Nursing Clinical Experience
Clinical placements are a crucial part of a nursing student’s educational experience. During these placements, students apply learning in real-world settings.
To prepare nursing students to practice in a wide variety of roles after graduation, St. Thomas includes an emphasis on community and public health settings as well as other settings such as acute care. Students will graduate from the program understanding the many opportunities available to nurses to provide care where it is most needed.
The University of St. Thomas has established partnerships with clinical sites around the region that are congruent with the mission of the university and the vision of the Susan S. Morrison School of Nursing to ensure students receive a high-quality nursing education.
In addition to clinical placements in the field, St. Thomas nursing students will fulfill a significant amount of their clinical hours in simulation on the St. Thomas campus. Experienced simulation professionals will design and facilitate simulation activities and strategies in alignment with the International Nursing Association of Clinical and Simulation Learning’s Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice™.
Simulation is part of the fabric of a rigorous clinical education to prepare nursing students for the future of health care. Working with state-of-the-art health care equipment and high-fidelity simulators, the simulation experience helps students learn how to manage high-risk situations in a controlled environment, which leads to being practice-ready.
Acute Care vs. Community and Public Health
Nurses in community or public health settings promote health among individuals, families, communities and systems through population-based health interventions. They provide care that builds resiliency and improves equity in health outcomes. Community and public health clinical placements may take place in settings such as schools, nonprofits, government agencies, religious organizations, and others.
High-Fidelity Simulation
Be Prepared for Practice
BS and MSN students will complete up to 50% of their clinical experience in the St. Thomas Center for Simulation, where they will gain hands-on leadership experience assessing, managing and evaluating some of the most difficult scenarios they may face in providing whole-person care as professional nurses. Students will employ their nursing knowledge in a controlled environment utilizing sophisticated simulation equipment and strategies, preparing them to save lives and provide exceptional care in high-stake situations.