Should I get an internship? Help!

[sik0123]

Hi everyone! This is my first official post since becoming a member, and I am excited to say that I will be starting nursing school this fall! I am very excited about the idea of starting a career in nursing, but with the current economy and difficulty of finding a job as a new grad, I was thinking of ways to make myself more marketable. I don't work and I don't have a lot of family obligations, and I was thinking it would be great to intern at my local hospital during the two years of my program, so when I graduate I will have more patient experience and will be more comfortable in a health care setting. I love the idea of shadowing nurses in different departments and observing procedures and just LEARNING more about my future career. My problem is that a few people I have spoke to (including one of the advisors in the program) insists that one day a week at clinicals is more than enough, and trying to do something like this will just be too difficult. I was thinking only one additional day a week, but do you believe they are right? I have two previous degrees, so don't have to worry about messing with any pre-reqs while taking the nursing classes. I also believe that these previous degrees have taught me time management skills that they might not be used to in their students. Am I trying to take on too much? Do you believe that even one more day of patient interaction a week will be worth it, or make me a better nurse for when I graduate?

[CBsMommy]

I am currently working in an externship position and it is worth it. The other externs that I know of that have graduated have been offered positions in the same hospital (where the grad wanted to work).

We did have to have two different Med-Surg classes completed though with a grade of B or above and these are highly sought after positions (very competitive to get into). Good luck but if you can get in, it's the way to go!