Clinical experience is integral to any nursing curriculum, and at USC, we prioritize hands-on learning because it provides our students with the confidence and skills they need to succeed as family nurse practitioners (FNPs).
Explore the Nursing@USC clinical placement process — how to prepare, where you will practice, who you will learn from during rotations and what skills you will gain by completion.
Prior to your first clinical rotation, you will meet with a member of the Nursing@USC clinical placement team, who will provide an overview of the placement experience and relevant policies.
Our clinical placement team will work with you to secure placement sites within 100 miles of your location. We screen all sites, with the goal of matching students with settings that provide diverse primary care clinical experiences. While you may request a site, that placement location cannot be guaranteed.
The University of Southern California’s School of Nursing recommends that students stay up to date with their COVID-19 and annual influenza vaccinations. Students may elect to submit declination forms to the Student Health Center to remain compliant for their health; however, please be aware that most placement sites require these vaccinations, and students must show proof of their vaccination status. If you choose to decline these vaccinations, it may impact your ability to secure a placement at a clinical site as an increasing number of facilities are not accepting students who are not fully vaccinated. For more information on USC’s COVID-19 vaccination policy, please visit this COVID-19 Vaccination Program page.
Placement sites and preceptors come from our established network.
Documents are obtained and placement sites are approved by USC faculty.
Affiliation Agreement (legal document) is secured by the placement team.
USC standards are implemented across all sites to ensure a successful placement experience.
placement rotations to complete
clinical hours per placement
total placement hours required
Where Will Your Placement Sites Be?
During your clinical experience, you will complete your required hours in a range of outpatient settings, including:
Placements may be secured up to 100 miles from your location. To account for personal preferences in distance and scheduling, you are allowed to submit placement referrals a minimum of one term (16 weeks) in advance. Referrals are subject to program standards and faculty approval.
Placement is not guaranteed, however, you will be supported by a dedicated team that works closely with you to assist in the process of placement acquisition. Please note that Nursing@USC maintains high quality standards across all sites and preceptors.
Throughout each clinical placement, you will work with a preceptor who will guide your experience and ensure you are meeting professional and academic milestones. Your preceptor will be an experienced nurse practitioner or physician who works at your placement site.
Your clinical preceptors will:
After you complete your clinical rotations, you will have the confidence and capability to:
Watch the video below to learn more.
total clinical placements
states in the U.S. and Virgin Islands
affiliated sites
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Take the Next Step
If you are an RN seeking advancement opportunities, discover how Nursing@USC can prepare you to take the next step in your career.
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