Adult-Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship
UnityPoint Health – Des Moines offers opportunities for students enrolled in Nurse Practitioner programs to complete clinical rotation hours within the acute care setting. Potential areas for clinical experiences can include:
- Adult Medicine/Hospitalist
- Adult Critical Care
- Palliative Care
- Cardiology
- Acute Rehabilitation
- Emergency Medicine
A crucial part of any nurse practitioner's success as a provider is a meaningful clinical experience. During your clinical experience, you will gradually learn how to apply your academic knowledge into practice and to make evidence-based decisions for your patients.

We know that to be a good clinician it is essential to have an active partnership between the preceptor, the academic program and student.
At UnityPoint Health – Des Moines we want to make it easier for you, so we developed a standard entry process to request clinical experience.
-
Review the expectations of students and preceptors below. These are based on our organization's values.
-
Fill out our clinical experience application below.
-
Email your CV to Sarah.Anderson@unitypoint.org.
After your application is submitted (we ask that this be at least 12 months in advance of your needed rotation), it will be reviewed by the UnityPoint Health – Des Moines APP Clinical Preceptorship Committee. You will be notified by the committee if your application is accepted and who your primary preceptor will be. This committee meets regularly throughout the year.

Expectations of Students and Preceptors
Our organization believes in doing what's right for the people we serve. We stand behind our FOCUS Values: Foster Unity, Own the Moment, Champion Excellence, Seize Opportunities.
Foster Unity
- Listen first in order to understand
- Work as one team
- Celebrate each other
- Collaborate with each other
- Manage Up
- Rounding
Own the Moment
- Make moments matter
- Be accessible and welcoming
- Take ownership and manage each other up
- Take pride in our environment
- Escort guests to their destination
Champion Excellence
- Learn from others
- Be aware of tone and energy
- Maintain an excuse-free culture
- Share stories
- Celebrate accomplishments
Seize Opportunities
- Pursue greatness
- Anticipate the needs of patients, guests and co-workers
- Build open and sincere relationships
- Embrace and promote change
- Identify opportunities where we can be better

Application
We are only accepting applications for preceptorships starting Spring 2022 and onward. Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis. If accepted, you will be notified via email. An email response to your acceptance will be required within 5 business days.
If you are requesting multiple semesters with us, please specify the number of semesters with start and end dates and hours per semester. Our goal is that each student need only apply once during their training for clinical time at UnityPoint Health – Des Moines.
*After submitting your application, please email your CV to Sarah.Anderson@unitypoint.org. If you do not email your CV, your application will be considered incomplete.