Nurse Externship Advice

Carefreeliving · Nov 29, 2011

I think this is going to depend on the nurse that you will be shadowing. Some nurses will just want you to observe, while others want you to be hands on. You have to develop that trust and confidence with your nurse before they'll let you do anything. Plus, you have to seek out your opportunities. Be sure to let everybody know you are eager to learn, most are very welcoming of your eagerness. It's refreshing.

ILOVEnrsg2 · Nov 30, 2011

I had the experience of being in a Nursing Externship (paid ) the summer before I graduated with my BSN, last year in May 2010-July 2010. I learned so much in those 10 weeks than I ever did in my clinicals during Nursing School.

I had a great experience with my preceptor, and the nurses on the floor. The manager was very welcoming, and my preceptor had experience doing this for 8 summers before, so she knew the gradual progress for me, from observing, to taking a full patient load with minimal assistance at the end. The floor I was on was special (cancer floor) and the co workers were supportive to each other and students (it was at a teaching hospital, and there were other students doing their senior capstone and other clinicals at the time).

I would definitely get everything you can from your externship! It looks GREAT on your resume (I currently work as an RN and in my interviews the manager definitely commented on that), you get ahead on experience from all your peers, and you generally get a better feel of what it is to be a real nurse, having a full patient load, and working on your time management and clinical skills - all in a 12 hour shift!! Way more than what you probably get from clinicals.

Congratulations, and I hope you do well!

melissacarey · Dec 31, 2011

Hi,

May I ask, where was the program or hospital you did your externship? I can find some on the web, but I want to keep my options open. Thanks.