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title: "Program Info : Clinical Hours"
canonical: "https://resources.acenursing.org/space/ARI/1953169422/Program%20Info%20%3A%20Clinical%20Hours"
format: markdown
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### Clinical / Skill Lab / Simulation Hours

 

For the following question(s) we are looking for the number of Clinical/Practicum hours, Skill Lab hours (if applicable), and Simulation hours (if applicable) required of students on a per-program-option/track basis.


**Please note**

For those program types (e.g., Baccalaureate, Master's and Clinical Doctorate) with multiple admission/program options to select in beginning of each program type’s section.

For graduate-level programs clinical/practicum (and skill lab/simulation as applicable) hours will be required for each entry option and APRN option selected.


The ACEN defines Clinical/Practicum, Simulation, and Skills Labs, respectively, as follows: 

### **Learning Environments and Experiences, Clinical/Practicum**

Direct, hands-on, planned learning activities required of nursing students in all degree or certificate granting nursing education programs, regardless of the student’s licensure status at the time of admission. Settings include, but are not limited to, acute-care and specialty hospitals, long-term care facilities, ambulatory care centers, physician offices, communities, and home health care. Clinical/practicum learning experiences should engage nursing students in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor work of nursing appropriate for the level at which students are being prepared. Consistent with the level of academic study and the roles and responsibilities after graduation, clinical/practicum experiences should prepare graduates for practice in the care of patients/clients including a/an: individual, family, group, or populations, and support students’ attainment of the identified end-of-program student learning outcomes and/or role-specific nursing competencies. Clinical/practicum experiences are overseen by qualified nursing faculty and may include assistance from preceptors who provide feedback to students in support of their learning and professional development.

**Clinical/practicum learning experiences are required for all nursing students enrolled in any undergraduate or graduate program, including all students enrolled in post-licensure undergraduate programs, graduate programs, all program options in any undergraduate and graduate programs, and/or certificate program options.**



### **Learning Environments and Experiences, Skills and/or Simulation Laboratory**

Opportunities for students to learn about nursing care in settings designed to look, feel, and/or function as a real-world practice learning environment, offering real-world practice learning experiences, which may include the use of low-fidelity, mid-fidelity, high-fidelity and/or virtual simulation equipment. These experiences facilitate students’ application of knowledge, skills, and behaviors in the care of patients/clients including a/an: individual, family, group, or populations, and support the end-of-program student learning outcomes and and/or role-specific nursing competencies.

High-fidelity simulation: Practice learning experiences that incorporate a full-body computerized patient simulator that mimics the patient’s responses to the student’s actions.

Mid-fidelity simulation: Practice learning experiences that incorporate a computerized patient simulator with basic physiologic functions, such as computer-based self-directed learning systems.

Low-fidelity simulation: Practice learning experiences that utilize static mannequins or task-trainers for basic nursing skills.

Virtual simulation: Practice learning experiences that are computer-generated simulations with virtual (e.g., three-dimensional images) patients and/or care environments for the development of nursing knowledge and skills.

 


***Please note:***  
  
***U.S.-Based*** ***Master’s-level APRN options must reflect the required minimum of 750 hours; U.S.-Based Clinical Doctorate-level APRN options must reflect the required minimum of 1000 hours. ***