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St. Thomas University requires NP students to secure their own preceptors and clinical sites as part of the school’s self placement model. STU does not automatically arrange clinical rotations, so students must handle outreach, paperwork, and approvals to complete their required 500 clinical hours. This structure gives students flexibility, but it also means early planning is essential to avoid delays in their MSN program.
TL;DR - St. Thomas University NP Clinical Rotations Guide
- St. Thomas University uses a self placement model, so NP students must find their own preceptors and clinical sites.
- Each NP track at STU requires 500 clinical hours completed in approved health care settings.
- Finding a preceptor can take longer than expected because of nationwide preceptor shortages and high competition among nursing students.
- Early planning is essential to stay on track with clinical rotations, paperwork, and MSN timelines.
- Students who need support can create a free NPHub account to explore vetted preceptors and avoid delays.
Starting Your Clinical Journey at St. Thomas University
If you are studying nursing at St. Thomas University and getting ready for your clinical rotations, you might be carrying more stress than you expected.
You are giving so much of yourself to your patients, keeping up with online courses, and trying to be present for the people who rely on you at home. Now you are preparing for clinical placements in real health care settings and the pressure to get everything in order can feel heavier each week. It makes sense that you feel this way.
These rotations are not just another requirement in your degree program. They are where you step into advanced practice nursing, apply what you learned in your master of science coursework, and start shaping the kind of nurse practitioner you want to become. You know you need clinical sites that support your growth, preceptors who want to teach, and a plan that keeps you on track.
If you ever want to see what preceptor options look like in your area while you prepare, you can create a free NPHub account and explore what’s available without committing to anything.
This guide is here to help you understand what to expect at STU, how the clinical experience is structured, and where you can turn if you need support along the way.
Nursing Programs at St. Thomas University That Include Clinical Rotations
St. Thomas University is widely recognized for the strength of its nursing education. It was named one of the “Best Nursing Schools: Master’s” and “Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice” for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report, and its programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. This gives you the reassurance that your clinical training and nursing education meet national standards for advanced practice nursing.
Across STU’s NP tracks, you’ll move from online courses into real clinical settings where you care for patients, families, and diverse populations. These rotations help you apply what you’ve learned about health promotion, disease prevention, chronic illness, primary care, mental health, and compassionate nursing practice.
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner Program (FNP)
The family nurse practitioner program prepares registered nurses to care for individuals and families throughout the lifespan. You learn advanced health assessment, evidence-based care, women’s health, case management, and primary care for diverse populations.FNP students complete 500 clinical hours in settings such as community clinics, private practices, women’s health offices, and adult gerontology environments.
These hours help you build confidence as you support patients in everyday health situations and begin stepping into the role of a primary care provider.
As you plan these rotations and start thinking ahead to your next steps, it can help to get a sense of what preceptors might be available in your area. You can check available preceptors in your region with a free NPHub account, which gives you a clearer picture of what clinical opportunities align with your schedule and goals.
MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program (PMHNP)
The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program is designed for nurses who want to care for patients facing emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric challenges. You study psychopathology, advanced health assessment, communication strategies, clinical pharmacology, and mental health treatment approaches.
PMHNP students also complete 500 clinical hours in outpatient psychiatry, behavioral health programs, integrated health systems, and other mental health–focused clinical settings. These experiences help you grow into a calm, steady presence for patients who need support during vulnerable moments.
To understand what mental health–specific options might fit your timeline, you can see what rotation slots are open in your region with a free NPHub account, which makes the planning process easier and gives you more control over your next steps.
MSN – Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program (AGPCNP)
The adult gerontology primary care program focuses on caring for adults and older adults in primary care and community environments. You learn how to manage chronic illness, support vulnerable populations, provide long-term treatment planning, and address the unique needs of aging patients.
Students in this track complete 500 clinical hours in internal medicine offices, primary care clinics, specialist practices, and other adult and geriatric-focused health care settings.
Together, these programs help you develop strong clinical judgment while completing the clinical experience required for advanced practice nursing at STU.
And if you want extra support while planning out your rotations or would like backup options in case your first choice becomes unavailable, you can browse vetted preceptors near creating a free NPHub account and move forward with more peace of mind.
