Externship :)

Shanlee79 · Apr 2, 2011

got the most amazing news this morning! i applied to a local hospital's externship for this summer and requested NICU as my #1 choice of unit followed by any other critical care floor or the ED. I felt the interview went well, not great..i was very, very nervous and although i am a good student i do not make straight A's. there were 20 spots open throughout the hospital and i was told they interviewed 60 people, so the odds were against me. but i got called this morning with an offer for the position in the NICU for 10 weeks this summer!!!!!! :) i am SO excited and SO nervous! it has been my dream to work in the NICU and i know this externship will hopefully open some doors for me in the future. i really can't believe i got it!!! i am not sure what to expect this summer but i welcome all advice!!! [/quote']
Congrats!!:yeah:I was in your shoes only months ago, as I also applied for our largest hospital's NICU for my final practicum (externship). I wasn't a straight A student either but I worked hard and interviewed well and made it! I was very nervous going in since my school advisor's tried hard to steer me away from doing a specialty and warned me how tough it would be. Yes, it was tough...but I went in with a open mind and willingness to learn and I did fine. So fine that I was offered a full time permanent position on the day I finished as a student. I start orientation in 2 weeks! I learned never underestimate yourself & greater risks really do equal greater rewards. I am SO glad I didn't listen to those advisors and do the general med/surg route that they pushed.
I kept a journal where I set goals and objectives, which I revised bi-weekly. I also included feedback from preceptors and list of skills accomplished in here too. This helped to evaluate myself at mid-term and my final and it helped each preceptor know where I was at in my learning. I also created a binder where I kept pamphlets I used, policies printed off or any other resources I acquired along the way as a reference tool. My advice--try not to learn absolutely everything relating to neonates going in, it's just not possible and you'll stress yourself out more than you need. Take each patient day by day and research and learn specifics as you go...the theory will make more sense when you have an actual baby in front of you to learn with. Ask lots of questions and if it doesn't click..just ask again, and again...it will, eventually. A great website I used for resources was www.motherbabyuniversity.com, they have interactive study modules and I also got a copy of the 'core curriculum for neonatal intensive care' nursing book.
Good luck to you! You'll love it.:redbeathe

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2011

Congratulations!

sophie<3 · Apr 4, 2011

thank you!!! :) i can't wait for it to start...i'm applying for my senior preceptorship (60 hours) in the same NICU but i'm wondering if this externship will hurt or help my chances of getting the spot there. i figured it could help because i've already been there and obviously show and interest in the NICU but could hurt if they want you to be well-rounded and have multiple experiences (aka steer us away from specialty)

and Shanlee79...what was your experience like? did you get to perform any skills? what was a typical day like? i am so interested and trying to mentally prepare myself for all this!

Shanlee79 · Apr 5, 2011

thank you!!! :) i can't wait for it to start...i'm applying for my senior preceptorship (60 hours) in the same NICU but i'm wondering if this externship will hurt or help my chances of getting the spot there. i figured it could help because i've already been there and obviously show and interest in the NICU but could hurt if they want you to be well-rounded and have multiple experiences (aka steer us away from specialty)
and Shanlee79...what was your experience like? did you get to perform any skills? what was a typical day like? i am so interested and trying to mentally prepare myself for all this!

I was warned that I wouldn't get to do many skills by my advisor but in no way was this the case! I worked with CPAP & trach babies (alot of respiratory care), NG insertions and gavage feeding, IM injections, administering blood products, catheterization, obtaining blood sample via heel pokes & arterial lines for lab testing, IV meds and fluids...just to name a few. I really found that I learned thorough assessment skills and interpretation of lab values, which is essential.

There really was no typical day. Some days I would have one really sick post surgical babe needing monitoring, the next may be 2 stable grower/feeders where you spend most of your time teaching parents about caring for their little one ie) bath, bottles etc. I also got to follow our resuscitation nurses and watch triplets being born and transported to our unit. Pretty cool stuff! Hope this helps.

knufflebunny · May 20, 2011

Where did you get the externship? Which hospital (name, state)? Thanks!

sophie<3 · May 22, 2011

Where did you get the externship? Which hospital (name, state)? Thanks!

Central Baptist is Lexington, KY