Clinical Experience
Hands-on clinical experiences in a broad range of health care settings such as hospitals,
clinics, and acute care and long-term care facilities begin your sophomore year. A
21-week Clinical Immersion introduced your junior year will further enhance your real
world, hands-on knowledge.
What is a Clinical Immersion Experience?
Duquesne University School of Nursing has teamed up with the University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center (UPMC) to provide undergraduate nursing students with a for-credit
clinical placement at a Pittsburgh-area facility.
This clinical immersion experience will set you apart from other applicants when you
enter the job market. It is an opportunity to take all the knowledge you will gain
in the classroom and put that knowledge together with hands-on experience in a real-world
setting.
You will begin your 21-week clinical immersion in either the spring semester of your
junior year or fall semester of your senior year as part of the Clinical Immersion
in Professional Nursing course.
Working under the supervision of a professional registered nurse, you will carry out
patient care assignments, work in controlled care situations and perform established
nursing procedures for individuals or groups of patients. You will also participate
in unit-specific leadership and quality and safety activities.
What are the Advantages of a Clinical Immersion Experience?
Gain Leadership Experience
In addition to experiencing direct patient care and patient and family education,
you will engage in unit-specific leadership and quality and safety activities.
Build Your Professional Network
Develop professional connections and a better understanding of the workplace that
will enhance your transition to the professional role.
Enhance Your Clinical Judgment
Learn how to recognize deviations in patients' health care status, communicate with
appropriate unit staff and provide basic interventions.