Externships

[Gabrielle Beatty]

Hello everyone! I hope you are safe and healthy during this pandemic.

We have just finished our first semester and our nursing program does not hold Summer classes. My original goal was to take advantage of this free time. I was hoping to find something in the Summer to help me learn the field better going into fall, but I am concerned about the impact that COVID-19 has on that process. I was wondering if anyone had any advice or leads on where to apply for jobs and/or externships.

Thank you in advance.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Externships are generally geared for students who have completed almost their entire program, not those who have only completed their first semester.

Finding a position only for the Summer may not be easy. Have you considered working part time during the semester? You could look into working a position full time as a patient care assistant/nursing assistant/other terminology and then dropping down in hours for the semester.

[Gabrielle Beatty]

I thought so too. Our professor mentioned that externships began after the first semester, so I mentioned it just in case that was an opportunity for first semester students. I was hoping to use the Summer to find something and have it continue throughout the semester(s). I have definitely considered working part-time, and have been applying for the nursing assistant positions, but no luck thus far. I will keep trying.

[abbatar, BSN, RN]

Most externships are held during the Summer between junior and senior year of your nursing program. I'm not sure what will be happening with them due to COVID, but they usually are posting online as job postings on hospital's career websites. Best to search by hospital and look on their career sites, or search nursing pages to see if they have info about it. You can also call HR. I found it better to search by hospital rather than just googling "nurse externship _____ area".

I would also suggest trying to do a nurse assistant/PCA type of position in the meantime if the externship isn't working out. Like the other reply mentioned, you can keep this job year round and it often leads to jobs down the road. It will be very good experience either way and can help you decide what area of nursing you like or what you want on your floor. Best of luck!