Externships when you are in school year round

My daughter is in a hospital diploma program so there are no "breaks" as the program runs continuously even through summer. I know a lot of nursing students do externships in the summers when they are on break from their 4 year colleges. My daughter's main interest is in the OR, what can you do to get your foot in the door come graduation time when she is looking for that first job? Any advice? Also, when you work in the OR do you work whatever surgeries are scheduled or do you have a specialty area in which you work? Thanks!