Nursing and Allied Health Clinical Experiences

Our Nursing Clinical Experiences Program provides opportunities for students in the following nursing programs.

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

• Registered Nurse (RN)

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

• Nurse Practitioner (NP)

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Opportunities are coordinated for groups (8:1) as well as individuals (1:1).

• For 8:1 Nursing Rotations: The coordinator from your school will request your placement and instruct you on the process to gain clearance.

• For 1:1 Nursing Rotations: To qualify, a preceptor must accept you as a student. Once you have confirmed your preceptor, you will need to have the coordinator from your school submit a “Student by Instructor (SBI)” form on your behalf to the Nursing & Allied Health Student Program Coordinator. After we receive the SBI form, you will be scheduled in Clinician Nexus to complete your clearance requirements. See our “Clinician Nexus” page for a step-by-step guide. Please note that Bayhealth employees, DTCC RN to BSN and NP students must find their own preceptors.

Onboarding Requirements

Requirements for our Nursing Clinical Experiences Program include the following.

• All clearances completed within Clinician Nexus (see below)

• Criminal background check

• Child abuse/adult abuse registry check

• Ten-panel drug screen within six months of your clinical start date

• AHA or Red Cross BLS certification

• T

  dap, Hep B, MMR and Varicella immunizations within ten years of clinical start date

• Tuberculosis testing (with proof of negative results) within one year of clinical start date

   

• Flu vaccine (required during active flu season)

For Bayhealth Employees

While Bayhealth employees are not required to produce a background check, drug screen or immunizations, they must satisfy all remaining requirements. Per policy, our employees are not allowed to use their employee access while completing school requirements. Employees should inform our program coordinator that they will need separate access.

Our Allied Health Clinical Experiences Program provides opportunities for students studying occupational and physical therapy, respiratory therapy, speech-language pathology, and more.

Students interested in completing their clinical time with Bayhealth should have their school coordinator submit the “Student by Instructor (SBI)” form on your behalf to the Nursing & Allied Health Student Program Coordinator. After we receive your SBI form, you will be scheduled in Clinician Nexus to complete your clearance requirements.

See our “Clinician Nexus” page for a step-by-step guide.

Onboarding Requirements

Requirements for our Allied Health Clinical Experiences Program include the following.

• All clearances completed within Clinician Nexus (see below)

• Criminal background check

• Child abuse/adult abuse registry check

• Ten-panel drug screen within six months of your clinical start date

• AHA or Red Cross BLS certification

• Tdap, Hep B, MMR and Varicella immunizations within ten years of clinical start date

• Tuberculosis testing (with proof of negative results) within one year of clinical start date

• Flu vaccine (required during active flu season)

For Bayhealth Employees

While Bayhealth employees are not required to produce a background check, drug screen or immunizations, they must satisfy all remaining requirements. Per policy, our employees are not allowed to use their employee access while completing school requirements. Employees should inform our program coordinator that they will need separate access.

Our “Student Shadow” program provides opportunities for students to gain valuable knowledge and experience by observing our experts in a hospital setting.

What Does ‘Shadowing’ Mean?

Shadowing is an observational experience that provides first-hand insight into various career paths through connections with professionals who are actively working in healthcare. The program is short in duration—not to exceed two, eight-hour experiences in a 12-month period—and should not be used to meet the requirements of an approved or organizational program such as those under student practicum/internship status.

Student Shadowing Application Process

Start by setting up your Clinician Nexus student account, if you haven’t already. This step-by-step guide provides all the information you need to set up your account.

1. Once you’ve set up your Clinician Nexus account, use the platform to select “Apply for clinical experiences as a student, resident or volunteer.”

2. Then, select “Find a rotation” to search available opportunities using an interactive map.

3. Choose “Bayhealth Student Shadow Observer Program” followed by “Start application.”

4. Finally, you will complete the “Request for Shadowing and Student Shadow Observer Attestation.”

Once you’ve completed your application, select save and submit. Someone from the Student Shadowing program will be in contact with you. Be sure to apply at least 14 days before your desired start date to ensure timely processing.

Additional Information

Our Student Shadow program is only open to high school-age students (16 years and older) and undergraduates in college. The program is not meant for students who are currently enrolled in or have completed a graduate degree or higher areas of study.