As you look ahead to your upcoming rotations, it also helps to understand how St. Thomas University structures the clinical placement process. Knowing what the school supports, what you handle on your own, and how the timeline works can make this stage feel more manageable.
How St. Thomas University Clinical Placements Work
Reaching the clinical portion of your NP program at St. Thomas University comes with a lot of moving parts, and the process can feel stressful if you’re not sure how much support the school provides. STU uses a self-placement model, which gives you flexibility, but also makes you responsible for most of the coordination.
St. Thomas University does not automatically place NP students in clinical sites or assign preceptors. Instead, the school expects you to take the lead in finding a clinical setting that fits your needs, your schedule, and the kind of nurse practitioner you’re becoming.
Here are the pieces students usually want clarity on:
- You are responsible for finding your own preceptor and requesting approval from STU.
- The university reviews your paperwork and confirms whether your chosen site meets program requirements.
- If you request help from the school, placements are not guaranteed and may require traveling far outside your local area. Some students who ask for assistance have been placed more than 100 miles from home.
Because STU asks students to secure their own sites, the search can take longer than expected. If you want a faster way to find preceptors without losing weeks to outreach, you can browse vetted preceptors near you with a free NPHub account and move forward with options that are already prepared for students.
Understanding how this process works can make it feel less chaotic. Once you know what the school supports and what falls on you, you can start building a plan that keeps your timeline moving and reduces some of the anxiety that comes with this stage of the program.
Why Securing a Preceptor Has Become So Difficult for NP Students
Many nursing students at St. Thomas University start their clinical courses expecting things to feel more predictable after completing core courses, online courses, and the heavier academic work of their master’s degree.
Instead, they realize that securing clinical placements can feel like a separate full time commitment. This is happening at almost every accredited nursing school because there are far more nurse practitioner students entering advanced practice nursing than there are clinical sites willing to train them. Even experienced registered nurses with strong clinical experience are running into the same shortage.
Because so many programs, including the family nurse practitioner program and other STU online MSN programs, rely on local preceptors, clinics and health care settings are stretched thin. Preceptors are balancing demanding patient loads, chronic illness management, mental health concerns, and primary care needs for diverse populations.
Many limit how many students they can take each year to prevent burnout or protect the quality of care they provide. When responses take weeks and follow up emails pile up, students begin looking for reliable support. If you want to see options that are already reviewed and available, you can create your free NPHub account and explore preceptors who are ready to teach without losing more time.
Even though St. Thomas University encourages students to choose their own preceptors so they can align their clinical practice with their goals in advanced health assessment, case management, evidence based care, and compassionate care, the reality is that the search can feel overwhelming.
Understanding that this struggle is happening across health systems, not just within your program, makes it easier to create a plan that keeps you on track with your clinical hours, clinical rotations, and overall progress in your MSN degree.
How NPHub Supports NP Students During Their Placement Search
NPHub was built for nursing students who are doing everything right but still cannot secure a preceptor on time by removing the guesswork, the silence from clinics, and the long weeks of waiting by giving you preceptors who are already screened, already teaching students, and already aligned with the clinical requirements of your nurse practitioner program.
The platform shows you real availability. This means you are not just reaching out and hoping someone replies. You are seeing NP preceptors in over 10 specialties from primary care, mental health, adult gerontology to women’s health, and others, who have confirmed openings for students. Many STU students use this because it saves them weeks of outreach and keeps their timeline on track.
NPHub also makes the process clearer. You can review a preceptor’s specialty, their setting, their experience working in advanced practice nursing, and what kind of clinical hours you would complete with them.
This lets you choose a clinical site that matches the goals of your MSN degree, your learning style, and the type of nurse practitioner you want to become.
If you need help with the logistics, NPHub student coordinators guides you through every step, NP Students often reach out with questions about paperwork, how to coordinate forms for STU, or when to submit transcripts or approvals for a clinical course.
You are not navigating those details alone. You can create your free NPHub account and have someone walk you through the process so everything stays on schedule and you feel supported from start to finish.
The process is simple. You explore preceptors in your area. You choose the ones that fit your goals. You get matched with someone who has confirmed availability. Then you move into completing your paperwork for St. Thomas University so your clinical experience is approved and your graduations stay on track.
