Help with decision on where to intern

[tyger9966]

I am planning to apply at the local hospital here as an intern after I complete my first semester in May. There are three areas where they are currently hiring interns that I am interested in: ICU, OR, and ER. Can anyone tell me what would be the best area, as far as getting experience and getting to feel comfortable in the hospital setting? If you could share your experiences if you interned in any of these areas, that would be great, too!

I really want to intern in an area that will help me to get the basics down, and also be fun and interesting.

OR is the most appealing to me, but I have a hard time thinking of things that a brand new student would be able to do in that department. Any help or insight would be gratefully appreciated!! Thank you

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Wow are you the lucky one! Those are great choices. Any one of them would be desirable IMHO. We're stuck with med surg, tele and OB.

[tyger9966]

Honestly, my first pick would be OB in a heartbeat! That's where I would LOVE to be. But, alas, no openings.

[Glimmer]

think it depends on what you want... and also what the internship includes for each area.

i have not been in the position you are but have talked to several others that have... this is what the general thoughts have been:

although as an intern you will not be doing what a nurse is doing you will still get a feel for what they are doing. in the or you probably would not have much in the way of patient interaction... more than likely helping with the room clean up before the next procedure and maybe helping set the table in the back or bring supplies in the room. the icu you would still be pretty limited because the nurse to patient ratio is normally 1:2 or 1:1 (sometimes 1:3... ) but i am sure that there would be many jobs for you to help out with or even just observe. in the er you would be able to do a little more probably... maybe transport patients for x-ray, etc as well as get expereince with rapid environment changes... plus i am sure they can fit "clean up" in there for patients somehow

my biggest thing is that i want to be an or nurse so i would probably go that route... although i have had several or nurses tell me not to go that way straight out of ns and to get floor experience... and one of the depts that was mentioned to me was the icu... maybe if i did my "floor" work while an intern i would be more prepared for the or

soooo... if my choices were ed, or, or icu while my heart would say or my brain would probably try to talk into icu... i really am not sure which one would win the battle though. :roll

good luck! make sure you let us know which you decide on and why!

[grinnurse, RN]

There are several students in my class that interned in the ER during school and they have been able to do tons of skills and not just the "cleaning" type things but learning IV starts, putting in foleys, all kinds of stuff. I think they were really acting as techs. Also, the staff knew that they were going through nursing school so really tried to get them lots of exposure to different situations. I didn't realize that anywhere would do that but if I had it as a choice to do, I would definately go with ER!! I think you would learn how to think on your feet too!!

Good luck

[Glimmer]

there are several students in my class that interned in the er during school and they have been able to do tons of skills and not just the "cleaning" type things but learning iv starts, putting in foleys, all kinds of stuff. i think they were really acting as techs. also, the staff knew that they were going through nursing school so really tried to get them lots of exposure to different situations. i didn't realize that anywhere would do that but if i had it as a choice to do, i would definately go with er!! i think you would learn how to think on your feet too!!

good luck

lucky for them! i know many of the nursing students i have talked to in my neck of the woods are not that lucky... and they are not given nearly as much responsibility. those that do get a little more do so only after their clinical instructors sign work release forms for them or they have acheived so many hours of clinical experience. it is nice to know that there are some places that will allow the student to continue to learn and grow even when outside of the school setting. hopefully more hospitals will have followed suit when i get that far along :)

[kellyo, LPN]

I'm tied between ICU and ER. ER definately for skills!

[LilRedRN1973]

I'm biased.....I've been working in the ICU since December 2003 and have just been hired to start as a new grad there. I've spent a lot of time in the ER since many of our patients are trauma patients and we have to go record and pick 'em up down there. I really love the ICU but I will say that when I'm on a regular med-surg floor, I feel completely lost and helpless!!!!

Melanie = )

[grinnurse, RN]

lucky for them! i know many of the nursing students i have talked to in my neck of the woods are not that lucky... and they are not given nearly as much responsibility. those that do get a little more do so only after their clinical instructors sign work release forms for them or they have acheived so many hours of clinical experience. it is nice to know that there are some places that will allow the student to continue to learn and grow even when outside of the school setting. hopefully more hospitals will have followed suit when i get that far along :)

most the hospitals that do this are ones where we do clinicals at and that may be part of the reason. but we also have some smaller hospitals (rural) that do this as well that the school has no ties to. prior to entering nursing school (had been accepted) i was a tech in the rehab department of one of the clinical sites and the nurses made sure that i also got to see lots of different stuff and try different skills as well. of course i was never by myself doing these things but it really did make for a more comfortable time in clinicals when i got there.