Section 4: Professional Practice Placements
Welcome to Professional Practice. You will begin your Professional Practice experience in Semester 1 and continue on to more Professional Practice experiences in Semester 2 and Semester 3. All three semesters’ experiences will be completed in a group format.
Each group will be accompanied to placement by a clinical supervisor and facilitated by a Professional Practice Coordinator and Clinical Faculty Lead . Semester 1 Professional Practice placements take place during the last 7 weeks of the term and students are in a clinical setting for two 7-hr shifts. During Semesters 2 & 3, students are in Professional Practice for one – 12-hour day per week, which may be scheduled any day of the week. The group placements are completed at the agency with a clinical supervisor.
In semester 4, students complete a preceptored Pregrad experience. Students will complete 40 hours per week for 7 weeks with an RPN preceptor. The students are required to work the same shifts as their preceptor.
The placements have been secured within our Mohawk College catchment area (includes Hamilton, Haldimand, Brantford, Halton, Burlington, Niagara, Peel, Norfolk and surrounding regions) and will support you in meeting your course objectives.
Mohawk College uses HSPnet to assist in securing all Professional Practice experiences. Students will have the opportunity to identify their preferences using HSPnet. There are no guarantees as the system then randomizes the preferences with the goal being the best match possible within the Mohawk College catchment area. Changes to assignments in HSPnet can only be requested for students with formal clinical accommodation plans in place.
This information has been prepared to provide further information about academic standards, guidelines and processes specific to Professional Practice. Reading, understanding, and following the information is an important first step in your continued success in this program and Professional Practice. If you do not understand any of the information, please ask for clarification from the Nursing Faculty or the Program Coordinator.
The Practical Nursing faculty and Clinical Supervising staff will refer to the handbook often, but the responsibility for knowing the program standards is ultimately yours.
We are here to help you succeed along your journey. Should you experience difficulty or need assistance in any area of your studies, please talk to your professor, Program Coordinator, or Student Success Advisor for direction.
Enjoy your Professional Practice experiences!
