nurse externships...

fergus51 · Jun 17, 2003

Depends on where you are! Some places call it an externship when they hire a nursing student to work on a floor, usually during the summer, in an advanced aide type roll. The externs get to do certain skills, but are not functionning as true RNs do.

Other places say externship or internship when they mean a preceptored learning experience to train new grads into specialty areas (as a condition of being hired to work on the unit for a certain period of time).

Cynthiann · Jun 17, 2003

I once saw an ad in the paper here in OKC that a local hospital is hiring nurse externs. It said that they pay $10/hour and they are hiring student nurses who completed their first year of nursing school. I couldn't tell you anything about personal experience since I'm still trying to get into nursing school. The hospitals here call it an internship when they are hiring a new graduate to train.

memphispanda, RN · Jun 18, 2003

I am working as an extern. Here, you have to be within one year of graduation and have taken 2 clinical nursing courses. I work when I can, which isn't that often, but the pay is good. We get to do very few skills, but there are a lot of things to see. I get to do assessments and help out during procedures.

sbonaparte · Jun 18, 2003

Thank you for your comments. Does the externship apply to any nursing program(ie. ADN,BSN etc)? Also, does it apply toward credit in your nursing program?

Sonia

stillsmilin · Jun 18, 2003

Hi, I am doing an externship this summer. Here you have to have completed one year of upper division nursing. (Or be eligible to graduate within one year). I am in the ER and am able to do everything an RN can do (under a preceptor) except ABGs. I would highly recommend it to all nursing students. The experience is much more extensive than what you have time for in clinicals.

My school offered an extern class where it counts as credit for electives or you could do it independly, as I am.

Hope this answers some of your questions!

memphispanda, RN · Jun 18, 2003

Originally posted by sbonaparte
Thank you for your comments. Does the externship apply to any nursing program(ie. ADN,BSN etc)? Also, does it apply toward credit in your nursing program?
Sonia

I would guess that the degree doesn't matter as much as having a facility that offers this type of placement. I know my hospital has externs from 4 different schools, 3 different degree types.

We do not receive any credit for being an extern.

rnnurse2be · Jun 18, 2003

The summer between our lower and upper divisionals we get the option (if we so choose) to have an internship at the hospital. I fully plan on doing this!

essarge · Jun 19, 2003

At our hospital a "nurse extern" is just a title. You are actually a CNA. I've been "discussing" this with the powers that be but they are not willing to allow us to do anything more than CNA work. Now, that being said, there are some nurses who will pull you behind closed doors and let you do some procedures with them watching. It's a very gray area and really needs to be addressed by each states nursing boards. It could open up a whole new area for learning while working!