A new approach to the senior practicum

A project jointly planned by faculty of a baccalaureate program and administrators of a VA Medical Center saturated a unit with students who practiced nursing based on the Neuman health care system model. Students were assigned to the unit seven days a week, on all shifts. Agency personnel acted as preceptors; faculty held weekly seminars with the students and evaluated students' performance. Staff became more aware of documentation, holistic nursing care, and the rationale behind practice, while students gained confidence, became responsible, self-motivated, and learned time management and decision making.