Clinical Instructor Internship Program

The Clinical Instructor Interns will apply and be admitted to one or more clinical areas of focus based on their individual background and teaching interests.  Examples of areas of focus available include:  adult acute care, obstetrics, pediatrics, community health, geriatrics, and mental health/psychiatric nursing. 

All participants, including those with specialized nursing backgrounds (e.g., NICU, oncology, emergency services, etc.), will be placed in one of six core areas:  foundations of clinical nursing practice (may include geriatrics), medical/surgical (beginner or advanced), obstetrics (maternal-newborn), pediatrics, psychiatric/mental health nursing, and community/public health nursing. 

Two sessions of the Clinical Instructor Internship are available:

• Summer 2027: May-Sept. 2027 
  • Clinical rotations occur June-Sept. 2027
• Fall 2027: May-December 2027
  • Clinical rotations occur Aug.-Dec. 2027

Time Commitment

Clinical instructor interns are expected to:

• Spend an average of 20-30 hours per week on program activities during the period when clinical rotations are scheduled
• Attend all required activities, including a one-day sessions for onsite orientation and a one-day onsite program conclusion 
• Have availability on any day of the week to accommodate the clinical schedule
  • Placements are assigned based on each participant's background and location.
  • Schedules will follow the same clinical rotation for the assigned course.
  • Participants can expect to have the same clinical rotation for the duration of the program.
  • Participants are strongly advised to limit other work commitments to more than 0.6 FTE (24 hours per week).
• Complete a minimum of 90 hours with an experienced Clinical Instructor preceptor, which may include clinical skills time
• Please note: Program participants may not take vacation leave between the start of their assigned course activities and the conclusion of the internship.

Stipend

Participants will receive a $14,000 stipend for completion of the internship. Payments are made after the mid-point of the program and after completion of the program, once all documentation of requirements has been submitted.  Stipend payments are contingent on satisfactory performance in the program and fulfillment of all program requirements.

Benefits

Benefits (e.g., health and welfare benefits) are not available through this program.  However, there are need-based supportive funds available to assist participants.   

Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator Certification 

Participants who successfully complete the program will be eligible to sit for the NLN Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE®cl) certification once they have a minimum of three years of professional practice in nursing, earned a graduate degree with a focus in nursing education or achieved two years of academic teaching experience. Please review the NLN CNE®cl Eligibility to learn more.

Schedule 
View a sample of the weekly program schedule for the CI2 program.

Travel

Travel to UC Davis’s Sacramento campus at least twice during the program is required. Interns will also need to travel to teaching sites for in-person clinical education that may be geographically distant from the intern’s home. Some supportive funds are available for individuals who meet the eligibility requirements; however, we cannot provide relocation assistance or pay for temporary housing costs.

Please note: Currently, placements in the SF Bay Area or Southern California are not available. It is expected that participants live within 60 miles or approximately an hour commute of UC Davis or a school of nursing partner for the duration of the program. Additional travel funds are not available if a participant relocates while enrolled in the program.

Applicants must:

• Have a valid, current, unrestricted, and active RN license through the California Board of Registered Nursing  
• Have a BSN or MSN degree or complete it by the start of the internship  
  
  • Exceptions may be made for some ADN graduates who have appropriate clinical experience and meet waiver requirements. 
• Have at least one (1) year of continuous full-time experience as an RN within the last 5 years
• Be able to participate in all learning activities throughout the internship
• Meet the clinical requirements of the health care organization (e.g., hospital) including current immunizations, background check, HIPAA training, etc.

Applicants cannot:

• Be a current doctoral student.
• Have already earned a doctoral degree (e.g., DNP, PhD) in nursing, another health-related field, administration or education.
• Be currently or previously employed as a faculty member, lecturer or clinical instructor for any school of nursing
• Work full-time while in the internship (full-time is defined as 1.0 FTE or 0.9 FTE if working six 12- hour shifts per two-week pay period).

• Responses from two references must be received for an application to be deemed complete. 
• Applicants can apply for more than one session, if desired, and may be offered admission to more than one session, allowing them to select their session of choice. 

Application components

• Completed online application 
• Cover letter describing your nursing experience, your goals as an educator and why you are interested in this program; please include a statement supporting your interest in working as an educator in underserved or under resourced regions of Northern California if applicable.
• Curriculum vitae (CV) or resume that lists all your experiences as a nurse
• Names, titles and email addresses of two references (RN clinical supervisors or nurse leaders with knowledge of your skills and work performance in the previous two years).  
  • References will be contacted after we receive all application components listed above.
  • Responses from both references are required in order for an application to be reviewed.
  • Reference responses must be received by Feb. 26, 2027 for your application to be considered.
• Interviews will not be conducted for this program; however, a pre-admission meeting to clarify application elements and address the applicant’s questions may be requested or offered by the program.

*Applications submitted after the general deadline may be considered if there is space available.  

Contact us at RETAIN@health.ucdavis.edu for more information about this program.