Get ready for a successful practicum experience!
This Nursing Practicum Coordination Office (NPCO) website provides you with all the information and links you need to prepare for your clinical or practicum experience.
Select your program from the tabs above, and then click on your year level and you will be linked to important forms, instructions and details pertaining to your practicum experience.
Get information about:
- Completing your Clinical Preparedness Permit (vaccinations/immunizations, Vulnerable Sector Screen VSS police check, CPR/HCP certification, and Mask Fit testing)
- Using the Health Sciences Placement Network (HSPnet) to view your placement details
- Activating your Passport York account and getting your School of Nursing Identification
- Important policies and forms
You can also visit the NPCO (HNES 301E).
Phone: 416.736.5271
Fax: 416.650.8226
Email: npco@yorku.ca
Learn More
FAQ
Clinical Preparedness Permit (CPP)
The CPP booklet serves to ensure that students have the necessary up-to-
date immunization, Basic Life Support for Health Care Provider certificate (BLS), respirator fit testing and police check (which includes the vulnerable sector
screening) prior to entering their clinical placement.
Please refer to the information on CPP Stamping Process.
The CPP should be complete by the date set out each semester.
Call your local police service and get an estimated processing time from them. Be aware that some regions take up to 3 months and should your name or birthday trigger further investigation, it may take longer.
Email/call them and ask.
NOTE: If you get your VSS too soon, you may need to have your CPP restamped
Please refer to the CPP Guide [PDF].
THIS SHOULD BE FREE! Do not go to travel clinic!
Get each one with enough time for you to receive the lab results AND have time to receive that information from your doctor. Some lab results take several days and turnover can be over a week depending on the place you go. Sometimes you need to take a second dose if you do not sero-convert.
No further blood work is required once you have received a booster for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and varicella. You will however be asked to sign a waiver at York.
Please note: for Hep B – once you have completed the vaccination series, a titre is required. Students who are in the process of completing the Hep B series should follow-up directly with the NPCO for consideration to proceed to clinical.
Please refer to the CPP Guide [PDF].
Your CPP is valid by semesters, your stamp will reflect that. You must have a CPR certification for the entirety of a semester in order to receive the stamp.
Placements
Placements are assigned based on geo preference and the ability for students to travel to the placement agency. With the introduction of site selector students will have the opportunity to select their top 4-6 agencies from those confirmed by the NPCO.
Please note: Site Selector is not available for: NURS 1900, 3524, 4525, 4527
The Site Selector allows students to search available placements, to save up to 10 ranked choices, and (while the Site Selector is open to students) to view statistics on their classmate’s preferences.
Please refer to the School of Nursing Dress Code policy [PDF].
Shoes should be white, with either a leather or leather-like make. There should not be any mesh or exposed areas of your foot. Shoes must be closed toed and closed heals.
We do not provide recommendations for brands however it is important that your stethoscope has both a bell and a diaphragm.
Stethescopes can be purchased on-line i.e. Amazon, at some Shoppers Home Health Care stores and other health care equipment stores.
Scrubs must be dark navy blue. It is recommended that students purchase two sets of scrubs and choose a size that has some ‘give’ as they may shrink when washed.
Wrist watches are no longer recommended for Infection Prevention & Control reasons. There are nursing watches that can be pinned to your scrubs available for purchase on-line.
Changes to student placements are complex. Once placement locations are confirmed, student names are provided to the agencies as part of the placement contract.
Students cannot request specific hospitals/facilities. Only in IP are students able to indicate their geo-preference and nursing area of interest.
You will be required to submit documentation from your religious leader to the NPCO indicating the required accommodation.
Please visit CPP and NPCO Forms and Policies.
HSPnet
The School of Nursing uses the Health Sciences Placement Network (HSPnet) in order to coordinate student clinical placements, manage placement requests and share contact information between students, instructors and preceptors. You will be sent an email (to your York email) from NPCO giving you detailed instructions on how to access HSPnet, complete site selector, and view your clinical placements. Note that you must use your York email address when using HSPnet.
For more information, please visit the HSPnet webpage.
Once your placement is assigned, check HSPnet to ensure you have enabled communication with the placement site and your CCD. Additionally, check frequently prior to the beginning of your placement for orientation materials and mandatory modules that may have been uploaded by your placement site.
Placements are typically available at least 2 weeks before the start of each semester. The NPCO staff make every effort to communicate via HSPNET confirmed placement by the following dates: For the Fall term by August 15; Winter December 15; Summer April 15. ONLY confirmed placements will be posted on HSPNet . If you don't see an assigned placement on HSPNet by the scheduled dates, do not panic, it means that the NPCO staff is still working on it and will post details when a confirmation is received.
