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Undergraduate Nursing Student Clinical Placement

Erlanger offers clinical training to undergraduate nurses in a variety of settings. Go to Total Clinical Placement System (TCPS) to see all available opportunities. 

Clinical Placement Guidelines

  • Clinical Orientation Checklist must be submitted to the clinical site coordinator each semester before students may enter the facility.
  • All placement requests must be made through Total Clinical Placement System or the site Clinical Placement Coordinator. Do not make requests to department managers or staff.
  • All clinical instructors and students must complete hospital orientation through TCPS.
  • Each assigned placement in TCPS must have the required information.
  • TCPS’s daily report should reflect who is on site for the day.
    • Instructor: Name (full name) and Contact (we must be able to reach instructors).
    • Accurate list of dates for each clinical visit
    • Student: list students on the dates they will be assigned to the placement - Students should not be listed on more than one placement for the same date.
  • All placements left unassigned to instructor/students within two weeks of start date may be opened in TCPS for other schools to reserve.
  • Instructors must send students to the units where they are assigned in TCPS.
  • 12hr clinical days are expected to provide opportunities to other programs seeking clinical.
  • Faculty/Instructors should orient to the units they are assigned to at least a week prior to first clinical each semester/term.
  • No more than 1 student per staff nurse.
    • Nurse preceptor may have 2 students only if 1 student is in a preceptor placement and the second student is part of a group placement.
  • Clinical instructors and students who are also employees of Erlanger Health System should act within the parameters of their role. Employees should not use badge or eChart access when on site as an instructor or student.
  • Clinical faculty may not access the Omnicell medication dispensing system.
  • Erlanger is smoke-free
  • School-issued badges must be worn at all times-above the waist
  • Students must not work the shift before clinical- 8hrs minimum between work and clinical.
  • Minimal personal belongings should be brought on site.
  • Students are expected to be engaged with patient care learning experiences; homework, studying should not be worked on during the clinical shift.
  • Nurses station, unit breakroom areas, lounges or physician dictation areas must not be used for lunch or post conference; conference rooms may be used with manager's permission.

Clinical Placement Types

  • Group Placements (Med-surg Units) - Instructor must be on the floor with students
  • Observation Placements (ICU, ED, Surgery and procedural areas) - Instructor must be onsite and available by phone
  • Preceptor Placements (Assigned to follow RN's Schedule) - Instructor must be available by phone
  • Leadership Placements (Shadow a nursing leader) - Instructor must be available by phone

Full guidelines are available on the TCPS Orientation site under Faculty Orientation.

eChart (Electronic Medical Record System)

  • All instructors/faculty that bring students into the facility may request access to eChart, the electronic medical record. Requests for student and faculty access are submitted via the same process.
  • To obtain eChart access the following forms must be submitted.
    • Atos Access Request Form
    • EMR Request spreadsheet
    • Confidentiality Agreement
    • Forms can be found on TCPS orientation site
  • Nurses should not be asked to sign in for faculty/students. 

 

Nursing Student Employment Opportunities - www.erlangercareers.org

        Patient Safety Assistant

Patient Safety Assistants are an essential part of a patient care team. PSAs improve the healthcare experience for everyone as they provide constant observation for high-risk patients. The position is flexible and offers an opportunity to observe a patient care team as a whole while providing much-needed assistance to the patient and staff. If you would like to speak with someone about available Patient Safety Assistant positions, send inquires to Clinical@erlanger.org.

        Patient Care Tech

Patient Care Techs are an important part of a patient care team. They provide much of the one-on-one attention patients require. Under the direction of a registered nurse (RN), you will learn a lot about patient care, effective communication and medical terminology. All of this information is beneficial to a nursing student. starting out as a PCT is a great opportunity to explore the nursing field. Work alongside LPNs and RNs in a variety of healthcare settings, earning invaluable experience and skills along the way. Joining a patient care team is an excellent opportunity to get paid while you gain valuable on-the-job experience. Learn more at Careers with Erlanger (erlangercareers.org).

        Nurse Externship Program

  • Application for the Nurse Externship posts in February with interviews beginning in March
  • June-July | 8 weeks | 3-12 hour shifts per week l 2 shifts/week in Nursing unit l 1 shift/week Didactic or Observation
  • Nursing student within 12 months of graduation
  • Extra experiences beyond Nursing School
  • Orient with staff and become part of the team
  • Become familiar with unit work flow and patient population
  • Interview at the end of the summer to hire into Nursing Unit Nursing unit

Nurse Externship Opportunities

  • Adult Service Lines: Cardiology, Emergency Services, General Medicine, General Surgery, Neurology, Oncology, Orthopaedics, Renal, Trauma
  • Women's Services: Labor and Delivery, Mother Baby Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
  • Children's Services: Acute Care, Emergency Services, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Surgery

        Nurse Tech

Nurse Tech 1 - A Nurse Tech 1 is a non-licensed health care provider, responsible for direct and indirect care of patients under the supervision of a licensed nurse. The NT-1 provides care for patients including, but not limited to vital signs, phlebotomy, point of care testing, bathing, feeding and ambulation.  The NT-1 is an integral part of the Nursing care team and assists with hourly rounding, responding to patient and family requests and meeting the needs of customers to promote a positive patient experience.

Required: Nursing student enrolled in a RN program and within 12 months of graduation

Learn more at Careers with Erlanger (erlangercareers.org).

Nurse Tech 2 - A Nurse Tech 2 is a non-licensed health care provider, responsible for assisting in the direct and indirect care of patients under the supervision of a licensed Registered Nurse. The NT-2 learns the role of the RN by assisting and observing the RN.  The NT-2 is an integral part of the Nursing care team and assists with hourly rounding, responding to patient and family requests and meeting the needs of customers to promote a positive patient experience.

Required: Senior-level Nursing student in a RN program within 6 months of graduation

Learn more at Careers with Erlanger (erlangercareers.org)

        Nurse Residency Program

Our ANCC-accredited Nurse Residency Program is open to new graduates and RNs with less than one year of experience. There’s no better place to start your nursing career than the seventh largest health system in the country and the region’s only Level I trauma center. As a teaching hospital, Erlanger trains fellows and nurses from around the country as well as students and residents here in our region. Our physicians are well-versed in the latest treatments, technologies and innovations to treat patients and educate nurses for the future. With an academic system, you’ll be part of a team that develops new therapies, offers clinical trials, and conducts research that improves lives. Learn more.