Sacred Heart nursing programs and the clinical hours each one needs
Clinical requirements across Sacred Heart University's nursing programs range from 72 hours in the online RN-to-BSN to a 1,000-hour minimum in each DNP. The table sets out the figures from Sacred Heart's student guides and catalog, and each program guide below explains the courses, the preceptor and the timing behind its number.
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Clinical hours by program
| Program | Clinical hours | Clinical courses |
|---|---|---|
| Online MSN Family Nurse Practitioner | 540 | NU 561, NU 606, NU 607, NU 621 |
| Online MSN Psychiatric-Mental Health NP | 540 | NU 571, NU 572, NU 573 |
| Post-master's FNP or PMHNP certificate | 540 | The matching MSN clinical courses |
| Hybrid BSN-to-DNP FNP | 1,000 minimum (catalog: 435 practice hours) | NU 552, NU 562, NU 622, NU 632, NU 831, NU 832 |
| Post-master's DNP | 1,000 practice hours, MSN hours counted | Project courses |
| Online MSN Clinical Nurse Leader | 420 (catalog: 400 or 500) | NU 611, NU 612, NU 680, NU 681 |
| Online MSN Nursing Education | 180 | NU 619, NU 690, NU 691 |
| Online MSN Nursing Management & Executive Leadership | 120 | NU 672, NU 673 |
| Online RN-to-BSN | 72 | NU 376, NU 387 |
Use the clinical hours guide to see each track in the planner, and the week-10 deadline guide for when each placement has to be settled.
Matching the preceptor to the program
Each track asks for a different kind of clinician. FNP courses call for a board-certified physician, PA or APRN whose practice covers adults, women and children. PMHNP courses call for psychiatric clinicians who see patients of all ages, including at least 100 hours with patients under 18 in one course. DNP students work with a practice mentor who knows their project area well.
For the Clinical Nurse Leader, Nursing Education and NMEL tracks, the academic advisor approves a preceptor from a CV and RN license. RN-to-BSN students start naming preceptors nine months ahead of their first clinical course. Each program guide below spells out its own preceptor and timing.
Nurse practitioner MSN
Post-master's certificates
Doctoral
Leadership and education
Bachelor's
Questions Sacred Heart students ask
How many clinical hours does Sacred Heart's online FNP require?
The online MSN FNP requires 540 clinical hours across NU 561, NU 606, NU 607 and NU 621, with lab hours completed at residency on top. The FNP hours guide breaks it down course by course.
Is there an adult-gerontology NP option at Sacred Heart?
Not in the 2026-27 catalog. It names five MSN tracks: Family NP, Psychiatric-Mental Health NP, Clinical Nurse Leader, Nursing Management & Executive Leadership, and Nursing Education.
Which Sacred Heart nursing programs run online?
The MSN tracks, the post-master's NP certificates and the RN-to-BSN are online, with in-person clinicals and campus residencies for the NP tracks. The BSN-to-DNP FNP is hybrid and meets on campus regularly.
When do certificate students start looking for preceptors?
Early. Compliance is due by week 10 of NU 550 for the FNP certificate and NU 509 for the PMHNP certificate, ahead of the first clinical course. The certificate guides set out the sequence.
Last checked 2026-09-25
We check these pages against Sacred Heart's own catalog, program pages and 2026-27 student guides. Your student guide, your academic advisor and your course faculty have the final word.
Sacred Heart asks you to secure your clinical placement. We make that the easy part.
Tell us your Sacred Heart program, your city and your next clinical course. We find preceptors who fit the course and prepare what your advisor, the NP clinical coordinator and the Contract Request Form ask for, early enough for the affiliation agreement.
- Preceptors matched to the course: primary care of adults, women and children for FNP, psychiatric care across the lifespan for PMHNP
- Preceptor CV, license, board certification and the site's contract contact ready before your week-10 deadline
- Close to home in any state where Sacred Heart's program meets licensure requirements, with New York's rule planned around
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