Geopreference
The geopreference MACH form allows you to indicate your preferred region for clinical placements. It is used for planning your clinical placement. If your selections cannot be accommodated, every attempt will be made to place you in the next closest region.
NOTE: Your first preference should be the geographical area in which you will be living while you are enrolled in the BScN program.
Every effort is made to accommodate all geo-preferences. However, due to the limited availability of placement sites, students may be placed outside their geo-preference.
To change your Geo-Preferences, please send an email ASAP with the change of address and geopreference to npco@yorku.ca. Your most recent submission is considered when planning for future placements.
Students are expected to get themselves to their placements and can be expected to travel an average of 1 hour each way to their clinical agency. However, we understand that circumstances may arise (including lack of public transit) which may prevent a student from getting to/from a placement. In this case, please contact the NPCO office as soon as you are made aware of your placement.
Students must arrange their own transportation to and from placements and can be expected to travel and average of 1 hour to their placements. If you use public transit the travel time may vary depend on your address.
Pediatrics and Mental Health
Students identify their preference between mental health and child health on the Geographical Preference form at the beginning of the 2nd Entry and IEN program and for the Collaborative program at the beginning of their third year.
Placement availability fluctuates each year, therefore, depending on the number of placements available, preferences cannot be guaranteed.
Community
The type of placements for NURS4525 including but not limited to: shelters, community resource centres, mental health agencies, LTC-recreation department (not bedside care), schools, women centres, correctional facilities, etc. any place that serves vulnerable or marginalized populations. Most likely, you will be with other students and work as a small group at the agency. There will be up to 10 students in a CCD/tutorial group. You will follow the agency's business hours, min.6 hrs/day AM or PM. Please have the entire practicum days reserved.
A new non-traditional community placement model was introduced in September 2017; CORNER (Community OutReach Nursing Resources). The goal of the CORNER model is to partner with schools, community organizations, corporations, and others interested in hosting our students to deliver health promotion topics. Students are placed either in healthpromotion@York, where they work with a department on York’s campus (eg. Stong college, student success program, etc) or in Healthpromtion@agency, where students are placed in a designated location on York’s campus and are scheduled to facilitate community assessment and health promotion initiatives with their CCDs at agencies off campus; (eg. TDSB, York region schools, Catholic schools, and community run agencies). Your tutorial schedule will be unchanged; therefore you will continue to meet with your CCD in your weekly tutorial.
If you're asked to send your resume (general resume is fine) to a potential placement, please send it promptly. (This may not apply to everyone). It's a very common request since the community is becoming increasingly competitive with many schools (nursing, social work, Community Support Worker programs, etc.) looking for similar placements. Not following up on this could result on losing the placement. Some agencies will request an interview with the student. Request for interviews and/or resume will be communicated to students by the NPCO staff through HSPnet.
If asked for an interview, check out the placement website (try Google) to learn as much as possible about the organization before the interview. The purpose of the interview is to select the best candidate, so it's important that you show professionalism and interest in doing your placement there. They will then decide who would be the best candidate for their programs. If you're unsuccessful, the NPCO will look for an alternate placement for you.
Please note that York is affiliated with specific Community agencies. Not all agencies are able (must find a preceptor for you) or appropriate for this practicum (even though it may be very close to you geographically).
Integrated Practicum (IP)
IP stands for Integrated Practicum and is your final clinical course in the program. During IP, you work closely (1:1) with an assigned preceptor and are expected to follow their full-time schedule. Clinical Course Directors communicate with you and your preceptor on a regular basis but are not on site with you during your clinical placement hours.
There is a town hall held by the NPCO:
- 2nd Entry – October of your second year
- IEN – October of your first year
- Collaborative – March in your third year
What is an out of bounds (OOB) placement in IP?
Placements that are in geographical area outside of our usual clinical placement boundaries.
i.e. Hamilton, out of country or province, Dundas, ON
What factors are considered for an IP specialty placement?
Specialty placements are areas that require additional training/skills.
Please note: students must have an overall B+ average and a B+ in all clinical courses.
Listed below are examples of specialty placements and are dependent on availability each semester.
- Paediatrics
- Critical care
- Emergency department
- Transplant unit
- Labour and delivery
- Out of bounds
The clinical agency is responsible for assigning preceptors.
This varies by availability. The NPCO staff makes every attempt to place students in their 1st or 2nd area of interest for IP.
A B+ average does not guarantee a specialty placement. Specialty placements are dependant on availability each semester. Please note you must also have an overall B+ average.
General
Use your Passport York account to log in to the Resources for Students website.
Student Monthly TTC Metro passes as well as tokens are available at a discounted rate through York Federation of Students (YFS).
Metrolinx/Presto does have a student travel rate. For students using the go please visit the GO Student Card Website for more information.