Clinical Experience

Working with real patients is an invaluable part of every nursing student's experience, regardless of their speciality or career goals. At the Connell School, you'll gain access to incredible learning opportunities through clinical placements in world-class hospitals, innovative community care facilities, and public health departments, with seasoned mentors to guide you every step of the way. 

Contact Us

Dany Hilaire
Assistant Dean
Clinical Placements and Community Partnerships
617-552-4088

Your clinical experience

Where will I be placed?

It depends on your degree track and area of specialization. Most undergraduate students are placed in hospital settings in the Boston area while master's and doctoral students complete their placements in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and smaller health care centers that match their areas of interest. Our program directors maintain connections with more than 85 clinical partners in the Boston area to ensure a broad range of settings to choose from. 


When will I start? 

Undergraduate students begin clinical placements their sophomore year. Direct entry graduate students begin in the fall of their first semester. Master's and D.N.P. students work with the graduate programs office to plan for their clinical experiences in sequence with their course work.


How many hours will I spend in clinical rounds?

1,000 hours for undergraduates and D.N.P. students. 500 hours for master's students. 


Will all of my clinical experience take place off-campus?

A portion of your clinical hours may include practice in our Simulation Lab, where you'll work with live actors and manikins before treating real patients.


How will I find a preceptor? 

We have connections and will help you find one! Our program directors and clinical experience staff work hard to match each graduate student with a preceptor who shares their area of interest. You are encouraged to bring ideas forward regarding clinical settings and desired learning outcomes.

Meet your mentor

Many graduate students cite their relationship with their preceptor as a formative part of their educational experience. At the Connell School, we work hard to match you with a supportive preceptor who shares your interests and career background.

By getting a firsthand example of what nurse practitioners do, students can see the limitations, the possibilities, and how they might push the boundaries of what it means to be a nurse practitioner.
Desiree Otenti, M.S. ‘07

Our Clinical Partners

Longwood medical center

Longwood Medical Center, home to several of the nation's top hospitals.

At the hub of health care

Develop and apply your advanced clinical skills in some of the most prestigious learning environments in the nation. Our partners include top-ranked teaching hospitals and community agencies representing a variety of care settings—from mental health centers to school health clinics—so you'll be matched with a placement that fits your interests. 

Our more than 85 clinical partners include:

 

Addiction Treatment Center of New England

Atrius Health

Beth Israel Lahey Health

Boston Children's Hospital

Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program

Boston Medical Center

 

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Cristo Rey Boston High School

Dimock Center

Fenway Health

Franciscan Children's

Hebrew SeniorLife

Joslin Diabetes Center

 

McLean Hospital

Shriners Children's Boston

Signature Healthcare

South Boston Community Health Center

Spaulding Rehabilitation Network

VA Boston Healthcare System

#1

Children’s Hospital

Boston Children’s Hospital

*U.S. News & World Report 2021-22 Rankings

#2

Hospital for Psychiatry 

McLean Hospital

#5

Best Hospitals Honor Roll

Massachusetts General Hospital

#4

Adult Cancer Hospital

Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center

Interested in becoming a preceptor?

Preceptors are essential to our students’ success, and receive a variety of benefits, including continuing education credit.

Preceptor Benefits

Pictured: Megan Hopper ’14 with preceptor Christelle Dragon at the VA Boston Healthcare System in West Roxbury.