MSN Preceptor Handbook
Nurse Education Preceptor Handbook

1. Is the program accredited?
   Yes, the program is accredited by the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education.

2. How long is the program?
   The program is 44 credits of course work for NPs and 43 for NE’s.  If students go full time starting in the fall semester, they can finish in two academic years.  If students start at some other time in the school year, it will take more than two years to complete the program.  The clinical courses require three semesters in the following sequence--Spring, Fall and Spring.

3. How do I apply for the program?
   Students may request application materials from the Graduate Admission Office.  Sheryl Guse is your Graduate Admissions Assistant Director. She can be reached at 262-243-4306. Students can apply online.

4. How do I register for classes?
   All students should register online.  When registering, please take special note of course numbers.  E-Learning course numbers always begin with an “8” and on-campus course numbers always begin with a “5”. To register for courses, log in to my.cuw.edu and select the “Student Services” tab. On the left side in the Registration Tools section, select “Look up Classes”. Select the Term of your class. Narrow your search by selecting the “Subject” and any other search criteria you wish such as “Campus”.

5. How fast can I progress through the program?
   Students may progress at a pace that is comfortable for them. Students must finish the program within seven years.

6. Are there residency requirements for the program?
   Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator students must come to campus for MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment, which is offered in the Winterim. (first two weeks in January).

7. Is there a comprehensive examination at the end of the program?
   No, there is not a comprehensive exam, however, students are required to prepare a portfolio. 

8. Who is my advisor?
   Jim Duncan is your academic advisor for the graduate nursing department.  He can be reached at 262-243-4483.

9. Is there any financial aid?
   There are loans available for eligible students. There are no graduate student scholarships.  The program does receive Advanced Nursing Education Traineeship money for student support.  This money is awarded to all eligible students for the final semester of the program.  Students will be given an application to apply at the appropriate time.

10. If I am an On-Campus student may I take a E-Learning course?
    Yes

11. Do you do any courses on the Internet?
    The program for both on-campus and E-Learning students uses Angel; a web-enhanced program for courses

12. Is a thesis required?
    Not necessarily. All students have a choice to do a thesis for 6 credits or go on the Global Perspectives trip (3 credits) and do a Scholarly Project (3 credits).

13. What is the Global Perspectives course?
    Usually during the Spring break of the last semester of the program, graduating students go on a medical mission trip with NP faculty members, a physician and/or other health care providers to a Underserved country such as Mexico or India to provide health care and the word of the Lord to underserved people.  There is usually are some grant monies available from CUW to support part of the cost of the trip. If you will be doing a trip other than the school sponsored trips, they must be preapproved by Dr. Kaul.

14. What is the Scholarly Project?
    The Scholarly Project is developed to improve or impact on a clinical problem.  The outcome is a scholarly paper that is submitted for publication or left for use in a clinical agency. Scholarly Project Explanation Letter

15. Do I really need a computer for this program?
    Yes, definitely! We use the Internet for e-mail communication, assignments, and Web-based courses.

16. What else do I need besides a computer?
    Compatible internet access to view recorded courses via Angel.

17. Do I have to have a BSN?
    Yes.

18. How often must I come to campus if I am a E-Learner?
    E-Learning students must come to campus for the Advanced Health Assessment course.

19. If I am a E-Learning student may I take an on-campus course?
    Yes

20. Can Advanced Pathophysiology be taken at an outside university or college?
    No, effective October 2008, all MSN students will be required to take Pathophysiology BIO 536/836 at Concordia University - Wisconsin.  The faculty have made this decision based on our need to have control over this very important foundational course content in order to evaluate if we are meeting the program outcomes.

21. When is MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment offered?
    MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment is offered each Winterim. The following courses need to be completed before coming for MSN 538:  Health Care Systems in Context, Nursing Theory, Nursing Research, Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics.  MSN 538 students must take BIO 842 (Pharmacotherapeutics) in Fall prior to MSN 538 or the spring immediate following MSN 538.

22. Why is residency course (MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment) only offered once per year in Winterim?
    The class needs to be in sequence to start the clinical course sequence in the spring semester. This course is fundamental to clinical practice and is used to determine that students are ready to begin a clinical practicum with a preceptor.

