Looking for nursing internship or training

[swansonplace]

I am currently in a 2 year RN program, and about to start my second year. Do you know of any internships available to student nurses or training programs?

I would like more practice with my basic skills, so currently I am volunteering in addition to attending classes, but I would like to practice the most basic nursing skills.

Do you know where this can be done? Even hospital training classes to bridge the gap between theory and practice would be great.

I am concerned about the having the needed skills when I get out of school.

Thanks for the help in advance.

[ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN]

you could look for a PCA (tech, CNA, nurse's aide/assistant) job at a hospital. At the hospital my school is a part of PCAs do vitals, get samples, do blood draws, do AM/PM care, feeds, toileting. You wont be giving meds or anything but you do some basic skills and get used to the hospital enviroment... also maybe some hospitals near you have a student nurse extern position?

[swansonplace]

Thank You, I didn't realize PCA could do blood draws. What is a student extern position?

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

in my area student extern positions usually are the summer between your first and second year of school - you usually get paid about $12 an hour and you're paired up with a nurse and you basically get do what the nurses do with one on one attention...I'm hoping to get one next summer!

[szeles23]

I hope I can get one here, If not maybe I will try to find a summer job as a PCA or CNA.

[swansonplace]

That sounds perfect. How do you find the extern positions?

[ttocs]

any OR training classes in bay area?

[ttocs]

I mean in the SF bay area

[swansonplace]

There must be some in that area but I am not familar with them. I also am looking for an externship in my area, fort lauderdale, miami. You may want to look directly at hospitals in your area. I know that there are some internships out of the country. Does anyone know the best approach to the internship/externship thing? When is the best time to look for it? Is it better to have an internship/externship or just finish school? What is the best way to get into nursing or a specific field in nursing?