Outside track: A new alternative for prelicensure nursing clinical

Background: Due to the dwindling number of acute care facilities, and the rising number of patients requiring care, the healthcare arena is changing. Patients require care in the outpatient arena. Nursing academia needs to retool future caregivers to provide prelicensure outpatient clinical sites to resemble the changing healthcare landscape.
Results: Eight prelicensure nursing students (n = 8) were selected to have the majority of their clinical in the community. Clinical formats differed per course based on availability of clinical partner settings. This program was successful in graduating 7/8 students in the first cohort. Overall satisfaction was achieved in the first cohort leading to program continuation and increased student interest. 
Conclusions: Although successful, challenges in operating this program remain relative to the clinical format, availability of clinical placements and student satisfaction.