Published Jan 25, 2009
sallber
74 Posts
Hi Guys!
I go to UIC and on monday they will have a job fair with hospitals looking for student nurses for externship positions. Have any of you all done externships? If so, what does it involve? Is it a good idea for a summer job before senior year? Any info would be helpful and much appreciated!:heartbeat
sallyinchicago
bleu_3
25 Posts
I did a summer externship at UIC before my senior year. I also worked there on breaks. It was an amazing experience. The only thing I wasn't able to do was pass meds. It really allowed me to hone my physical assessment skills. I highly recommend a summer externship. Any questions, just let me know.
prinsessa
615 Posts
I did an externship and I think it really helped me feel comfortable around patients and their families. Some days I worked as a tech (doing CNA type work) and some days I worked as a student nurse. They were really flexible with my schedule (I told them when I was available). I think I would have been lost in the fall if I didn't do an externship over the summer. Good luck!
btw, it also really helped with my charting
jjnmrsmom
78 Posts
It really depends on the hospital and the unit. The nurse that precepted me didn't allow me to do anything... so I just shadowed her for 6 weeks. Other students told me they had awesome nurses who let them do lots of things. The only thing it did for me is help me to feel more comfortable in a hospital setting because I never worked in a hospital before. And it looks good on your resume when you apply as a new grad if you have no other medical experience.
motivated2nurse
228 Posts
I worked in the ED and was then hired as a tech. I learned a great deal and med/surg seemed a lot easier after the experience. I had a ball.