All students (excluding RN to BSN students) participate in clinical learning activities as part of their educational program. On-site students and local online students participate in faculty-directed clinical groups at nearby healthcare facilities. For students outside the geographic region of the campus, clinical experiences may be arranged through a local healthcare facility under supervision of a nurse preceptor who coordinates with a Chamberlain College of Nursing faculty member.
Transportation to and from clinical sites is the responsibility of the student. Students are not to transport clients or their families in the student’s car at any time. In addition to completing the required number of clinical hours for each clinical course, online students are also required to attend an on-site, four-day skills validation each semester in which they enroll in a clinical nursing course. The four-day session includes skills validation in the nursing-skills laboratory followed by direct client care in a clinical setting, both under the supervision of Chamberlain faculty. The four-day skills validation session is required and all costs associated with attendance is borne by the student.
The faculty and affiliating clinical agencies of the College have established the need for nursing students to be certified Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Healthcare Professionals and to complete background screening and drug screening checks. All students enrolled in Chamberlain programs must be certified in CPR prior to the first clinical course. After initial certification, each student is responsible for maintaining and renewing his/her own annual certification.