Got the clincal externship! :)

[student456]

I was informed today that I was accepted for the clinical externship on the general medicine floor which I had interviewed for (which I thought I had bombed!) I guess I didnt do so badly

I am so pumped!

For the people that have had clincial externships, have you been allowed to pass meds? I am not allowed but we do get to assist with nursing skills, physical assessments and other cool stuff. The experience will be amazing - its 16 weeks for 40 hours a week

[Jules Anne]

Congratulations! This will be a great experience for you. I am a new grad and wouldn't be as comfortable as I am now without my extern experiences.

In answer to your question, no I was not allowed to pass medications. However, you'll still be able to learn about the meds your patients take and don't be afraid to ask questions of your preceptor and look up new drugs on your own to learn even more.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

congrats!!! and:wlcmggrp:

i have worked in my local hospital's program going on 6 months. i do not pass meds either, but i am ok with it... i attend school with nursing students who plan to become lpns this summer and they think i am crazy for remaining a nurse extern. i quickly let them know that lpns without experience do not work at the hospital; nurse externs without experience do.

besides, not being able to pass meds as an extern does to prevent me from looking them up, reading orders, assessing for side effects, working on my time management… the list is endless. as an extern i have gotten creative regarding medication passes so that i can learn and grow in that area despite not being able to actually hand them to the patients.

as you have noted, there are other duties that we externs can perform which hones nursing skills. in fact, i never have time or opportunities to do many of the skills i have signed off on in clinical, but i have plenty of opportunities to do them on humans as an extern.

another benefit to being an extern is the fact that in most places if the floor likes you, they will hire you before you graduate. thus, you have a job while all other new grads are scrambling for a place to work and ultimately taking what they can get in acute care (note: many new graduate programs are full). i also recently heard that there is less of a turnover rate of former externs then new grads without any acute care clinical work experience.

last but not least enjoy your summer! although it will be very challenging and you will have some grueling days, this may be your last chance to have flexible work hours before being a rn with a tighter schedule. for instance, as a tech i had to work 4 weekend days a month. the nurses are under the same rules at my hospital. as a nurse extern i don't have to work any weekend days unless i choose to do so. plus, i am not allowed to work holidays!! take care!