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Chamberlain University’s Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.® program gives pre-licensure BSN students specialty-focused training in one of seven nursing fields.
Each specialty includes 16 weeks of online coursework followed by an eight-week clinical practicum, at no additional tuition cost.
The seven available specialties are emergency nursing, home health nursing, nephrology nursing, perioperative nursing, oncology nursing, critical-care nursing, and post-acute care nursing.
The specialty tracks were developed in partnership with leading professional nursing organizations, such as the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN).
To be eligible, students must be in their second or third year of Chamberlain’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Students earn a digital badge recognizing their specialized skills and may receive a complimentary one-year membership to a professional nursing association.
You know you want to become a nurse. But do you know what your area of practice will be? Chamberlain University’s Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.® program gives second- or third-year pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students 16 weeks of specialty-focused online coursework and eight weeks of clinical experience in one of seven nursing specialties. With seven specialties to choose from, you just might discover a path you love.
Created with support from a grant from the American Nurses Foundation, Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. is available at no additional tuition cost. The program offers opportunities to gain practical experience and specialized knowledge you can put to use in your nursing career. Find out what else to expect when you enroll in Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.
What Is the Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. Program?
Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. is a co-curricular nursing education model that lets pre-licensure BSN students dive deeper into a specialty before graduation. Students complete 16 weeks of structured online coursework followed by an eight-week on-site clinical practicum, for a combined 24 weeks of specialty-focused instruction and supervised clinical experience.
The program was created in conjunction with a grant from the American Nurses Foundation. It complements Chamberlain’s generalist nursing curriculum by giving students tools to determine which specialty may be the right fit for their career. The specialty tracks were co-developed with leading professional nursing organizations to ensure the curriculum reflects real-world nursing practice.
Who Is Eligible for Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.?
Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. is open to pre-licensure Chamberlain BSN and BSN Online students in the second or third year of their program who are in good academic standing. Good academic standing is defined as having no academic warnings and a minimum GPA of 2.0.
How Does the Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. Program Work?
The program follows a structured 24-week format. Students complete two eight-week co-curricular online modules during their NR 341 or NR 442 course. If selected for the practicum, the student completes 96 clinical hours in their chosen specialty within another eight-week period.
Here is a step-by-step overview of how the program works:
Choose one of seven nursing specialties that aligns with your career interests.
Complete 16 weeks of specialty-focused online coursework delivered over two eight-week sessions.
Participate in an eight-week on-site clinical practicum in your chosen specialty, earning 96 clinical hours.
Earn a digital badge recognizing your specialized knowledge and nursing skills.
Receive a complimentary one-year membership to the professional nursing association that is affiliated with your chosen specialty (where applicable).
What Nursing Specialties Are Available in the Program?
Chamberlain’s Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. program offers seven nursing specialties:
Emergency Nursing
Home Health Nursing
Nephrology Nursing
Perioperative Nursing
Oncology Nursing
Critical-Care Nursing
Post-Acute Care
Here’s a closer look at each specialty.
Emergency Nursing
Emergency nurses care for patients in fast-paced, unpredictable environments where patients must be assessed and stabilized rapidly. If you thrive under pressure and want to work in the challenging world of an emergency department, this specialty may be for you.
Chamberlain co-developed the 16-week online curriculum with the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), the country’s authority on emergency nursing. This specialty provides an in-depth introduction to emergency nursing and includes an eight-week emergency department clinical practicum. After completing the coursework, students receive a complimentary one-year membership to ENA.
Home Health Nursing
Home health nurses understand not only the needs of their patients but also the families and environments that shape their care. As a result, they often develop close, meaningful relationships with the families they serve. Because home health nurses often work independently, if autonomy and schedule flexibility are important to you, home health nursing could be the right fit.
In this Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. track, you’ll learn about the responsibilities of home health nurses, steps to prevent infections, how to manage safety concerns, and more. You’ll also complete an eight-week practicum in the home health setting, which gives you 96 clinical hours. Upon completion, you’ll earn a digital badge to acknowledge your newly gained nursing skills, which you can add to your resume or your LinkedIn profile.
Chamberlain offers the home health nursing specialty in partnership with BrightStar Care, a leading in-home care and medical staffing company with locations nationwide.
Nephrology Nursing
Nephrology nurses specialize in the care of patients with kidney disease, including those undergoing dialysis. They monitor and manage complex treatment plans, educate patients and families about kidney health, and coordinate care across the renal disease continuum.
For this specialty, Chamberlain partners with DaVita, one of the largest providers of kidney care services in the US. If you choose the nephrology nursing specialty, you’ll build a foundation in the field and gain hands-on experience through 16 weeks of a structured, in-depth online course followed by an on-site clinical experience that lasts eight weeks.
Perioperative Nursing
In perioperative nursing, you’ll work as part of a team with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals. You’ll provide direct care for patients before, during, and after their surgeries. If you want to work as a member of a surgical team, perioperative nursing might be your calling.
