Externships or Co-ops in Maryland

rayofsunshine · Jul 6, 2005

If you go on the website for maryland nurses it has a link that may be helpful. I'm looking for the same kind of information.

I am a new nursing student and looking for ways to finance my education while earning valuable nursing experience. Does anyone know of any nursing programs or scholarships that will pay me to work in a hospital setting and go to school.
Erica

Fraggle · Aug 8, 2005

I am a new nursing student and looking for ways to finance my education while earning valuable nursing experience. Does anyone know of any nursing programs or scholarships that will pay me to work in a hospital setting and go to school.
Erica

ha! We have the same name and year! :chuckle

Many hospitals offer PCT positions for nursing students. Most require you to finish Fundamentals first. Many are non-benefited. They vary widely in programs, pay, responsibilities, requirements, schedules. I'm in one now, though, and enjoy it. Pay isn't that great, but there is a lot of experience to be had. CHeck out websites and call the HR offices for more info. Along with scholarships, they usually require some sort of work commitment. There's also the Maryland State Nursing Scholarshio, which requires a work commitment.

cmweis · Aug 9, 2005

After you have your fundamentals course and one clinical semester, there are student nurse positions at various hospitals - they are often listed right along with other open jobs in the employment section. if your school hosts a career fair, that's a good place to gain information on programs at local hospitals also. the only externship program i'm aware of in baltimore is at johns hopkins. During your first year, don't overlook work study positions through the school (if you are eligible)- sometimes positions exist that allow you to work in healthcare environments or with patient populations, especially if you are at a school that is affiliated with a teaching hospital.

one piece of advice- if you have the option of selecting the type of unit you are placed on for your adult health/med-surg clinical, choose one that is consistent with the type of unit you might want to work on eventually. (don't rule out going to the course instructor and requesting a particular type of unit- neuro, cardiac, etc... ). nursing students with an A in their fundamentals course and a good recommendation from their clinical instructor are not hard to find... if you walk in to apply for a student nurse position with even a little bit of exposure to a particular type of unit, it will give you the advantage.

good luck!