If you are looking to be an extern......

yeah, they're great as long as you can work a couple shifts a week (that's required, from what i've heard, to get the healthcare benefits).

look into st. joe's too, they start extern programs in january and they're great.

Sun Health gives you FREE HEALTH INSURANCE, even as an extern!!!! My friend works there and she doesn't even pay copays at the Dr. office!!!

I just thought that was unheard of and out of sight! FYI for everyone who may be gettin' ready to apply!

I know this may sound silly, but exactly what does it mean to be an "extern"?

St. Joes has already hired their Jan externs, they do their hiring in Oct/Nov or so. My friend got a job as an extern there and just went through orientation this week. Some of the other hospitals around hire all the time though.

An extern is a student nurse who works at the hospital and mainly observes the nurse. It's a great way to get some hospital experience before you graduate. Some hospitals (CHW) hire after block one (but trying to get an interview there is close to impossible, unless you know someone), and the Banner hospitals hire when you're within one year of graduating. I was just hired by Banner and will start hopefully within the next week. It's a great experience if you're a student, you get to learn a lot more than what is covered in class, and the hospital benefits as well because they can see if you 'fit' in with the other nurses and usually people stay on in the area they externed in so the hospital gets a new hire who is already familiar with their way of doing things.

Keli