Liberty practicum in Mississippi

Mississippi for each Liberty program

The telehealth column is Liberty's rule for the track, and it applies in Mississippi as it does anywhere Liberty approves.

Where Liberty publishes no limit, ask before you plan any virtual hours. The telehealth hours page has the detail.

Why IHL reviews out-of-state programs

Mississippi splits the work: practical nursing programs are approved by the Board of Nursing, while nursing degree programs fall under IHL. When an out-of-state undergraduate or graduate nursing program offers clinicals in Mississippi, IHL expects it to meet the state's standards. In IHL's view, a clinical practicum held in Mississippi is domiciled there, and that triggers physical presence, so the program needs a review by IHL Nursing Education.

The review may take as long as three months. IHL's August 2024 procedures manual asks a program controlled from outside Mississippi to submit its request four months or more ahead of the start. On top of that, the program needs to participate in SARA or hold non-SARA authorization through MCCA.

Liberty's page says LUSON has received approval from the Higher Learning Board to place students in Mississippi. That statement appears on the FNP page, so confirm with Liberty's practicum team that it covers your program and your term.

Collaborative practice and your preceptor

AANP rates Mississippi as reduced. An NP there practices inside a collaborative relationship with a physician or dentist who holds a Mississippi license, and the board must approve that relationship. Any NP you ask to precept already works inside that relationship, so their collaborator is part of the practice you'd be joining.

Liberty sets the preceptor rules. The older PMHNP FAQ names PMHNPs and psychiatrists; FNP rules aren't public. Run each lead past the practicum team, and see preceptor requirements for what Liberty has published.

Jackson, the Coast and the Memphis edge

By 2025 Census estimates, Jackson is the largest metro wholly within the state, with about 610,000 people. Gulfport-Biloxi and Hattiesburg come next, and about 278,000 Mississippians are in the Memphis metro. Systems you could ask include Baptist Memorial Health Care, the operator of Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, along with Forrest Health, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Singing River Health System and North Mississippi Health Services. Community Health students can also look at the Mississippi State Department of Health.

A site across the line in Memphis is a Tennessee placement under Tennessee's rules, so check Liberty's Tennessee page before counting on one.

Licensing, and why students choose us

Since January 19, 2018, the Nurse Licensure Compact has been in effect in Mississippi. Under IHL's standards, a post-licensure student taking APRN clinical courses, or graduate clinical courses that aren't APRN courses, must hold an unencumbered RN license in whichever state the clinicals happen. A Mississippi or multistate license meets that and Liberty's rule; the RN license for practicum page goes further.

We search Mississippi for preceptors and sites that fit your Liberty track and prepare what the Gate course asks for, with the license question settled before anything goes to Liberty for approval. The form below is the place to start.