The Clinical Affiliation Program at MGH is managed through The Norman Knight Nursing Center for Clinical & Professional Development. All requests for nursing student placements are made by contacting the Clinical Affiliation Coordinator, Rosalie Tyrrell, RN. MS @ rtyrrell@partners.org. The Clinical Affiliation Program exemplifies our mission "to educate future academic and practice leaders of the health care professions"; our vision "to create a practice environment that is built on a spirit of inquiry"; our professional practice model; and the Department of Nursing philosophy "to educate ourselves and to educate others".

In the 2006-2007 academic year approximately 1,383 students from 28 schools of nursing obtained clinical placements at MGH and affiliated health centers. This occurs through student group placements with faculty and precepted clinical placements. The Student Group Placements with Faculty program provides clinical placements for groups of students from local and regional schools. In the 2006-2007 academic year 12 schools participated in this program, with an estimated 1,051 students placed in groups with instructors. The Precepted Clinical Placement program provides MGH staff preceptors for graduate and undergraduate nursing students. Approximately 24 schools obtain student preceptorships at MGH and affiliated health centers. An estimated 332 students received clinical preceptorships the 2006-2007 academic year. Students are placed with Staff Nurses, Advanced Practice Nurses, Nurse Managers, Associate Chief Nurses, the Senior VP for Patient Care and Chief Nurse, and Primary Care Physicians. Preceptors may be rewarded and recognized for their precepting activities through vouchers for payment for courses or continuing education programs.

MGH staff may hold faculty appointments at local colleges and universities, teaching in graduate and undergraduate programs. Staff who teach students on site at MGH bring an added value to the teaching/learning experience, bridging the gap between what is taught in the academic setting and the realities of the complex patient care environment. Staff are also invited to be guest lecturers or visiting scholars.

Many staff seize the opportunity to positively influence care through education. MGH values mutual contributions by service and academia in the education of future health care practitioners.

There are a number of benefits of the Clinical Affiliations Program. These include providing leadership in patient care excellence in practice, establishing a sense of good will in the greater health care and academic community, providing a community service and contributing to a pool of potential recruits.