APCHSN Post-BSN DNP Internship Overview

PURPOSE
Internships in community health provide students with opportunities to develop advanced practice, leadership and practice inquiry competence in community health systems nursing. Students engage in projects and issues in community/public health settings to integrate and synthesize didactic coursework, and to develop knowledge and skills learned better in the real world.

Internships are designed to achieve preparation in core public health competencies and to meet American Academy of Colleges of Nursing's DNP Essentials and UW SON DNP program objectives.

Students take 22 credits of internship courses over six quarters, including a 5 credit capstone residence in the sixth quarter (which will be described on a separate webpage). It is preferable that students remain in the same internship site for a minimum of three quarters during the first year of their program.

SUPERVISING
The student is supervised by UW SoN faculty and works with a community liaison. The community liaison has intimate understanding of community processes, health issues, assets and strengths of communities, history and culture of communities, and can facilitate the movement of students in the community.

UW SoN faculty has established partnerships with communities in Seattle (see Internship Sites for more information). For distance learning students, community sites will be developed.

COURSE REGISTRATION
Each internship has its own course number. No faculty code is needed.

HOURS
One course credit equals 3 hours of clinical fieldwork internship. Thus, for a 3 credit internship course, you will spend 9 hours per week, or 90 hours for the quarter, on your internship. Please plan to commit at least one day per week for a 3 credit internship course and two days for a 4 credit internship course.

MONTHLY SEMINARS
Students will be involved in a monthly seminar about their internship experiences. First year and second year students will have separate seminars, but on occasion they will be shared. Community liaisons may be invited to participate in these seminars.

eJOURNAL
Internship faculty supervisor may require students to complete a journal electronically to describe their experiences and for faculty feedback. Please consult with your internship faculty supervisor for details.

EVALUATION
Student, internship faculty supervisor, seminar faculty, and community liaison (or preceptor) will evaluate the students' learning experiences and achievement of objectives each quarter.

CONTRACT WITH AGENCY
A contract is always required when a student is placed in an agency. The internship faculty supervisor will verify with the Office of Academic Program that a contract exists, or that one will be made.

STUDENT CONDUCT
The student will be expected to adhere to the policies and procedures of the precepting organization and to maintain confidentiality with regard to the business of the organization. It is expected that the student will present him or herself in dress that is professional and appropriate for the situation. The student is to comply with organizational policies about name tags and other identification requirements.