinical site.
- Once students are assigned to a clinical rotation, they will need to complete any site-specific requirements in ACEMAPP. The students’ accounts must be fully compliant prior to starting the clinical rotation.
- Once the new account is complete, the demo video can be viewed.
Fieldwork attendance
Absences from clinical and make-up time
Students are responsible for communicating with their clinical faculty in the event a clinical is missed or will be missed. Make up time and availability will be determined on a case by case basis. Not all missed clinical days will be able to be redone, therefore missed hours will be assigned in a simulation scenario.
When possible, missed clinicals may be completed through simulation. *Note hours are not one for one.
Fieldwork sites
Clinical assignments and integrative practicum (IP)
- The program has arrangements with several Portland, Vancouver, and Salem facilities for students to gain clinical experience.
- The program dean and FDC establish each student’s clinical assignments.
- Students will be notified of their clinical location and schedule at or near the beginning of each term.
- Each student can expect their clinical assignment to parallel the current course curriculum as best as possible.
- Clinical rotation trades or requests for change will only be approved on a case-by-case basis.
- In the event of extenuating circumstances that may prevent any student from participating in their assigned clinical placement, the student will be required to petition to change their clinical assignment.
- The program dean and faculty department chair will determine the outcomes.
Clinical placements
Clinical placements are designed as a learning experience and take place in a number of acute, post-acute, and long-term care facilities, as well as community-based settings. Students work under the direction and supervision of a clinical instructor. Students do not practice in the clinical setting “under” any nurse’s license. The OSBN (ORS 678.031) grants students the right to practice up to the scope of practice for which they are being prepared, provided the student is educationally prepared and has demonstrated competency for the assignment they are given. Students with prior certifications or health care licenses are not allowed to practice in the PCC Nursing program clinical setting under their certified or licensed scope of practice.
During a clinical experience, faculty and students are guests in the facility, and therefore, must conform to the rules, regulations, and policies of the facility. Facility policies related to admission clinical requirements, facility orientation, patient record-keeping, nursing procedures, dress code, parking, or other requirements must be followed.
In the clinical setting, students care for patients whose health care needs provide the student the opportunity to develop and expand nursing skills and abilities to the level of the student’s competency. As the student’s knowledge and nursing skill level increases, so will the complexity of care of their patients.
Clinical placements may be offered during day, evening, or night shifts, including weekends. Students’ clinical rotation schedules will be available at the beginning of each term. Clinical experiences are limited. Therefore, students are expected to be active participants in seeking clinical experiences at their assigned setting that best meet their learning needs. While students must assume responsibility for planning and providing care within their abilities, they must also recognize their limitations and seek assistance from the clinical instructor, as evidenced by adherence to the critical element of safety.
Because the clinical skills need to be practiced and done safely, students must be prepared for the experience. Preparation includes successfully demonstrating skills in the clinical skills lab prior to performing them in clinical. Each nursing lab skill is signed off in the student’s Clinical Nursing Passport. Students must have access to their Clinical Nursing Passport each clinical day. If they do not have their Clinical Nursing Passport they will not be allowed to do the nursing skill in the clinical setting.
Sufficient and timely preparation for required nursing skills is expected for a “P” grade on clinical performance indicators. For optimal student learning outcomes, it is essential that students consistently attend clinical. Excessive numbers of absences (more than two), established patterns of absences, or patterns of tardiness in the clinical setting will be documented by their clinical faculty and may result in a clinical NP, which is an F grade for the nursing course.
Transportation requirements for clinical/field sites
Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from school and clinical facilities, as well as parking costs. Some clinical facilities may require 45 minutes or more travel time and may not be serviced by Tri-Met at times convenient for use.