Section 3: Professional Practice Placements
You will begin your Professional Practice experience in Semester 1 (for Practical Nursing 715 students only) and continue on to more Professional Practice experiences in Semester 2, Semester 3, and Semester 4. Professional practice courses are graded as a pass/fail and students do not receive a numerical grade. All professional practice courses have a clinical handbook and policies that students are required to be familiar with and follow.
Semester 1, 2, and 3:
Professional practice courses are in-person at health care agencies. Placements are done in groups, and each group will be accompanied by a Clinical Supervisor and supported by a Professional Practice Coordinator.
Shifts may be scheduled during the week or on weekends, day or evening shifts. Semester 1 is two 7hr shifts per week during the final 6 weeks of the Semester. Semester 2 and 3 is one 12hr shift per week throughout the entire term, 12 weeks.
Semester 4:
In semester 4, students are paired 1:1 with an RPN preceptor and are supported by a Clinical Supervisor and Professional Practice Coordinator.
Students will complete 245 hours which is approximately 35 hours per week. The students are required to work the same shifts as their assigned preceptor, which could include days, evenings, nights, and weekend shifts.
Professional Practice clinical placements:
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 learning objectives.
Mohawk College uses HSPnet to assist in securing all Professional Practice experiences. Students will have the opportunity to identify their preferences using HSPnet. HSPnet uses Site Selector software to randomize assignment of clinical placements. There are no guarantees as the system 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. Formal clinical accommodations are pending agency approval (where applicable) and placement availability.
