Question about an externship

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · May 16, 2006

I am a tech in an ER and all my experience came from hands on experience so I couldn't imagine the "basic skills" would be more than perhaps vitals, I&O's and maybe CPR???

Finally2008 · May 16, 2006

And what is the difference between an externship and an internship? Is this just a nursing term? Someone asked me this the other day and I had to plead ignorance...

grapejuice01 · May 16, 2006

An externship is an opportunity to work in a certain unit as kind of a PCT with benefits (i.e. you get to do whatever skills you've been checked off on at school) that you can do while you're still in school. An internship is what you do after you graduate and you first start working on whatever unit you are hired onto.

luv2shopp85 · May 18, 2006

My externship is basically aide work... and then you get to do whatever skills you got checked off. I don't see how this is possible. What are they going to do... when someone says "Ok who wants to do a cath?" Then I said I'm interested then they'll have to go look up my information then check to see if I'm checked off?

I doubt thats going to happen... i'll prob just be stuck doing aide work. We dont get to give meds either. The only good thing about it, is that it pays 10 dollars an hour!

grapejuice01 · May 18, 2006

usually they'll know what you have and have not been checked off on. I dont think they have more than a handful of externs working on the same floor, anyways, so they get to know you fairly well.

Sheri257 · May 18, 2006

My externship is basically aide work... and then you get to do whatever skills you got checked off. I don't see how this is possible. What are they going to do... when someone says "Ok who wants to do a cath?" Then I said I'm interested then they'll have to go look up my information then check to see if I'm checked off?
I doubt thats going to happen... i'll prob just be stuck doing aide work. We dont get to give meds either. The only good thing about it, is that it pays 10 dollars an hour!

You do have to shop around, but there are externships where they don't require you to work as aides. I found one, and I love it. I've done externships that involve aide work and, I'll never do that again.

As far as check offs ... you give them a copy of what you've been checked off on. But they pretty much rely on you to tell what you can't and can do. Just be careful and don't do anything you haven't been taught at school. When in doubt ... ask the instructor at your school who's in charge of externships (that is, if your school has one).

:typing

tinatinabobina · May 19, 2006

Basic skills sounds to me like what you learned in Nursing Fundamentals ie: aide stuff. Good luck to you!

I'm also starting an externship next week. I was offered at 2 hospitals... one offered to pay 12/hr plus time & 1/2 after 8hrs (12hr shift) and the other is paying 18/hr. They did not say time & 1/2 so I assume it's a flat rate, also 12hr shifts. W/ both hospitals, they allow us students to do everything within the scope of what we've already learned. So since I'm finishing up 2nd semester, they are allowing me to do PO/parental/IV meds, starting/dcing IVs, IV piggybacks, NO IV PUSHES, urinary caths, trach care, etc., up to what I've shown competency in school. With both schools, each student worker is working under one preceptor or in rare instances, a 2nd one as well. The students tell the preceptor what we can and can't do. The nurse might even be okay with you doing something that you aren't allowed to do (ie: for me it would be IVpush) and for sure our school will kick us out if they find out. We students know what we can and can't do and if we aren't sure we are suppose to ask the instructor.