HELP. Torn between Internships - which matters more?

Register Today!

  1. This is a discussion on HELP. Torn between Internships - which matters more? in General Nursing Student, part of Nursing Student ... I have been accepted to a few internship programs for this summer, two of which I'm torn between....

    by Apr 15, '11
    I have been accepted to a few internship programs for this summer, two of which I'm torn between. Both have positives and negatives, but my main dilemma is - One hospital is the hospital I want to work at in the future. Another hospital offers the ICU Rotation, and ICU is where I want to work at in the future ( but not at that hospital). Which one should I go with?

    The dilemma:

    Internship 1:

    • PAID
    • In an amazing "competitive" hospital, where I would like to work at in the future
    • Location: 1 hour away, but in the area I will be moving to when I graduate
    • 3 12-hour Night shifts (full-time) based on preceptor's schedule
    • on a Medical stepdown unit (not ideal)


    Internship 2:
    • UNPAID
    • In a good hospital, but one I will be moving away from after graduation
    • About 30 minutes from me now, but I will be moving further away upon graduation
    • 2 12-hr day shifts with a semi-flexible schedule (and opportunity for more unpaid hours if desired)
    • Rotates through SICU and MICU (Love!)


    When it comes to internships what matters more - the unit you want to work on in the future or the hospital you want to work at?
    Last edit by SN2012 on Apr 15, '11
    Read Online


    Print and share with friends and family.
    Compliments of allnurses.com.
    http://allnurses.com/showthread.php?t=553389

    by SN2012 Apr 15, '11 2:12 pm
    ©2013 allnurses.com INC. All Rights Reserved.
  2. 1,275 Views
    Click Tags to Find Similar Topics

  3. 12 Comments so far...

  4. Apr 15, '11 by
    I am doing an internship this summer too. I would go with #1. Keep on as a prn tech after the program ends (if yours is a summer job) to keep your foot in the door if you can. I know the drive is extra but if you already have your heart set then I would go for it.
  5. Apr 15, '11 by
    Thanks for your reply! I'm not as worried about the drive, it's the Medical step-down vs ICU that I'm deliberating between in regards to the two hospitals and my desire to work in each one.
  6. Apr 15, '11 by
    I had the same dilemma. My advisor told me: you can always do one or the other in your preceptorship. I choose my area of less interest and am going to save my big interest, geriatric psychiatry, for my preceptorship (Granted this is a less competitive area then ICU)

    Also, I would definitely want to get paid and save on gas money
  7. Apr 16, '11 by
    That's great advice! I forgot about my senior preceptorship.
  8. Apr 16, '11 by
    I would go with number one...making connections at the hospital you want to work at will pay off in the long run! Best of luck!
    juliaann likes this.
  9. Apr 17, '11 by
    I'd go with #1
  10. Apr 21, '11 by
    Apply to both - then see which one(s) turn you down. Feel lucky that there still are summer internships in your area, let alone paid ones.
  11. Apr 22, '11 by
    I would go for JOB A because in the ICU you cant really do a lot of hands on experiences.
  12. Apr 22, '11 by
    Quote from TheSquire
    Apply to both - then see which one(s) turn you down. Feel lucky that there still are summer internships in your area, let alone paid ones.
    I got accepted to both of them, and I'm trying to decide which one I should turn down.