Inpatient Instructor Role Orientation

This section outlines the requirements for nursing clinical instructors across all Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care locations. Please follow the steps to complete all instructor requirements. The information on this site is updated prior to the start of each new semester.

Resources (optional)

• Nursing student information card [PDF] (this forms aids the unit staff)
• Nursing assistant student information card [DOCX]

System virtual orientation course

• Orientation is required annually (Jan-Dec) for instructors, including Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care teammates.
• Orientation is required BEFORE the first day of clinical.
• This course is NOT required for post-licensure student instructors (i.e., RN to BSN, nurse practitioner, MSN, and DNP programs).
• A recording is available after each course. If you are unable to attend the live course, an online attestation/evaluation must be completed after viewing the recording, see below:
  • Illinois only - The course is not required for off-site instructors for pre-licensure capstone students at Trinity Hospital and Christ Medical Center (beginning in Spring 2024), Condell Medical Center, Lutheran General Hospital, Illinois Masonic Medical Center, and Sherman Hospital. You will review a PowerPoint Presentation and sign an electronic attestation form.
  • Wisconsin - The course is not required for off-site instructors of pre-licensure students. You will review a PowerPoint Presentation and sign an electronic attestation form.
  • Recording - contact our team directly for the recording.
  • Instructor Virtual Orientation Registration
  • Instructor Virtual Orientation Attestation

Unit orientation

Contact the clinical placement specialist. You will work with the clinical placement specialist to coordinate and schedule a meeting with clinical site leadership (manager, educator and / or CNS) and learn additional details/requirements for the upcoming rotation.

Contact the clinical site manager when approved for placement.

During the meeting with leadership, you will complete the following:

• Review your clinical objectives
• If new to the unit, schedule a 2 to 4-hour shadow, to be done prior to clinical start- Use this checklist as a guide Instructor Unit-Based Orientation Checklist
• If you are a returning instructor to the same unit, meet or email to review updates and changes as appropriate.
• Review storage of personal belongings for students on the unit

Badge access, site parking, and room reservations (availability varies per site)

• review the handbook or contact the clinical placement specialist

Off-unit experiences

• vary per site and are not guaranteed. If interested, discuss with the clinical placement specialist.

Instructor computer resources

Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care hospitals utilize the Epic Electronic Health Record software for clinical documentation (Flowsheets and MAR), result viewing and medication administration. Students are NOT allowed to document in the Care Plan or Notes; defer all documentation to Flowsheets and the MAR.

The expectation is that instructors and students will be trained in the use of the system through e-Learnings. If needed, instructors may use the Epic quick start guide below for additional information.

Note: a password is required to access the following documents. You will receive this password at orientation; if you need it resent, please email:

• Wisconsin: WINursingClinicalAffiliations@aah.org
• Illinois: ASC-ClinicalAffiliations@aah.org

Tip sheets and guides:

1. Inpatient student nurse & faculty - QSG [PDF]
2. Cosign student nurse - QSG [PDF]
3. Patient station - search for patients [PDF]
4. Student nurse ED cosign tip sheet – WI IL Sept 2020 [PDF]
5. Lexicomp Clinical Drug Reference System Pharmacy Alert and Tip Sheets [PDF]
6. Fall 2023 Epic Upgrade [PDF]
7. Bio ID Instructions for Pyxis [PDF]

You may also access some of the documents above in the Learning Home (Epic) when you are on site.

To Access Student Nurse Training login ID numbers for the Epic playground (demonstration only):

• Select Epic-IL or Epic-WI
• Student Nurse Training logins [PDF]

Epic Charting Co-signature Requirement

If a student will chart for the shift, the student must select the instructor who will co-sign documentation. This information is entered into the Default cosigner field in Epic. If a prior instructor or preceptor is in this field, please advise the student to change to the appropriate instructor’s name.

If the student is unable to locate the name of the instructor, or if multiple names appear for the same instructor, the student cannot chart for the shift until it is corrected. Contact the HIT Service Desk for assistance.

Instructors must co-sign charting in the following areas: Flowsheet and MAR. It is recommended to co-sign the MAR in the room directly after medications have been administered by the student.

Students are NOT allowed to document in the Care Plan or Notes.