Best time to apply for externships

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Specializes in CTICU/CVICU.

**I posted in my home state thread but haven't gotten any responses yet so I decided to post here as well**

When is the best time to apply for an externship for next summer? I'm in a 2 yr. diploma program and will be a senior next fall. I want to participate in an externship next summer..but I don't want to apply too late..or too early.

So, when is the best time? If it's before December, is it ok to apply and then hold off on sending your transcripts until after they are posted?

IF YOU ARE FROM NJ, where are the best externships? Of course, I'm going to apply to Morristown and Overlook (who isn't??:chuckle) but I will also be applying to Mountainside Hospital (since I have a job there as a nursing assistant) and I'm intersted in St. Barnabas..Beth Israel in Newark...UMDNJ..Hackensack..Somerset Medical..and probably every other hospital in the northern part of NJ!

Thanks for all of your input!

M

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Specializes in Flu Shot Clinics.

Hi There...

I applied in early December '07 for a summer '08 externship...I only applied to one hospital and (luckily) I got it. There was an online application, transcripts sent in after Fall semester was over (early Jan), then 2 phone interviews, drug screen, physical exam...all worth it in the end because I got my first choice of specialty area. Being that we are in the situation that we are in with programs getting cut left and right, I imagine that the competition for fewer spots is going to to be super fierce. I would first look up on the websites what the deadlines are, and then call, show up in person, etc. and ask when to apply in order to have the best possible chance of getting a spot. If you can fill out the application and then drop it off in person, even better. Apply to as many as you can to increase your chances of getting a spot (don't do what I foolishly did). Research the hospitals and try to pick the one that you would love to have a career at in the future, b/c the externship will really increase your chances of securing a job when you graduate. I have heard great things from classmates about all those hospitals you listed...only one person didn't like Somerset but that's only b/c she quickly learned that Med/Surg wasn't 'for her.' I did a clinical at Somerset and thought that it was a wonderful hospital so it's all relative (I was on the eating disorders unit which was really fascinating). I would just advise you and everyone else to look for programs that will assign a preceptor and allow you to pass meds/perform nursing interventions/etc maybe a classroom component and aren't going to make you into a glorified nurse's aide. If you love Mountainside and work there now, I would jump on getting an externship there because again, this will REALLY help you overall when you go back with your license...Good luck!!!

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Competition is very fierce, and an internship/externship is one of the best things that you can do to help start off your nursing career before it actually starts as an RN. Check websites every day, set up job agents so that you are one of the first to know about the position, and apply as soon as it is posted. You can work out the details with the recruiters later about transcripts, etc.

I want to second some things that JMRN09 said. Be very clear about what your goals are through the internship, as many students are disappointed after beginning when they find out that they are working as a cna/aid/tech, with no preceptorship from an experienced RN. Apply to as many hospitals as you can as there is a very good chance that there will be hundred of applications for say 20 slots, depending on your area.

In my personal opinion if you have several offers, I would not go for the best paying or shortest commute. I would go for the best learning experience, as this is something that management is looking for these days for hiring an RN. Plus I personally think that learning and supportive staff is more important part of beginning nursing. You want to have the best start to build upon.

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Specializes in CTICU/CVICU.

Thanks so much, guys! I plan on gathering all my information in early November so when December hits, I'll already be good to go! I definitely don't want to be a glorified aide..I'm an aide now! lol

I'm on the telemetry unit at Mountainside but my manager is over the SICU, MICU and CICU units..so I am definitely going to try to get in one of the ICUs.

I think I'm going to apply to all the hospitals I mentioned! Thanks again and I'll keep you posted!

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I'm in my very first semester of a 2 year RN program. Should I apply after one semester is over or should I apply now? I'm really confused about the process.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Ask the particular hospital that you are interested in. It varies.

Personally, I run a summer extern program that has an application deadline of February 15th and treats everyone who applies by that date the same. (No advantage for applying earlier.) However, I know of another program with an application deadline of December 31st.

There is no substitute for doing your homework, visiting their website, talking with their recruiter or their extern program coordinator, etc. What is true of one program may be exactly the wrong thing to do for another program.

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I'm in my very first semester of a 2 year RN program. Should I apply after one semester is over or should I apply now? I'm really confused about the process.

The way I see it (and perhaps I am part of the reason that nurse recruiters are so frusterated right now) is it's never too early to apply. If there is a posting for an extern you might as well jump on it, before someone else does. I don't know about other areas, but here in Maryland a lot of the extern postings only require one semester of actual nursing courses, including one acute care clinical rotation, and you are in your first semester now. If your lucky, perhaps you can have a position lined up for after this semester, unless of course you prefer to wait until summer.

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I'm going to spend some time looking at the hospital's websites.

Thanks!!!

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