Learning a healthcare skill and applying it in a professional setting are connected steps in your education. Coursework helps you understand the principles behind a task. Practical experience gives you opportunities to apply that knowledge, receive guidance, and develop professional habits alongside healthcare teams.
At American National University, clinical experiences and externships connect classroom preparation with approved healthcare settings. If you are considering a healthcare program, understanding how these experiences work can help you plan for both the learning opportunities and the responsibilities ahead.
How does online learning connect with hands-on experience?
An online healthcare education can include learning that takes place away from your computer. Depending on the program, coursework and lab activities prepare students for supervised experiences in healthcare facilities.
American National University’s health sciences programs include different practical learning requirements. Nursing clinicals, for example, involve supervised experiences that support nursing course objectives. A Health Information Management externship focuses on applying skills relevant to health information rather than training students to provide bedside care.
The terms “clinical” and “externship” describe practical learning experiences, but their structure, timing, required hours, and learning objectives differ by program. Your program’s instructions explain what applies to you.
Where do clinicals and externships take place?
Depending on your program and its requirements, an experience may take place in a hospital, physician’s office, laboratory, pharmacy, or another approved healthcare facility.
An appropriate site must offer the learning opportunities and supervision your program requires. A nearby healthcare facility may be interested in hosting a student but unable to provide the necessary experiences, staffing, or approved supervision.
For example, the university’s Medical Assisting Associate’s program includes a clinical externship, while the Health Information Management Associate’s program includes an externship connected to its own professional competencies. Placement decisions must reflect those different educational goals.
How does placement coordination work?
Placement involves cooperation among the student, American National University, and the healthcare organization. University personnel coordinate with facilities to identify appropriate opportunities, review requirements, and obtain the necessary approvals.
Students contribute by completing preparation requirements, responding promptly to their coordinator, and providing accurate information. If you know a healthcare professional or identify a potential site, share that contact with your placement coordinator. The coordinator can determine the appropriate next steps.
Students should not independently arrange a placement or contact facilities unless instructed or authorized to do so by their externship coordinator. Healthcare organizations often have designated departments that manage student placements, and coordinated communication helps avoid duplicate requests.
Why is an affiliation agreement necessary?
Before students can participate under a healthcare partnership, American National University and the organization need a fully executed affiliation agreement covering the applicable program and placement arrangement.
This agreement establishes the organizations’ responsibilities, including matters such as supervision, student qualifications, confidentiality, and safety. Developing a new agreement can involve administrative and legal review by both organizations, sometimes taking weeks or months. There is no guaranteed completion date for an agreement undergoing an external organization’s review.
An agreement and an individual placement are separate approvals. A hospital system may have an agreement with the university, but a particular department may lack an available preceptor or space for another student. The specific program and location must be covered, and the facility must approve the student’s placement.
Will my placement be close to home?
American National University considers the student’s address and available approved facilities during placement coordination. However, an appropriate placement may require travel beyond your immediate community.
Availability, supervision, program requirements, and facility capacity all influence location. An existing agreement does not guarantee an opening nearby or a particular start date.
Schedules also depend on the program and facility. The university’s nursing clinical experience page explains that nursing placements depend on site availability and may require travel beyond a typical commute. Ask your coordinator about the expectations for your particular program before making work or family arrangements.
When can I begin?
You may begin only after the required agreement, placement approvals, preparation requirements, and facility onboarding are complete and you have received official authorization.
A verbal invitation from a healthcare professional or an interested facility is encouraging, but it is not authorization to start. Your coordinator will guide you through the remaining steps.
Clinicals and externships give you opportunities to connect your education with professional practice. To explore a healthcare pathway and understand its practical requirements, review American National University’s health sciences programs and speak with the admissions team.
