Does internships count as work history??

Emmjay · Nov 9, 2009

Are you a new RN grad now and applying for jobs?

You can place them on your Resume under Internships.......I would not

consider them work experience since you were still a student at the time.

If you do decide to place them under work history, make very clear they were internships for a stipend......cuz the last thing you want to do is have your potential new boss think you are not forthcoming.

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2009

Put them under "Related Experience" or, since there's two, maybe their own heading of "Internships." No, they do not count as work experience, but a recruiter reviewing new grad résumés isn't going to expect much in the area of work experience, anyway.

Angeljho, MSN, NP · Nov 9, 2009

Are you a new RN grad now and applying for jobs?
You can place them on your Resume under Internships.......I would not
consider them work experience since you were still a student at the time.
If you do decide to place them under work history, make very clear they were internships for a stipend......cuz the last thing you want to do is have your potential new boss think you are not forthcoming.

Yes I am a new grad ADN. I did work for summer youth employment last year and it was also at a hospital. I mostly did clerical work, but I don't know if recruiters would take that job seriously as it was with summer youth. So i don't even acknowledge it. Its the only actual job I've had since I got paid every 2 weeks; however it was only during the summer so it was also a short experience.

angelique777 · Nov 10, 2009

My Resume listed it clearly as part of work history but that it was a internship job ( It was work and I listed my duties at that internship: who I worked under and what was my responsibilities etc) I consider it work and the type of work done was specified: Internship: I wrote the duties and responsibilities ( example I did finger sticks, vital signs etc ) I also listed type of unit the internship was done on ex I worked on a vent unit....the fact it was a vent unit it allowed me in my interview discuss what I learned on that unit about vents.

When I was a graduate nurse I listed my positiion at the hospital as a graduate nurse and type of unit I worked on : EX oncology and what was my responsibilties there.

I never had to write that it was stipend or not a stipend position was never told anything negative about me listing it as work experience because I mention it was internships , what matter was type of units I worked and what was my experiences there, .......................because during the interview we discussed what I learned on those units and why I choose those units to work on.

My first job as an RN I requested to work on ICCU before I applied I took and passed the ACLS cert and was hired because I new my medications and new my interventions for particular cardiac problems. Working on the Vent unit it was a critical care floor and I learned a lot about many of the medications given on that unit , I learned a lot about vents, these experiences while still not as an RN still was valid and important for the person interviewing me.

Aymese · Nov 10, 2009

As a new grad, I listed my experience as "student nurse externship" specifically mentioning the various skills/tasks as being performed under the direct supervision of a RN.

I think it's perfectly acceptable to list your structured learning experiences as a student regardless of whether you received compensation or not, just as long as are clear about what it entailed. Also, as a new grad RN looking for your first nursing job, you should always list your prior work experience, in your case, the youth group thing. It shows something about your character, that you have held a job before, references, etc. Market yourself and good luck!