Nurse Externs

MelRN13 · Apr 2, 2003

Originally posted by soon2belpn
How far into your LPN schooling do you have to be in order to apply for an employment as a Nurse Etern? I did not even know there was such a thing. Sounds like a great way to gain some experience!

I worked as an LPN extern from the time I graduated until I took boards.

I will start as a RN extern after I graduate this year (1more month!)

SN Gone Crazy · Apr 2, 2003

This past Friday I went to a convocation for nursing students,at my school. There were several representitives from different hospitals in this and the surrounding areas. I talked to a couple of them and each hospital had their own policy. One hospital said they let their externs do everything except passing meds and IV starts. Another hospital said their externs are more like CNAs, however they also float from floor to floor. This allows the externs to see what area they might be interested in working, when they graduate and it also gives them the opportunity to attend any seminars, classes or even observe a procedures (surgeries, patient discharges, autopsies, etc...). Then another hospital said their externs could do everything but blood transfusions and IV starts. Which I don't understand why they can hang IV meds and start NG tubes & foleys!

I Know God Will Not Give Me More Than I Can Handle. I Just Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much._ Mother Theresa