Moving Forward with Confidence in Your STU NP Journey
The clinical placement stage can feel like the moment everything becomes uncertain, especially when you are carrying the weight of work, family, and the expectations of an MSN degree on your shoulders.
If you have felt overwhelmed, discouraged, or unsure about your next steps at any point in this process, you are not alone. Many St. Thomas University students reach this phase and realize that finding a preceptor is harder, slower, and more complicated than they expected.
If you want support as you take your next step, you can create your free NPHub account and explore preceptors who are ready to help you complete your clinical hours with clarity and confidence.
Even with all of these challenges, you are still moving forward. Every email, every application, every form you submit is part of becoming the nurse practitioner you set out to be. The strength it takes to keep going is the same strength you will bring to your patients, your families, and your future practice. You are building resilience that will serve you long after graduation.
Frequently Asked Questions About St. Thomas University NP Clinical Rotations
1. How does St. Thomas University handle clinical placements for NP students?
St. Thomas University uses a self placement model. This means students are responsible for finding their own preceptors and clinical sites, submitting their paperwork, and making sure everything is approved before their clinical course begins.
2. What types of clinical settings can STU NP students use?
Students can complete clinical hours in a variety of health care settings such as
- primary care clinics
- women’s health practices
- adult gerontology environments
- mental health offices
- private practice locations
- community health centers
3. How many clinical hours are required for STU’s NP programs?
Each nurse practitioner track at ST. Thomas University requires 500 clinical hours. These hours must be completed in supervised clinical settings that match the requirements of your program specialty.
4. Does STU help find preceptors if I cannot secure one on my own?
The university may offer limited guidance, but they cannot guarantee a site. Students who request help are sometimes placed far from home because availability can be very limited.
5. What qualifications should my preceptor have?
Your preceptor should be a licensed nurse practitioner, physician, or other approved health care provider practicing in a setting related to your specialty. They must meet the requirements of advanced practice nursing and be approved by the university before you begin clinical hours.
6. When should I begin searching for clinical sites?
Students are encouraged to start early. Many begin their outreach a few months before their clinical start date to allow time for approvals, paperwork, and site availability.
7. Do online MSN programs at STU still require in person clinical experiences?
Yes. Even though coursework is offered online, all NP students must complete in person clinical practice in approved clinical sites. These experiences are required for graduation and for advanced practice certification.
8. What if I work full time while completing clinical rotations?
Many STU NP students work while completing their MSN degree. Planning ahead, choosing flexible clinical sites, and staying organized with deadlines can help you balance work, school, and clinical practice more smoothly.
9. Can NPHub help me find a preceptor for my STU program?
Yes. If you need support, you can check available preceptors in your area with a free NPHub account. Many students use this option when local outreach becomes overwhelming or when deadlines are approaching.
10. What paperwork do I need to prepare for STU to approve my clinical site?
Students usually submit preceptor information, site details, required forms from the clinical course, and documentation requested by the nursing program. Starting early gives you enough time to gather signatures and avoid delays.
Key Terms and Definitions
- Clinical placements
The supervised clinical experiences NP students must complete in approved health care settings. - Clinical hours
The required hours students complete with a preceptor to gain hands on experience in advanced practice nursing. - Clinical site
A clinic, practice, or health care setting where students complete their clinical rotations. - Preceptor
A licensed nurse practitioner or other qualified provider who supervises and teaches students during clinical practice. - Primary care
A clinical focus for FNP students involving health promotion, disease prevention, and management of common conditions. - Mental health
A clinical focus for PMHNP students that involves caring for patients with emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric needs. - NPHub
A service that helps NP students find vetted preceptors who are available to supervise their clinical rotations.
About the author
- NPHub Staff
At NPHub, we live and breathe clinical placements. Our team is made up of nurse practitioners, clinical coordinators, placement advisors, and former students who’ve been through the process themselves. We work directly with NP students across the country to help them secure high-quality preceptorships and graduate on time with confidence. - Last updated
November 18, 2025 - Fact-checked by
NPHub Clinical Placement Experts & Student Support Team - Sources and references
Find a preceptor who cares with NPHub
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