Nursing Externships

[Nscorpiored, BSN]

Hey everyone just wanted some feedback on nursing externship programs. I am finding they are hard to come by especially for a student such as myself who is in a 2 year ABSN program and spend my summers in school back to back. Now that I entering the home stretch before graduation, I have been working like crazy trying to find jobs either as a unit clerk/secretary, a tech, or volunteer at a hospital with no such luck.

When I do search for nursing externship programs they either are booked up, not being offered any longer, or as I previously stated, hard to complete because I am always in school.

Did any of you attend a nursing externship?

Was it worth it?

Did it give you the experience you needed in your field or did you change your choice in a nursing career based on your experience?

Any feedback would greatly be appreciated

[FormerLawyer]

I think if you can swing it, an internship is always the way to go. If you can't get one, then you can try and volunteer somewhere? It's always good to have some experience to list on your resume. When I was in my post-grad program, i did three internships.

[anggelRN]

I did two internships before I left nursing school. That's how I got my first job. It is most certainly worth it in my opinion.

[Nscorpiored, BSN]

I did two internships before I left nursing school. That's how I got my first job. It is most certainly worth it in my opinion.

I am just curious how were you able to do two internships before you left nursing school? Did you do an accelerated program like I did or the regular 4 year programs? Those tend to be more giving to students because you have your summers to work and keep afloat of your nursing studies by volunteering or working somewhere

What exactly did you do and how did you go about getting the internships

[Nscorpiored, BSN]

I think if you can swing it, an internship is always the way to go. If you can't get one, then you can try and volunteer somewhere? It's always good to have some experience to list on your resume. When I was in my post-grad program, i did three internships.

Wow post graduate and you did three...so I know there is no excuse for me not to find something...I am waiting to hear back for a volunteer position at a local hospital and I hope I rotate enough where I can get some type of benefit

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I did not do any externships but I went to school with a couple of individuals who had and they said the experience they gained was invaluable. Definitely try to swing one if you can.

[Enthused RN, BSN, RN]

Usually your nursing school has to maintain a contract with area hospitals for malpractice insurance purposes. Once they have some type of contract in place, the school communicates to their students about what hospitals are accepting externs and how to apply to them. Check with your school; however, keep in mind that you usually need to have completed a certain amount of semesters/quarters before you are allowed to apply.