On-Campus Requirements

There are three required on-campus experiences during the Accelerated Option.

Orientation Weekend

Approximately 1–3 weeks before the start date, students are required to attend a weekend-long on-campus orientation.

Skills Lab and First Clinical - "Boot Camp"

After completing approximately 12 weeks of online courses, the entire cohort participates in two weeks of campus residency (August for the May cohort and January for the October cohort).

During these two weeks, students complete an intensive health assessment, nursing skills lab experience and the first clinical rotation. The 56-hour clinical rotation is completed in a healthcare facility near Oshkosh, under the direction of a UW Oshkosh clinical faculty member.

Students perform health and physical assessments on adult patients and provide direct care, applying the theoretical principles of nursing they have learned thus far. This clinical rotation offers students the opportunity to gain confidence in care planning, problem solving and critical thinking when caring for adult patients.

Accelerated nursing students are divided into two groups for lab and clinical; one group is in lab during the days when the other group is in clinical and vice versa. Clinical groups are comprised of 4–5 students with one clinical instructor.

Students are encouraged to stay on or near campus for this two-week residency for the following reasons:

• Peer interaction: Even though students met at the orientation session, this prolonged engagement helps students get to know one another better. The rigor of the curriculum requires that students support and encourage one another. Feedback from earlier cohorts reinforces the benefits of the two-week peer interaction.
• 10–12 hour days (including weekends): Staying near campus eliminates even a short drive and increases the amount of time students have available for studying.
• Schedules may change: Students are committed to the curriculum for the entire two weeks and the schedule may change on short notice depending on student learning needs.
• No-tolerance policy for tardiness: Students must be on time for all learning sessions. Because of the compact nature of the schedule, tardiness may result in dismissal. Staying on campus eliminates traffic and weather-related delays.

Capstone Week

The Capstone Experience takes place during the last week of the Accelerated nursing option. This week includes student presentations (assigned prior to the capstone week), mandatory student testing and  evaluation of the Accelerated Option.

Housing

For all residencies, campus (or near-campus) low-cost housing is available for students who wish to use it.