Clinical With Distinction

Clinical with Distinction may be awarded to students each semester or summer session who meet the stated criteria. Course faculty will identify if and how the student has met the criteria and submit a letter to the Nursing Graduate Studies Committee for review and approval. Students are not permitted to contract or negotiate for Clinical with Distinction. Upon being awarded the Clinical with Distinction designation the student will receive a congratulatory letter from the Dean of the College.

Nursing 6410

To achieve Clinical with Distinction recognition, a student must consistently meet the following four criteria:

  1. Highly organized in his/her nursing care and requires little direction.
  2. Independently seeks and takes advantage of learning opportunities.
  3. Able to think critically and prioritize needs.
  4. Frequently recognized by the staff and/or family members in making a significant contribution to the care of the patient or to the activities of the unit/agency that go above and beyond course expectations.

Nursing 6270, 6280, and 6260

To achieve the Clinical with Distinction recognition, a student must consistently meet four of the following six criteria:

  1. Incorporates evidenced-based research in the planning and implementation of his/her nursing interventions.
  2. Demonstrates insight into the assessment of patients with unique symptom presentations.
  3. Contributes to the unit or agency in a manner that positively impacts patient care or nursing practice.
  4. Demonstrates a high level of critical thinking skills that impact the quality of patient outcomes.
  5. Frequently recognized by the staff and/or family members in making a significant contribution to the care of the patient or to the activities of the unit/agency that go above and beyond course expectations.
  6. Initiates patient and family education and creatively designs and implements patient teaching activities.

Nursing 6271, 6480, 6240, and 6340

To achieve Clinical with Distinction recognition, a student must consistently meet three of the following four criteria:

  1. Critiques evidence-based research that is used to guide his/her nursing interventions.
  2. Demonstrates insights into the management of patients with difficult disease diagnoses.
  3. Impacts the care of patients/families/communities in a way that enhances outcomes.
  4. Recognized by preceptor and/or the staff as making contributions above and beyond course expectations.