Clinical Reimagined Immersion Model© Application Deadline: December 30, 2026

Join the Movement. Shape the Future.

Help shape the future of nursing through the Clinical Reimagined Immersion Model©, a partnership between UF Health and the UF College of Nursing. Approved Registered Nurses (RNs) can serve as Clinical Mentors, Rounders or Debriefers, providing students with hands-on bedside experience, clinical reasoning development and professional guidance.

In addition to helping prepare the next generation of nurses, participants will enhance their own leadership, mentoring and teaching skills while contributing to excellence across our shared workforce pipeline. Participation in this initiative only requires a 2- to 4- week commitment, during which you will mentor and guide a student nurse within your area of expertise.

This flexible model provides a meaningful opportunity to influence student learning and professional development without a significant long-term commitment. As an added benefit, clinical mentors will receive branded UF CON merchandise as well as a monetary stipend upon completion of their clinical commitment. Never before have bedside nurses been compensated for their work with our BSN students!

Available Roles

Why Join?

Think back to when you were a nursing student or new graduate. Imagine the impact it would have made to learn side-by-side with a dedicated nurse mentor who had the time to guide you, challenge your clinical thinking, and help build your confidence at the bedside. With this model you have the opportunity to provide that experience for the next generation of nurses while leaving a lasting mark on the profession.

By sharing your expertise and mentoring students in real clinical settings, you’ll help bridge the gap between classroom learning and bedside practice, preparing future nurses to enter the workforce with stronger clinical judgment, greater confidence, and the skills needed to deliver exceptional patient care from day one.

Participation in this clinical model also offers valuable opportunities to strengthen your own leadership, communication, and teaching skills while contributing to an innovative partnership between UF Health and the UF College of Nursing. Together, we are building a stronger workforce pipeline and ensuring the next generation of nurses is practice-ready upon graduation.

Benefits:

• Shape the future of nursing through meaningful 1:1 mentorship
• Help students develop clinical reasoning, confidence and professional skills
• Enhance your own leadership and teaching abilities
• Support the growth of a highly skilled future nursing workforce
• Contribute to a transformative initiative that is advancing nursing education
• Participate with a manageable commitment of just 2–4 weeks each semester 
• Receive monetary compensation and UF College of Nursing swag items 
• More information provided when applications received

Participating Locations

UF Health Shands Hospital

UF Health Cancer Hospital

UF Health Heart & Vascular Hospital

UF Health Jacksonville North

UF health Jacksonville Downtown

UF Health St Johns Hospital

UF Health Leesburg

UF Health Spanish Plains

uf Health DurbIn Park (Coming Fall 2026)

Eligibility and Requirements

Clinical Mentor

Primary teacher in the clinical environment; provides direct supervision, daily report on clinical competencies, and facilitates learning. Completes daily formative evaluations, a summative evaluation at the end of clinical immersion and a final satisfaction evaluation.

Eligibility

• Current UF Health RN in good standing with the institution
• Demonstrated clinical competence and professionalism
• Strong interest in teaching, coaching, and supporting nursing students
• Current with all required UF Health onboarding, compliance and training modules
• Direct Supervisor and Nurse Educator approval

Responsibilities

• Direct supervision of the prelicensure student
• Daily reporting to evaluate student on clincial competencies
• Facilitates learning opportunities for students

Performance Expectations

• Precept one assigned nursing student
• Model safe, professional nursing practice
• Support clinical skills & decision-making
• Provide brief and detailed feedback as needed
• Participate in required clinical mentor onboarding
• Communicate with UF CON faculty and administrative staff as needed

Rounder

Bridge between the academic program and the clinical site; provides direct observation of clinical mentor/student dyads each shift, receives daily report from mentor, creates a shift evaluation and contributes to the final course grade. 

Eligibility

• Meets requirement for hiring as adjunct faculty
• MSN or higher
• 2 years clincal experience
• RN/APRN license in state of FL

Responsibilities

• Direct observation of clinical mentor/student dyads each shift
• Receives daily report from clinical mentor and completes a shift evaluation based upon daily report and observation
• Contributes to the final course grade

Performance Expectations

• Serve as primary point of contact for clinical mentorstudent dyads on shift days
• Student oversight and support (progress, engagement, professionalism, coaching, guidance, reinforcement, management)
• Rounding and presence (regular, purposeful rounds on all assigned dyads on shift day)
• Evaluation and feedback (students and clinical mentors)
• On-call responsiveness (serve in on-call capacity on assigned shift days)
• Communication and collaboration
• Problem-solving and escalation (identify and assess issues, take initiative, escalate as appropriate)
• Professionalism and leadership

Debriefer

Leads structured, psychologically safe group discussions after clinical experiences; facilitates learning, records attendance and contributes to the final course grade. Remote.

