The Lopes Activity Tracker is an app within the GCU Student Portal. The app is used by students in a few different degree programs, but is most often used by students an RN-BSN program to track their clinical experiences. Nursing majors taking NRS-493 are required to complete 100 hours of clinical experience, and those hours must be approved by their preceptor (the professional who is observing them during their clinical experiences, oftentimes a registered nurse).
This article will provide information for both students and preceptors as they relate to the Lopes Activity Tracker. See the appropriate heading below for answers to common questions about the process.
Students
- Select either the course link or the green + button under the Add Time column.
- Clicking the course link will take you to the Clinical Practice Dashboard.
- Clicking the green + button will take you directly to a new time log. If you select this option, skip to step 3.
- Select the Add New Time Entry option in the upper right-hand corner.
- A time log entry will appear. Fill in the required fields, keeping in mind the following:
- Clinical Practice Start/End times must be within the timeframe of the course. Selecting a start or end date outside of the course date window will generate the error, "Start and End Date must be between x and x".
- A student may not exceed 12 hours of clinical practice in a single entry. Entering more than 12 hours will result in the error, "Total hours cannot exceed 12".
- Clinical Practice Start/End times must be within the timeframe of the course. Selecting a start or end date outside of the course date window will generate the error, "Start and End Date must be between x and x".
- Once all fields have been completed, click Save. You will then be directed back to the Clinical Practice Dashboard.
- To access this dashboard, open the Lopes Activity Tracker and select the appropriate course link.
- You will then be taken to the Clinical Practice Dashboard.
- Next to any time log, check the Status column.
- Pending Approval: The hours have not yet been approved by your preceptor.
- Approved: The hours have been approved.
- Approved Adjusted: The hours were approved, but your preceptor made a change.
If you have any questions about the status of a time log, we recommend reaching out to your preceptor directly.
- Open the Lopes Activity Tracker and select the course link.
- Click Generate PDF. A summary of the documented clinical hours will appear. Save this PDF onto your computer to upload it to LoudCloud.
- Midterm Evaluation of Student
- Final Evaluation of Student
- Evaluation of Preceptor / Agency
Preceptors will complete the Midterm and Final Evaluations of the student. These two evaluations will appear in Pending status until they are completed. Once the preceptor completes an evaluation, a PDF will become available for download. Students are required to download the evaluation and upload it to their LoudCloud course as part of an assignment.
The student is only responsible for completing the Evaluation of their Preceptor, which should be done at the end of the course.
Preceptors
ThunderTime can be accessed directly via Thundertime.gcu.edu. Click the Sign in button to enter login credentials.
Preceptors will be provided with a GCU email address at the beginning of the student’s clinical evaluation process. This email will contain the username for ThunderTime. Additionally, preceptors will need to set up a password using the reset.gcu.edu website before they will be able to log into ThunderTime.
See the following articles for instructions on how to create security questions and set up a password. Keep in mind that when prompted, preceptors should select “I am a Student” during the password reset process.
Registering for Password Reset
Resetting your Password
If you are a preceptor and need help with the password creation process, please contact GCU Faculty Technical Support via the following methods:
Phone: 602-639-7201
Email: Technical.Support@gcu.edu
- Once you are logged into ThunderTime, select the Clinical Hours option from the menu on the left.
- Your personal, agency, and student information will appear. Select the Details button on the student card to see more details about the student.
- Details about the student and their time logs will appear. To review a time log submission, select the Review button that appears to the right.
- A “Review Time Log Entry” pop up box will appear.
- If the hours are accurate, click Approve.
- If the hours are incorrect or need to be adjusted, check the box next to “Adjust Hours”.
- In the new fields that appear, enter the adjusted hours/minutes and provide a reason for the adjustment. Then click Approve.
- In the new fields that appear, enter the adjusted hours/minutes and provide a reason for the adjustment. Then click Approve.