23. Why don't you do MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment and the clinical during the summer?
    The summer term does not allow enough time for student learning to be accomplished.  The transition to developing the clinical decision-making skills necessary for advance practice nursing requires more time.

24. Why do I have to finish the core courses before I start MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment and the clinical courses?
    A body of specific knowledge is needed to be ready to apply the knowledge and skills in the clinical courses.  

25. Who should I ask to be my preceptor?

    1. Nurse Practitioner - An appropriately credentialed and licensed master's prepared NP, physician assistant, or a physician working in the appropriate specialty (Family Practice, Internal Medicine or Gerontology) may serve as a preceptor. In addition, must have at least one year clinical experience.  Students will provide the name and identifying information about the preceptor. CUW will send them a contract for the clinical practicum.  Preceptors will need to provide a copy of license and certification along with a CV to the school for review and record keeping.  The CUW faculty will review all documentation to make sure the preceptor is appropriately credentialed.

    2. Nurse Educator - An appropriately credentialed master's prepared clinical nurse specialist for Nurse Educator I and a Master's Prepared Nurse Educator for Nurse Educator II and III. Students will provide the name and identifying information about the preceptor and CUW will send them a contract for the clinical practicum.  Preceptors will need to provide a resume to the school for review and record keeping.  The CUW faculty will review the resume to make sure the preceptor is appropriately credentialed.

26. How do I find a preceptor?
    Students are responsible for networking in their communities and identifying a person willing to work with them as a preceptor.  This gets students involved in networking and building skills in identifying and working with resource people.

27. Who should I ask to be my preceptor?
    An appropriately credentialed master's prepared clinical nurse specialist for Nurse Educator I and a Master's Prepared Nurse Educator for Nurse Educator II and III. Students will provide the name and identifying information about the preceptor and CUW will send them a contract for the clinical practicum.  Preceptors will need to provide a resume to the school for review and record keeping.  The CUW faculty will review the resume to make sure the preceptor is appropriately credentialed.

28. How many hours of clinical do I need to do?
    Nurse Practitioner students must do a minimum of 600 clinical hours to be eligible to take the recommended American Nurses Credentialing examination for certification as an NP.  This requires approximately 200 hours/semester or 14-16 hours/week in a 14-week semester. The Nurse educator clinical component is approximately 500 hours over three semesters.

29. How often does an instructor visit me in clinical?
    Each student will have a clinical instructor visit him or her each semester of   the clinical courses.  A minimum of one visit will be done each semester. More visits may be scheduled if student performance dictates the need.

30. May I start clinical courses whenever I want?
    No.  Clinical courses must be done in the semester sequence as discussed previously when the core courses are completed.

31. How are the clinical courses arranged?
    The three-clinical-course-cycle is offered starting in the spring semester each year (January). The second course is the following fall semester and the third course is offered in the subsequent spring semester.  No clinical can be done in the summer term.

32. What is the pass rate for the students at CUW on the national NP certification examination?
    Our pass rate consistently has been above the national average.

33. Do you have a post Master's degree NP track?
    Yes, please see the information about the Certificate After Graduate Education (CAGE) program.

34. How much will books cost?
    Books cost about $3000 for the program with the cost increasing every year.   Students will make an investment of approximately $500 when they come to campus for the Advanced Health Assessment. This is also a $75.00 charge for the Nurse Practitioner Student Tracking System. This is only for NP’s as the NE’s are not using this system  Books for other courses will cost about $400 per course.

35. How do I get my books?
    Books may be purchased at the University Bookstore on campus. E-Learning students are mailed a textbook order form upon receipt of their course registration form.  The textbook order form can be mailed or faxed to the bookstore.  Contact Kia Lor at the Bookstore for more information: Email:  bookstore@cuw.edu   Phone: 262-243-4349.

36. Do I get a CUW email address?
    Yes. You will be sent instructions on how to set up up your email account.  You can also contact IT Helpdesk by calling 262-243-4357. You are required to use this address for all correspondence in the courses.