Online MSN – FNP degree programs often allow students to set up their own clinical rotations, for several reasons. When online students attend a school located in a different city or state, they usually prefer to complete their clinicals closer to home. Distance can also be an issue for some schools. For example, a nursing program located in Utah may not have the contacts or resources required to arrange clinical placements for students living as far away as Alaska or Vermont.
Whenever you arrange your own clinicals, be sure to do so well in advance of your desired start date. Your school may need a full term or semester to review the arrangement and the preceptor's credentials, and to complete the written agreement outlining timelines and expectations for all parties.