The North Carolina Board of Nursing requires that all nursing students are provided with practicum experience in the final year of the program. The practicum is known as “focused client care” and is faculty-directed, meaning that the faculty of the nursing program determines how focused client care is implemented and assigned.
FCC assignments are made based upon overall student performance throughout the program and clinical site availability. The student is typically paired with a preceptor in the assigned clinical site. During the three-to-four-week FCC period, the student will work their preceptor’s schedule. This schedule may involve days, nights, weekends, and or holidays. The assignment may also involve travel throughout the region. Students are encouraged to plan in advance in order to avoid personal conflicts during FCC. Out-of-state assignments are not possible.