title: The coordinator role for a nursing online graduate practicum.
abstract: Although graduate students in nursing are adult learners and expert clinicians, they are often novices in the roles they seek upon graduation. Practicum experiences help students bridge the gap between theory learned in course work and beginning practice at the master's level. However, finding practica for online nursing graduate students at great distances is often a challenge. The value of having a point person for the coordination of students' practicum experiences in multiple settings is well known. What is less well known is how this coordination occurs across great distances in online courses that include a practicum component. The authors discuss the design and implementation of a practicum coordinator position in a graduate online program.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Professor (Drs McGonigle and Upenieks), Practicum Coordinator (Ms Alestock), Associate Professor (Drs Sisk and Meeks-Sjostrom), MSN Online Program, Chamberlain College of Nursing, Downers Grove, Illinois; Program Director RN-BSN (Dr Hine), Department of Nursing, Eagle Gate College, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Dee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McGonigle
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alestock
authors.forename: Valda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Upenieks
authors.forename: Lois
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hine
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sisk
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meeks-Sjostrom
mesh_terms: D020375:Education, Distance / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008611:Mentors; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D024382:Professional Role; D013338:Students, Nursing