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Note: Applicants residing in states not participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), or in states where the program does not meet licensure requirements (e.g., California, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, Idaho, etc.), are not eligible for enrollment.

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Note: Applicants residing in states not participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), or in states where the program does not meet licensure requirements (e.g., California, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, Idaho, etc.), are not eligible for enrollment.

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RN to BSN Practicum FAQ

Hands-On Experience for Your Nursing Career

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START HERE

Share a few details and we'll connect you with an enrollment coach to discuss your goals and next steps.

By submitting my information, I consent to being contacted by The University of Oklahoma and/or OU Education Services via SMS/text message, phone, email, and other electronic means, including through the use of an automatic telephone dialing system, AI-powered technologies, and artificial or pre-recorded voice, for purposes related to OU’s program portfolio; my contact information will not be shared with third-party affiliates. Message and data rates may apply. Opt-out of communications any time by replying STOP to SMS, asking to be removed during a call, or clicking the unsubscribe link in emails. For support, refer to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for more details.

1Your Interests

2Your Information

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Thanks for your interest in OU Online! At this time, we don't offer any online programs that align with your current experience or education level. Please revisit us in the future to find a program that best fits your goals or explore our on campus programs at ou.edu

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Note: Applicants residing in states not participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), or in states where the program does not meet licensure requirements (e.g., California, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, Idaho, etc.), are not eligible for enrollment.

Note: Applicants residing in states not participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), or in states where the program does not meet licensure requirements (e.g., California, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, Idaho, etc.), are not eligible for enrollment.

Note: Applicants residing in states not participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), or in states where the program does not meet licensure requirements (e.g., California, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, Idaho, etc.), are not eligible for enrollment.

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About the RN to BSN Practicum

Nursing is hands-on work, and this program treats it that way. Throughout your RN to BSN coursework, you’ll apply what you’re learning directly to real client care and healthcare systems, building the practical experience that prepares you for expanded nursing roles. The practicum is a structured, manageable part of the program distributed across five courses, designed to accommodate your busy schedule as a working nurse.

Program Practicum Experience Assignments

Course #	Course Name	Practicum Hours
NURS4003	Health Assessment for the Registered Nurse (Virtual Lab & Assessment Recordings) Indirect	16
NURS4094	Community & Public Health for the Registered Nurse (Windshield Survey, Community Care Plan) Indirect	16
NURS4125	Complex Care for the Registered Nurse (Case Studies, Complex Client Care Plan, and Face-to-Face education project) majority Indirect / 2-4 hours Direct	32
NURS4112	Navigating Transitions & End of Life Care for the Registered Nurse (ELNEC Certification, long-term care project) Indirect	16
NURS4115	Leadership and Healthcare Management for the Registered Nurse (Quality Improvement or Evidence-Based Practice EBP project) majority Indirect / 2-4 hours Direct	32
	Total Practicum Hours	112

Below, you’ll find answers to common questions about practice experiences, including hours, locations, and who can supervise you.

What Are Practice Experiences (Practicum)?

Post-licensure nursing programs (RN-BSN, RN-MSN, RN-DNP), including OU’s online RN to BSN program, build required practice experiences into the curriculum. These experiences connect what you learn in class to real nursing work, following the 2026 AACN Essentials, and include both direct client care and indirect, systems-level work. You'll complete practice experiences across the lifespan and four spheres of care:

Health promotion and disease prevention
Regenerative and restorative care

Chronic disease care
Hospice, palliative, and supportive care

How Many Hours Will I Complete?

RN to BSN students complete 112 total practicum (practice experience) hours, spread across five courses in the program. (The fifth course in the carousel of 10 is your first direct practicum experience, and the ninth course is Quality Improvement or Evidence-Based Project.)

Where Do Practice Experiences Happen?

Only Direct Practicum Experience sites require a signed contractual agreement between OU and the organization. You’ll work under an approved person in a leadership role, with an OU faculty member overseeing your progress and evaluating your work.

You can complete practice experience hours at your current workplace, as long as the activities happen outside your scheduled shifts and are separate from your regular job duties.

You’ll get guidance early on, during orientation and introductory courses, to help you plan your practice experiences and understand any contracts or requirements before you need them.

Who Can Be My Preceptor?

Nursing preceptors need at least a BSN degree and an active, unencumbered license.

Non-nursing preceptors should hold a leadership role, such as a department lead, supervisor, or equivalent role. Your preceptor works alongside your faculty to help you meet your learning goals and build the competencies the program requires.

What Does Direct Care Look Like?

Direct care means hands-on work with patients aimed at a health outcome.

Examples include:

Providing nursing care to individuals, families, groups, or communities in settings like acute care, community health, long-term care, or telehealth
Working with other healthcare professionals to build and carry out patient-centered care plans
Putting evidence-based practice changes into action with patients directly
Taking part in quality improvement work that involves direct patient contact

What Does Indirect Care Look Like?

Indirect care supports patients and populations without hands-on contact.

Examples include:

Writing or updating policies or procedures that improve care delivery or communication
Teaching healthcare staff about new technologies or evidence-based practices
Partnering with IT teams on electronic health record implementation or optimization
Supporting population health planning, disaster preparedness, or systems-level quality initiatives

How Am I Supported Along the Way?

Faculty oversee every practice experience, align it with your learning goals, and evaluate your progress. These experiences are designed to build your clinical reasoning, leadership, and systems thinking, preparing you for higher-level nursing roles.

Want to Go Deeper? Read the Practicum Experience Guidelines

For a closer look at how practice experiences are structured across entry-level post-licensure nursing programs, including the standards and reasoning behind them, read the RN to BSN Practicum Experience Guide.

Read the Guidelines

5 Steps to a Successful and Timely Practicum Experience

Step 1: Identify the healthcare facility where you plan to complete your direct practicum experience.

Step 2: Complete the RN to BSN Practicum Activity Request Form.
This form requires complete contact information for the student, preceptor, and facility administrator or designated manager authorized to sign the affiliation agreement.

Step 3: The Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement (MOU/MOA) will be coordinated between the OU College of Nursing and the selected facility.
To help ensure a timely practicum start, please note that the contracting process may take up to 3-4 months to complete.

Step 4: Once the agreement is fully executed, the facility, course faculty, and student will be notified.

Step 5: Upon notification of the completed agreement and approval from course faculty, the practicum experience may begin.

Tip for Success: Begin the practicum approval process as early as possible to allow adequate time for contract review and completion prior to your planned practicum start date.

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