PROCESS FOR OBTAINING A CONFIRMED PLACEMENT FOR MN8905

1. PROCESS FOR OBTAINING A CONFIRMED PLACEMENT FOR MN8905 Fall 2013 Winter 2014

2. MN8905: Practicum in Professional Nursing Advancement Focuses on: • synthesis and application of knowledge at an advanced level within your chosen field of study, • application of knowledge gained from practice, theory and research in an advanced role, • socialization into roles responsible for advancing professional nursing, • maximizing student learning about these roles and related expectations, opportunities, and challenges.

3. Practicum Requirements • Work closely with a preceptor over 12 week term • Total 192 hours (16 hours/week) • Students expected to make focused scholarly contribution to the organization based on their individual learning goals and the needs of their practice settings. • Not a work study- practicum cannot be in organization where you are employed

4. Preceptor Requirements • able to support student understanding of and socialization in roles responsible for advancement of professional nursing • a nurse is preferred; educated at the Master’s degree level or higher • must be able to be objective regarding the student’s evaluation (e.g., not a friend or former colleague with whom you worked closely) • provides opportunities for student professional growth & development (e.g., the role/setting should be something that is not very familiar to you)

5. Ideas for Placement Opportunities: for Students who have not arranged a placement • Consider: courses, field of study in the MN program, and your future career goals • Review competencies from the Canadian Nurses Association Advanced Practice Nursing Framework (http://www2.cna-aiic.ca/CNA/documents/pdf/publications/ANP_National_Framework_e.pdf ) • Explore existing opportunities to think about other types of placements you might consider • Some opportunities are listed on the Central Placement Office website (http://www.ryerson.ca/cpo/students/master/index.html)

6. Update your Curriculum Vitae (CV) • Placement sites review student CVs to help decide if they will accept the student; some will conduct an interview • Update your CV, consider including the following headings: • Career goal (should relate in some way to the placement) • Field of study • Title of thesis & thesis supervisor (if applicable) • Awards • Publications (APA format) • Presentations/posters at conferences/your work site/classes (APA format) • Other relevant information (e.g., elective course titles that directly relate to the placement) • If uncertain about CV format, consider using OCGS CV Format http://www.ryerson.ca/teaching/forms/chairs_faculty/documents.html#CV under item # 6.

7. Practice Requirement Record • Practice Requirement Record required for all students • Takes 6-8 weeks or more, so start early • Due by May 17 (Fall 2013) or Aug 1 (Winter 2014) • Read carefully, as there are specific requirements • Vulnerable Sector Screen Police check for Toronto residents – form available at Central Placement Office • Questions? Contact the Central Placement Office, MN Placement Coordinator (Dionne Grant) • dionne.grant@ryerson.ca • (416) 979-5000 ext. 2769

8. Practice Information Record • Complete a draft Practice Information Record • Identify if you have a potential placement and provide details (e.g., the site, preceptor, position title, and your interest/focus for this practice opportunity), or • Indicate if you need help in obtaining a placement and choose three areas of interest, be specific, e.g., • CNS, PICU Clinical, Sick Kids • Qualitative research, any stage of the study • Clinical educator, nursing students • Clinical educator, nursing professional development in hospital • Specify possible sites, e.g., “any hospital in Scarborough”

9. Discuss Ideas with MN8905 Professor • Several weeks before the deadline (May 24 or Sept 16) • Forward your draft Practice Information Record & updated CV to your Course Professor and request to meet (face-to-face meeting is preferred) • If a Course Professor is not yet assigned, contact Dr. Karen LeGrow or Dr. Faith Donald (Fall) or Program Director (Winter) • Make any necessary revisions and send final version of your Practice Information Record & updated CV to Dionne Grant, copied to your Course Professor

10. Interview for Placement Site • Most sites require an interview • Opportunity for you to also interview the preceptor to determine if this is a good fit to meet your learning needs • Opportunity to discuss possible scholarly contribution, e.g.,: • Implement case study approach in classroom • Develop policy regarding falls prevention and provide in-service education • Develop interactive on-line learning modules • Develop and implement quality improvement audit tool to track 30-day readmission of patients with COPD • Develop and complete a community environmental scan regarding food insecurity

11. Placement Approval • The Course Professor must approve your Practicum Placement. • Once this is done, complete and send the Approved Placement Record via e-mail to MN Placement Coordinator (Dionne Grant) and copy your Course Professor.

12. Placement Confirmation • The Central Placement Office will confirm your placement by e-mail, once the following are met: • The Agency agrees to offer you a student placement. • All of the Practice Requirement Records are submitted and cleared. • The Affiliation Agreement between the agency and the School is established. • Students may not start their placement until these criteria are met and confirmed in writing by the CPO.

13. Deadline Dates for Fall MN8905 Students • By May 17 Submit Hard Copy of Practice Requirement Record to Central Placement Office (POD-477) • By May 24 Email your draft Practice Information Record and CV to your Course Professor and arrange to discuss your placement. It is recommended that this meeting take place in person. If you need help in finding a placement, then submit the finalized Practice Information Record & updated CV via e-mail to MN Placement Coordinator (Dionne Grant) & copy to Course Professor • By July 8Placement should be APPROVED by your Course Professor. Submit the Approved Placement Record to Dionne Grant & copy to Course Professor via e-mail • By July 29 Reconfirm placement with preceptor via email/phone

14. Deadline Dates for Winter MN8905 Students • By August 1 Submit Hard Copy of Practice Requirement Record to Central Placement Office (POD-477) • By September 16 Email your draft Practice Information Record and CV to your Course Professor and arrange to discuss your placement. It is recommended that this meeting take place in person. If you need help in finding a placement, then submit the finalized Practice Information Record & updated CV via e-mail to MN Placement Coordinator (Dionne Grant) & copy to Course Professor • By October 28 Placement should be APPROVED by your Course Professor. Submit the Approved Placement Record to MN Placement Coordinator & copy to Course Professor via e-mail • By November 29 Reconfirm placement with preceptor via email/phone

15. Questions? Contact: • Clinical Placement Office • Dionne Grant dionne.grant@ryerson.ca • Your Course Professor may be: • Dr. Faith Donald fdonald@ryerson.ca • Dr. Karen LeGrow klegrow@ryerson.ca • Master of Nursing Program Director • Dr. Heather Beanlandshbeanlan@ryerson.ca