This program is “observation only,” meaning there is no contact with patients.

We reserve the right to decline any application for any reason.

Shadowing Inquiries

Any questions about the Student Shadow Observer experience should be directed to shadowing@bayhealth.org.

The following are overviews of student and preceptor responsibilities and expectations.

Preceptor Responsibilities

All preceptors are expected to fulfill the following responsibilities.

• Communicate with the clinical instructor to identify the learning needs of the student as well as the course objectives to be achieved during the clinical experience.

• Ask the clinical instructor the best method to communicate with them for questions and concerns regarding the student or clinical process.

• Serve as a role model by advising the student on safe patient care.

• Read and understand the information provided by EPIC regarding cosigning the student’s notes. Pay particular attention to the process of student administration of medications—especially high-alert medications.

• Be aware of the resources provided in HealthStream regarding preceptor development.

• Discuss the progress of the student with the clinical instructor.

Student Responsibilities

All students are expected to fulfill the following responsibilities.

• Remain professional in appearance and demeanor at all times.

• Maintain patient confidentiality.

• Use the nursing process to deliver safe patient care under the supervision of the preceptor.

• Ask for preceptor supervision when performing new or unfamiliar procedures.

• Communicate all relevant information regarding the patient to the preceptor.

• Provide hand-off reports upon leaving the clinical area.

Patient Assignments

Guidelines for patient assignments include the following.

• Patient assignments should be made in collaboration with the preceptor. Needs of students should be met after the needs of staff and patients are met.

• Start by assigning less-complex patients. Increase patient complexity as the student gains experience. Promote organizational and priority-setting skills with the student as they prepare for the role of a nurse.

Procedure Expectations

Students will be expected to provide safe patient care under preceptor supervision.

That care may include the following.

• Assessments and interpretations of findings

• Vital signs and intake/output

• Participating in rounds

• Collaborating with members of the team

• Checking labs and reporting abnormal findings

• Patient and family education and/or discharge instructions

Before performing a procedure, students must consult the CPG or hospital policy. Other references include Nursing Reference Center Plus and Dynamic Health.

Medication Expectations

Students should follow hospital protocol when administering medication.

Expectations may include the following.

• Have a clear understanding of the mechanism of action, side effects, appropriate dosing and indication of use of all medications before administering.

• Research frequently used medications before entering the clinical setting.

• Closely supervise all aspects of the medication administration process, paying special attention to IV push, IM, SQ, and secondary IV medication administration.

• Have high-alert medications cosigned by two RN’s.

Senior Seminar Deadlines

Deadlines and instructions for seminar enrollment include the following.

• First Block of Spring Semester: Students should submit their application for the first block of spring semester no later than Nov. 1. Your application should be submitted to both the student coordinator and the clinical coordinator for transparency. First pick will be taken into consideration but not guaranteed. Placement will be communicated to the student as well as the clinical coordinator no later than Dec. 15.

• Second Block of Spring Semester: Students should submit their application for the second block of spring semester no later than Dec. 15. Your application should be submitted to both the student coordinator and clinical coordinator for transparency. First pick will be taken into consideration but not guaranteed. Placement will be communicated to the student as well as the clinical coordinator by Feb. 15.

Your application should be submitted to both the Bayhealth Nursing and Allied Health Student program coordinator and the school clinical coordinator.
Fill out your application for the senior seminar.

The following steps outline the onboarding process for new faculty instructors.

• Start by sending an updated resume to Wendy Radcliffe (Wendy_Radcliffe@Bayhealth.org), who will schedule a meet and greet with you. Please make sure your resume contains current employment.

• Once you receive a student assignment, you will be added as a faculty instructor in Clinician Nexus and prompted to complete the clearance requirements.

• You will also be prompted to complete HealthStream education.

• After all clearance requirements have been satisfied, our coordinator will set up your EPIC access and provide a badge from Public Safety. Additionally, you will need to attend EPIC training and faculty orientation on our Kent or Sussex campus.

• At least two weeks prior to the start of the clinical rotation, you must schedule a meeting with the nurse manager on the assigned unit.

Please contact Wendy Radcliffe (Wendy_Radcliffe@Bayhealth.org) with questions about the faculty onboarding process.