Clinical Experiences & Simulation Labs
There's no better way to learn nursing than to care for patients through hands-on clinical experiences helping students move beyond the classroom and gain real-world experience in healthcare environments!
Clinical Experiences
At the Whitson-Hester College of Nursing, clinical experiences are a cornerstone of your nursing education. Students have opportunities to apply classroom knowledge in real healthcare settings while working alongside experienced nurses and healthcare professionals. Through clinical placements in a variety of settings, students develop the confidence, critical thinking skills, and clinical judgment needed to provide safe, compassionate patient care.
Clinical experiences begin in the second semester of sophomore year and continue throughout the curriculum, allowing students to progressively build their skills and professional identity. Clinical placements include experiences in med-surg, mental health, pediatric, obstetric, critical care, community settings (may include dialysis, urgent care, hospice, correctional), and leadership/management, helping students explore different areas of nursing while preparing for successful careers after graduation.
- Undergraduate traditional BSN students complete 760 clinical hours
- Undergraduate accelerated BSN students complete 610 clinical hours
- Over 350 clinical affiliates (agencies) – undergraduate students are typically in 10-15 agencies through the Upper Cumberland into Nashville and Knoxville
- Typically, 6 students in a clinical group (Small size)
“From clinical and hands on labs, I had no issues taking information from textbooks and lectures and using them in my Nursing practice.”
– Deliah Stewart BSN, RN
Simulation Labs
At Tennessee Tech University’s Whitson-Hester College of Nursing, students gain hands-on experience from the very beginning through innovative laboratory and simulation experiences integrated throughout every semester of the BSN program. Our state-of-the-art learning environments feature high-fidelity human simulators that create realistic patient care scenarios, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge while developing essential nursing skills and clinical judgment. These immersive experiences bridge the gap between theory and practice, helping students build the competencies healthcare employers value most. In our supportive and psychologically safe simulation environment, students are encouraged to learn from mistakes, refine their decision-making, and strengthen their professional confidence. Through experiential learning, students develop effective communication skills, critical thinking abilities, and the adaptability needed to excel in today's complex healthcare settings. By graduation, Tennessee Tech nursing students are prepared to provide exceptional patient care and make an immediate impact as confident, compassionate healthcare professionals.