Extern/Internships

allnurses Guide · Jul 8, 2011

An internship is for graduate nurses to get on the job training. Meaning, you have already graduated from nursing school. An externship is offered to folks who are still IN nursing school, usually for those who have completed their first year.

It differs from area to area, but many hospitals do not advertise these positions. Often they are filled via networking or someone having the courage to call and speak to the recruiters. Needless to say, getting one is exceedingly competitive, because they often lead to job offers (internships or orientation) after graduation. Good luck.

RKpianoman, APRN · Jul 8, 2011

In some areas, there are two types of internships; one for nursing students and one for newly graduated nurses.

In MS, an externship is a 2-month position after you have completed at least 2 semesters of clinicals in nursing school. You are on payroll at a local hospital and are assigned to a trained preceptor who works at that hospital. You work the preceptor's schedule and do almost everything that an RN would do. In addition to working at the hospital, there is generally some paperwork and possibly a paper to do for your nursing school

The internship is a 1-month position similar to an externship, but you do not get paid and you get fewer college credit hours for it.

The internship for newly graduated nurses is fairly new at most MS hospitals, but it generally involves working with a preceptor in several areas of the hospital, attending educational seminars, and actually being an RN employee of that hospital.

Keep in mind, that's how it is in MS. It varies from state to state.

mzrainydayz, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2011

I will also be looking for internship when I am in NS. In my state you can apply/work as a nurse intern if you are enrolled in the first semester; basically a first year student. The nurse extern is for third semester or more students; second year students. I really would like to get in,work, and get my foot in the door while in NS so when I grauate I can possible get a graduate nurse job.

punkydoodlesRN, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2011

Thank you so much for the information!! I'd only heard about them in passing, so I wasn't very familiar with how they worked.

Another question: WWYD?

I'm a LVN that will be enrolled in a BSN program FT in August. I'm going in as a new student, NOT as transition. Would it be better to continue my current job as PRN or attempt to receive an externship? I'm speaking about which would look better to future employers upon graduation. Of course, I wouldn't quit PRN until I have externship, just wondering if it'd be worth pursuing

RKpianoman, APRN · Jul 9, 2011

Another question: WWYD?
I'm a LVN that will be enrolled in a BSN program FT in August. I'm going in as a new student, NOT as transition. Would it be better to continue my current job as PRN or attempt to receive an externship? I'm speaking about which would look better to future employers upon graduation. Of course, I wouldn't quit PRN until I have externship, just wondering if it'd be worth pursuing

You might consider doing both. You can't get an externship until you have completed at least 2 semesters of clinical, and that externship would only last for a few months. During those first two semesters and then after your externship (and possibly even duing the externship), you would work PRN as an LVN; maybe just work one or two days a month at first to see how busy school is. Just make sure your work schedule is VERY VERY flexible. The BSN program is going to take most of your free time.

allnurses Guide · Jul 10, 2011

I started my externship after my first semester, so it just depends where you live and who is hiring you it sounds like.

I think you should go the direction of where your aspirations lie for after graduation. An externship/internship in the business you hope to work at after graduation would be the most ideal situation.

punkydoodlesRN, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2011

You might consider doing both. You can't get an externship until you have completed at least 2 semesters of clinical, and that externship would only last for a few months. During those first two semesters and then after your externship (and possibly even duing the externship), you would work PRN as an LVN; maybe just work one or two days a month at first to see how busy school is. Just make sure your work schedule is VERY VERY flexible. The BSN program is going to take most of your free time.

*sigh* that's the problem, neither my current FT or PRN employer are willing to be very flexible. One is more-so than the other, but neither is enough. Both are requiring a minimum of 4days/month availability. My FT job will do the PRN like this: I give 4 dates / month that I can work. They automatically add me to the schedule, but if unit needs are else where (meaning on some other random shift that I didn't mark as available) then I'm still expected to be there. Not exactly going to work with school. And actually, it never works for anyone, which is why we can't keep a PRN pool going. (Whole other Rant!)

My current PRN job wants me to give a minimum of 4 shifts/ month of availability. No problem. But they are seriously short-staffed, so I'm pretty much guaranteed to be working whatever I mark down (as apposed to a few months ago where I'd give 6 nights and work 1) I'm in class M-F. So I'd either be working almost every Fri night or Sat in the month. Not exactly a great arrangement when I have a husband and 2 small children.

So, ideally, I'd like to just work 1-3 nights/month, but not be forced into a schedule or be considered to be in violation of a PRN contract and terminated.

A co-worker brought up agency this week, so that's next on my agenda, to learn more about agency work and see if it isn't more flexible!!

sophie<3 · Jul 18, 2011

externships are great in my opinion. it is a step above clinicals where you are able to work one-on-one with a nurse. it is paid and usually 10 weeks or so and the summer before you graduate. it is full-time and you are basically assigned a preceptor and you work their schedule. for me that meant no vacations but oh well :) i have learned more in these 8 weeks of my externship than i have my whole nursing school experience. i have started IVs, hung IV medications, admitting and discharged patients, charted (and charted some more) and i feel like i am finally getting my feet on the ground with this nursing school business and i am starting to "get" why certain orders are written and what i need to be assessing for, etc. honestly, i would do this externship again even if i was not paid. they will often pay externs about a tech salary (10-14 an hour from what i have heard). if you can swing that kind of paycheck then by all means do it, units will sometimes offer you an RN position at the end of the summer.

call hospitals in your area early on...i applied in january and was offered the externship in april and started the end of may. but you must be committed. if your current job isn't willing to work around your needs then you won't be able to do both unfortunately.

RKpianoman, APRN · Jul 18, 2011

After one semester of clinicals (or maybe even during that first semester if you sweet talk your way in) you could look at nurse tech jobs at local hospitals. Generally, these are CNA positions offered to nursing students as a recruitment tool by the hospital. The schedules are VERY flexible, but they don't pay much. I hope you find something that works out, and definitely do an externship!

tech1000 · Jul 20, 2011

You usually have to apply early on. Look at the hospital career sites near you and look for "externship" positions. Externships are for nursing students, internships are for nurses. You'll do your externship the summer before you graduate usually. Some of them last through the school year (the hospital usually has to offer you a position for it). It's really just shadowing the nurse and doing tech work.