Program overview

Preferred affiliated programs: We collaborate with a limited number of select regional NP programs in which Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Health System will accommodate clinical rotations
Program length: Typically the final year of clinical rotations are accommodated as capacity allows
Class size: Varies according to our clinical capacity
Location: Rochester, Minnesota, and Mayo Clinic Health System sites

The demand for highly-trained nurse practitioners within Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Health System continues to grow. In order to educate as many outstanding nurse practitioners as possible, we have collaborated with a small number of select regional nurse practitioner academic programs to develop common clinical rotation expectations and timelines.

Students selected to participate in the NPCEC will be eligible and have priority to complete clinical rotations at Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Health System.

Your college or university program director and Nurse Practitioner Clinical Education Collaboration program director will arrange your clinical experiences. Start dates depend on the student's university, but typically the final year of clinical rotations are accommodated.

Graduation and certification

When you successfully complete your master's or doctorate degree in nursing with population foci at your affiliated school, you are eligible to apply for the national certification via examination. You also receive a certificate from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences indicating your successful completion of the clinical hours.

Application process

Prerequisites

1. Students must be enrolled in an affiliated, fully accredited nurse practitioner program to be eligible to participate in the Nurse Practitioner Clinical Education Collaboration at Mayo Clinic.
2. Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences only accepts NP students from universities that have an active Affiliation Agreement between the Academic Institution and Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences. Clinical Affiliation Agreements are necessary to define the legal responsibilities of our institution and your university.
3. Students from fully online or non-accredited programs will not be considered.
4. Preference is given to Mayo Clinic employees; on rare occasions, non-employees in affiliated programs may be accepted if clinical capacity allows.

How to apply 

Nurse practitioner students in affiliated programs (previously listed) who wish to complete clinical rotations at Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Health System are invited to apply.

Application window: Jan. 1-April 30

Applicants enrolled in an adult gero, acute care, or neonatal nurse practitioner program need to follow the application guidelines and admission process as noted by the preferred affiliate program. Your faculty will contact NPCEC staff with the request on your behalf.

If you are enrolled in a family nurse practitioner, pediatric, women’s health, adult gero, primary care, or psych mental health nurse practitioner program, follow these instructions.

1. Create an account to begin the online Application for Admission: 
   1. Select - Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences
   2. Select - Nurse Practitioner Clinical Education Collaboration
2. Complete each section of the application and submit.
3. After submission, view the required Supplemental Items and Documents
   1. Upload each required item in the Supplemental Items section
   2. Complete the Recommendation Request section

Additional required items:

• Three letters of recommendation are required and must be completed in the Recommendation Request section. Each recommender will receive an email with a link to upload a letter.
  • Academic: One recommendation that reflects your academic potential (from a professor or instructor)
  • Professional: One recommendation that reflects your professional character (from a recent former or current supervisor, nurse manager, or other nursing leader)
  • Professional: One recommendation from a colleague that reflects your familiarity with the NP role (from an NP if possible, or another health professional who knows you well)
• Personal Statement is to address the following question and then be uploaded in the Supplemental Items section.
  • How do you envision yourself serving as a Nurse Practitioner at Mayo Clinic, who strives to deliver care where “The needs of the patient come first?" Please include the certification you are preparing for (family practice, acute care, mental health, pediatrics, women’s health, etc.), and your expected graduation year. Limit to 1,000 words or less.
• If you are seeking your Doctorate in Nursing Practice, please also answer the question below. This question applies only to DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) students; it is not applicable for those seeking graduate certificate only.
  • Do you plan to complete your scholarly project (aka DNP project) at Mayo Clinic or within the local community? 
  • What are your DNP project interests?
• Current CV/resume
• RN (Registered Nurse) license and NP certification (if applicable)
• Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools

Tuition and financial aid

Tuition is determined by and paid to the college or university at which you are enrolled. Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences charges no additional fees.

Students are responsible for their own living accommodations, expenses, and transportation when completing clinical rotations.

A Mayo Clinic Career Investment Program (CIP) award is not a guarantee to the Nurse Practitioner Clinical Education Collaboration.

Curriculum

The nurse practitioner program is offered by the affiliated university and provides the degree. The clinical coordinator of each university determines and develops the coursework and laboratory experiences. There may be additional opportunities to learn informally from Mayo Clinic faculty and preceptors during your clinical rotations.

The Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences NP Program faculty support your transition into clinical rotations through a preclinical skills evaluation in the summer.

Clinical rotation opportunities

Your university determines the total number of clinical hours and types of rotations you need to successfully graduate. Opportunities for clinical rotations of your personal interest may be available.

Clinical hours and schedule

Your clinical hours are determined by the schedule of your clinical preceptor. Mayo Clinic employees are highly encouraged to apply for an Educational Leave of Absence to allow you the flexibility to ensure your personal schedule can accommodate clinical hours.

Shadow/Observation Experiences

Requests to shadow a nurse practitioner must be approved through the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences. Shadowing opportunities are only available for Mayo Clinic employees, and are limited to no more than 8 hours. Students must be enrolled in a fully accredited nurse practitioner program to be eligible to participate.  Students from fully online or non-accredited programs will not be considered.

These experiences are limited by clinical capacity, and are not guaranteed.  At this time, the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Nurse Practitioner Clinical Education Program is not completing any new agreement requests for non-employees.

Approval is granted through the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Nurse Practitioner Clinical Education Program. A minimum of 8 weeks is required to process these requests. No hands-on patient care should occur; these are observational experiences only. To request a shadow/observation experience, please submit the following information to rstnpcecprogram@mayo.edu:

• Student Name
• Student Degree
• Requested observation date
• Required hours
• University name
• Academic contact name
• Academic contact email

Facilities

The Mayo Clinic campus in Rochester, Minnesota, is among the largest, most advanced academic medical centers in the world.

Mayo Clinic Health System is composed of facilities in 70 communities in southeastern Minnesota, southwestern Wisconsin, and northern Iowa.

Meet the faculty

The Nurse Practitioner Clinical Education Collaboration utilizes preceptors from Mayo Clinic's provider team, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, medical doctors, and others on its clinical, scientific, and technical staff. They are chosen for their commitment to teaching, as well as clinical practice and research. Many have published and lectured extensively and are highly regarded in their fields. You have access to these clinical preceptors throughout your training, with the opportunity to learn directly from some of today's best clinicians.

Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Nurse Practitioner faculty support and enhance the clinical learning experiences for our NP students, preceptors, and affiliated programs. Our team of NP faculty represent diversity in NP education, practice settings, and scholarly interests that build a solid training foundation for our NP students.

Accreditation information

Our affiliated nurse practitioner education programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

See accreditation information for Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.