In this Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. track, you'll complete 16 weeks of structured online coursework that builds specialized knowledge and practical skills in perioperative nursing. You’ll then take part in an eight-week on-site clinical experience in the perioperative setting, which provides 96 clinical hours of hands-on practice.
Upon completion of this specialty, you’ll earn a digital badge to acknowledge your specialized knowledge and nursing skills, which you can add to your LinkedIn profile and your resume. You’ll also receive a complimentary one-year student membership to the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), Chamberlain’s partner for the perioperative nursing specialty.
Oncology Nursing
Oncology nurses care for patients with cancer, from diagnosis to treatment to follow-up. In this specialty, nurses administer complex treatments such as chemotherapy, manage side effects, provide emotional support, and help patients and families navigate one of the most challenging journeys in healthcare.
The oncology nursing specialty is developed in collaboration with the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). The 16-week coursework aligns with ONS standards, and the eight-week clinical practicum helps prepare students to care for cancer patients.
Critical-Care Nursing
Critical-care nurses focus on the care of critically ill or unstable patients following an extensive injury, surgery, or life-threatening event. They provide intense, continuous attention, monitoring, and coordination for patients at high risk for life-threatening health challenges.
Chamberlain worked with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), the world's largest specialty nursing organization, to create the 16-week critical-care coursework. The online course covers core areas of critical and progressive care, including pulmonary, hematology, and cardiac nursing, giving students a strong starting foundation for the specialty. Students then complete an eight-week clinical practicum in a critical-care setting, earning 96 clinical hours of hands-on experience. Students who complete the specialty also receive a one-year AACN membership.
Post-Acute Care
Post-acute care nurses work in settings such as nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities, where nursing practice looks different from hospital-based care. Through the 16-week coursework, students gain a solid understanding of how these facilities run, the populations they serve, and what sets this environment apart from acute care. The curriculum centers on a resident-centered approach to daily care.
This specialty was created in collaboration with the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing. The coursework walks students through key day-to-day responsibilities— from serving as a charge nurse and overseeing certified nursing assistants to coordinating with interdisciplinary teams, documenting care, managing medications, and preparing for emergencies. Additionally, students learn to conduct resident assessments and then build individualized care plans that address each resident's physical, cognitive, and emotional needs. Students then complete an eight-week clinical practicum in a post-acute care setting, earning 96 clinical hours of hands-on experience.
No matter which of the seven specialties speaks to you, every track in the Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. program shares the same goal: helping you graduate with confidence and specialized skills that could set you apart in the job market. Each one combines rigorous online coursework with real-world clinical experience, so you can step into your chosen field prepared from day one. If you’re ready to find out what makes Chamberlain University a leader in nursing education, read on.
Get to Know Chamberlain University
Chamberlain University has been advancing healthcare professions for more than 135 years. Here are a few facts that differentiate Chamberlain from other nursing programs:
Chamberlain University has the largest nursing program in the U.S.
The university has a growing network of campuses, in addition to online degree programs.
Chamberlain’s community includes more than 153,000 alumni as of January 2026.
Why Does Specialty Training Matter for New Nurses?
Every year, more than 180,000 openings are projected for registered nurses. Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all other occupations.1 Some specialties, such as perioperative and home health nursing, are facing a shortage of nurses.2 Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. helps prepare new nurses for a path to meet this need by giving them real-world exposure and clinical experience in their chosen specialty before they graduate.
Answer Your Calling as a Nurse
Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. provides Chamberlain’s BSN students with the opportunity to explore a nursing career path, learn specialized skills, and gain clinical experience. No matter which of the seven specialties you choose, Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. can be your first step on a new pathway to your true calling. Learn more about Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.
Chamberlain University, an HLC-accredited institution, offers bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and certificate programs in nursing and healthcare professions. With a growing network of campuses and robust online programs, Chamberlain continues to build on more than 135 years of excellence in preparing extraordinary healthcare professionals.
1Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-6
Frequently Asked Questions
How many specialties does Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. offer?
Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. offers seven nursing specialties: emergency nursing, home health nursing, nephrology nursing, perioperative nursing, oncology nursing, critical-care nursing, and post-acute care.
Is there an additional cost to participate in Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.?
No. There is no additional tuition for Chamberlain University pre-licensure BSN students to participate and gain specialized nursing education and experience.
Who is eligible to enroll in Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.?
Chamberlain pre-licensure BSN and BSN Online students in their second or third year who are in good academic standing, defined as having no academic warnings and a minimum GPA of 2.0, are eligible to enroll in Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.
What credentials do students earn upon completing the program?
Students earn a digital badge recognizing their specialized knowledge and nursing skills. Depending on the specialty, students may also receive a complimentary one-year membership to a professional nursing association such as ENA, AORN, or AACN.
How long does it take to complete Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.?
The program takes 24 weeks total: 16 weeks of online coursework delivered over two eight-week sessions, followed by an eight-week clinical practicum of 96 hours.
Why does specialty training matter for new nurses?
Specialty training may help new graduates stand out in a competitive job market. Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. gives students real-world exposure and clinical experience in a specialty before they graduate.
By Chamberlain University
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