How important are internships?

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 26, 2014

Depends on your local job market.

Where I live, students who do either an externship (student nurse job) or senior-year capstone experiences have a very big advantage on the job market.

Go ahead an apply -- while you investigate your local job market. You don't have to take the job if offered. You can always turn it down if your investigation leads you to believe it is not important in your region.

Will you have the opportunity to do a senior capstone preceptorship in the specialty that most interests you? If so, that could compensate for not doing something this summer. If not, then any summer opportunities you might get would be more important.

seconddegreebsn · Feb 26, 2014

I think it depends how competitive the market is where you live. I've been trying to apply, but many won't consider anyone with under a 3.5 gpa (I am just barely shy of that) and it's extremely competitive for very few spots. I keep telling myself that I'll be okay if I don't get one, that I'll still be able to get a job but seeing how below average I fare in the market is a pretty big blow to my already bruised ego.

If you can do it and don't think it will affect your grades, why not? Any more experience you can get only helps.

BusiestBSN · Feb 26, 2014

I think having an internship is just going the extra mile. Not required, but at least recommended to apply for.

I was offered a position a few weeks ago for a student nurse externship. It is a very competitive process and I was thrilled to be chosen.

But I did have a back up plan and that was applying for patient care tech & CNA positions at local hospitals too. I think getting your foot in the door any way you can shows intiative.

mikasa · Feb 28, 2014

In spring semester of next year we will be able to do a preceptorship in an area of our choice. Thanks for all comments but I am going towards applying for hospital jobs because the research internship doesn't interest me more than being in a hospital environment. :)

Laurabell08 · Apr 1, 2017

I know this is an old thread, but I'm going through this now. I also didn't apply for any graduate nurse internships/externships and now I'm hearing several of my classmates have received internship/externship positions at different hospitals. I can't help but feel jealous. I worry that I will be falling behind. However, I don't know if working in a hospital is really what I want to do. On one hand, I would LOVE the experience and with all of my nursing education fresh on my brain, I feel like it would help that information stay in my brain. It can be so easy to forget a lot of it if you're not dealing with it regularly. On the other hand, working at a hospital, with 12 hour shifts (possibly longer as getting used to being a new nurse, and getting all my charting done,) all the other required classes/education for the internship program, required staff meetings, etc., isn't the best fit for my life right now as I am dealing with caring for an elderly family member who has recently had several health issues. I'm graduating with my ADN in May, and I am currently an LVN. As an LVN, I did pediatric home health care. I feel like going back to pediatric home health care will be easier to fit into my life right now. I also plan on working on my BSN immediately after graduation, and the lighter work load in pediatric home health would make focusing on the BSN education easier. I'm afraid I'm wanting to go back to pediatric home health because it's what I know and feel comfortable with. I also feel like I won't be a "real nurse" unless I have experience working in a hospital or critical care experience. Just feeling kind of "down" lately.