Eligibility

• Meets requirement for hiring as adjunct faculty
• MSN or higher
• 2 years clincal experience
• RN/APRN license in state of FL

Responsibilities

• Set expectations of psychological safety so students feel respected and safe to speak honestly
• Facilitate learning through debriefing documents
• Encourage student participation
• Record attendance of students
• Contribute to the final grade

Performance Expectations

• Faciltiation of debrief sessions (lead sessions, create safe, inclusive environment, use evidence-based debriefing techniques)
• Student development and learning
• Foster reflection and provide feedback
• Coordination and communication (collaborate with academic support teams and course leads)
• Monitoring and support
• Professionalism and leadership

About the New Model

Senior Students clinical dates: July 12–Aug. 7, 2026
Junior Students clinical dates: July 27–Aug. 7, 2026

The Clinical Reimagined Immersion Model© transforms the traditional nursing clinical experience by intentionally sequencing learning to better prepare students for practice. Rather than dividing their time between classroom instruction and clinical experiences each week, students progress through three distinct phases designed to build knowledge, strengthen skills, and promote confidence before entering the clinical environment.

Why?

The model was designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and clinical practice by providing students with:

• Enhanced readiness for clinical experiences 
• Increased confidence and clinical competence 
• Stronger clinical reasoning and decision-making skills 
• Meaningful relationships with experienced nurse mentors 
• Greater continuity in patient care experiences 
• A more realistic understanding of professional nursing practice

By integrating knowledge acquisition, skills development, and immersive clinical learning, CRIM prepares Gator Nurses to enter the profession practice-ready and contribute meaningfully to the healthcare team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I access training?

• Once your GatorLink access has been activated, you can access the training materials through Canvas using the following link: https://ufl.instructure.com/courses/574406

What is the follow-up if a clinical mentor application is denied? Who tells them?  

• Nurse managers are responsible for communicating application decisions to their staff. If an application is not approved, the expectation is that the nurse manager will have a direct conversation with the RN to discuss the decision and any relevant considerations. 

How are applicants selected if we have more applicants than placements available?  

• Given current enrollment projections and anticipated program growth, we do not anticipate this issue. If this situation does arise, student assignments will be prioritized based on educational needs, course requirements, and clinical placement availability. 

How is the outcome communicated to RNs who apply but do not receive a student placement, particularly when other RNs on their unit do?  

• A formal communication process is currently being developed for all approved clinical mentors whether or not they are matched with a student. Because placements are based on individual learning needs and course requirements, not every approved clinical mentor will be assigned a student each semester. RNs who are not matched during a given term may be considered for future placement opportunities or clinical make-up days. 

Will the nurse manager receive a list of approved clinical mentors on their unit, including which shifts/dates have student placements, in advance?  

• Yes. Nurse managers will receive advance notification of approved clinical mentors on their units, along with the anticipated dates and timeframes during which student placements will occur. 

Can students be paired with a charge nurse for some shifts? 

• Yes. Exposure to nurse leaders such as charge nurses can be a valuable learning experience, particularly for senior students preparing to enter professional practice. RNs serving in the charge nurse role may continue to receive applicable charge nurse differential pay while also serving as a clinical mentor. 

What happens if an approved clinical mentor calls out (UTO) and no other approved mentor is on the floor that day? What happens if a student misses a shift? 

• If a clinical mentor or student cannot attend a clinical shift, that should be communicated directly with the other individual and then to the adjunct faculty rounder as soon as possible. A formal process is currently being developed for make-up clinicals.  

Can LPNs serve as Clinical Mentors?  

• No, only licensed Registered Nurses (RNs) are eligible to serve as Clinical Mentors. 

Is there a requirement for work experience/ length of time on the unit to be a student clinical mentor? 

• There is no formal minimum experience requirement. However, nurse managers are encouraged to consider an applicant’s clinical experience, professional readiness, and time practicing as an RN when reviewing applications. 

When will the stipends be provided? 

• Stipend payments will be processed at the conclusion of the clinical immersion period after all required mentor shifts have been successfully completed. 

What is the length of time the RN will have a student? 

• Student placements will range from approximately two to four weeks, depending on the student’s academic level. Clinical mentors and nurse managers will receive advance notice of the anticipated duration and schedule once student assignments have been finalized. 

What day do the clinical rotations start? 

• For the Summer term, the four-week immersion period will run from July 12 through August 7, and the two-week immersion period will run from July 27 through August 7. 

Is a BSN required to participate in the clinical mentor program? 

• No, a BSN is not required to serve as a Clinical Mentor. However, if the number of qualified applicants exceeds placement needs for a given semester, preference may be given to BSN-prepared nurses.  

Is there a re-approval process for future semesters? For example, a clinical mentor has a corrective action that would make them ineligible for future semesters.  

• Clinical mentor eligibility will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Unit leadership should communicate any performance concerns or corrective actions that may impact future participation. Additionally, adjunct faculty will conduct regular rounding throughout the immersion period and provide feedback to support continuous program improvement and mentor selection for future semesters. 

How long does it take for the RN to receive follow-up once they submit their application?  

• Once an application has been approved by both the nurse manager and nurse educator, College of Nursing Human Resources will contact the RN to complete the required onboarding documentation associated with the Clinical Mentor role. Applicants should expect communication shortly after all approvals have been received. 

Can part-time employees apply to be a clinical mentor? 

• Yes, we are encouraging all interested RNs to apply to this position regardless of work schedule. There is still an opportunity to help with clinical mentorship even if you don’t work full-time hours.