An essential component of ACEND’s Future Education Model (FEM) and Competency-Based Education (CBE) is supervised experiential learning. The MSCN Program plans 1200 hours of supervised experiential learning through:
- Supervised Clinical Practice Experience (SCPE) rotations in professional work settings throughout the region (up to 1080 hours)
- Alternate authentic work experiences, including complex case studies, simulations, standardized patient exercises, and role-playing – scheduled within didactic courses to practice, apply and demonstrate competency (120 alternate experiential hours)
SCPE Courses
During the last three trimesters of the MSCN program, students complete Supervised Clinical Practice Experience I, II, and III (NUTR 287A, 287B, and 287C, respectively). The MSCN program curriculum plans for 30 weeks of supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) representing the diverse individual and population care delivery settings that registered dietitian nutritionists apply their clinical training and leadership across the continuum of care. The program approaches SCPE holistically and aims to offer learning opportunities with rotations in innovative and expanding areas of practice. SCPE rotations are summarized below, indicating the rotation type and duration (in weeks). SCPE rotations are scheduled within the 10-week blocks afforded by the trimester schedule. While the sequence of rotations will differ for each student, all students complete SCPEs including the same ACEND® Future Education Model (FEM) Graduate Degree Competencies.
The MSCN Clinical Coordinator identifies the SPCE sites and creates the rotation schedule for each student depending on site availability and student needs. Sites are located within the state of California.
| Phase | Key | Rotation | Weeks | Total Weeks for Phase | Example Rotation Sites/Settings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute & Post-Acute Care | ACM I | Acute Care Medicine I | 4 | 10 | Inpatient Hospital, Inpatient Acute Rehab, Inpatient Critical Care Units, Long-Term Acute CARE, Skilled Nursing Facility, Military |
| ACM II | Acute Care Medicine II | 3 | |||
| CCM | Critical Care Medicine | 3 | |||
| Ambulatory Care | AMB | Ambulatory Care Clinics | 3 | 10 | Hospital Outpatient Clinics, Primary Care Practices, Private Practice, Intensive Outpatient Program, Partial Hospitalization Programs, Military |
| WIL | Women's Health, Pediatrics | 3 | Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) | ||
| DIAL | Dialysis | 4 | Dialysis centers | ||
| WELL | Wellness | 3 | Corporate Wellness, Retail/Supermarket, University Student Health Services, Food Bank, Lifestyle Medicine, Social Service Agencies, Military | ||
| LTC | Long-Term Care Settings | 3 | Home Health, Assisted Living, Independent Living Communities, Nursing Home, Memory and Aging Care, Respite or Short-Term Stay, Corrections | ||
| Varied | ES | Food Service/Systems Mgmt. | 3 | 10 | Hospital-Based/Acute Care/SNF, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Nursing Home, Retail-Based, School District, Military, Corrections |
| SR/EL | Staff Relief or Elective | 1 | Subject to rotation availability |
