Clinicals in Clarkson's campus BSN and LPN to BSN

The clinical courses, in order

Nursing courses begin in the second semester of year two, and that year's plan adds a "Third Semester," since Clarkson offers nursing coursework every term, summer included. The ATI program runs alongside the whole sequence and ends with the ATI Comprehensive Predictor. The table follows the 2026-27 catalog.

Policy AA-55 sets one undergraduate clinical credit at 45 hours and uses NRS 126 as its worked example: two credits, 90 hours. Applying the same ratio, the traditional BSN's 23 clinical credits come to about 1,035 hours and the LPN to BSN's 18 to about 810. Clarkson states the ratio, not those totals, so treat them as estimates.

The final semester: NRS 473 Preceptorship

NRS 473 is the capstone clinical: four credits, taken in the last semester after every earlier clinical and theory course through NRS 459, alongside NRS 467, NRS 470, NRS 483 and NRS 484. You work beside a preceptor with a focus on leadership and management at the systems level. By the 45-hour ratio it is the longest clinical in the program, at about 180 hours.

Clarkson's LPN to BSN page describes it as "Preceptorship in last semester in area of students choosing," which suggests you get a say in the specialty. Some sponsorships connect to it too: the 2025-26 catalog lists "Preference for senior preceptorship placement" among the benefits of Children's Nebraska's Student to Nurse (S2RN) Sponsorship Program in Pediatrics.

Health systems set their own calendars for these spots; CHI Health's toolkit, for instance, publishes undergraduate preceptorship request dates for each term. Whatever process Clarkson runs, knowing your preferred area a term ahead puts you in the best position.

Admission, compliance and grades

The traditional BSN admits in fall, spring and summer with a 2.5 cumulative GPA and a 2.5 in math and science. The website says no prerequisites are needed to be admitted, yet the first nursing courses require BIO 210, BIO 211, BIO 213 and CHM 110, so plan those early. Clarkson lists the program at six semesters full-time and eleven part-time, while the catalog plan spans four years; the six appear to count the semesters with nursing courses.

Clinical access depends on staying compliant. Clarkson tracks immunizations, background checks, drug screens, BLS and the rest in Qualified First/Verified, and a student out of compliance cannot attend clinical. The 2021-22 undergraduate handbook also required a clinical skills checklist each semester and allowed an incomplete in a clinical course so missed hours could be made up the next semester, with progression paused until then. Grades need to be C- or better, and a course can be repeated once; the progression rules guide covers dismissal triggers and the health and safety guide the compliance items.

Where our desk fits for BSN students

Campus clinicals appear to be scheduled through Clarkson, so our role for BSN students is focused. When the NRS 473 preceptorship lets you name an area, we help you think it through: which units and specialties near you build the leadership experience the course describes, and how that choice lines up with the career or graduate track you want next.

The larger partnership starts after licensure. Clarkson's MSN and BSN to DNP nurse practitioner tracks put the preceptor search for every clinical course on the student, and planning all five courses together is exactly what our placement desk does. Compare the tracks on our NP tracks page, and use the form below when you are ready to plan graduate clinicals.