Nursing Externships?

[Christinajoannne]

How does it work? What will better my chances of getting an externship?

I'm currently a Junior, and I would love to get a summer externship. Most externships it seems, only accept 5 (around that number) students. I've had 1 Geriatrics rotation, 2 Med Surg Rotations, 1 Psych rotation, and I'm currently in a OB Rotation and a Pediatrics Rotation. Besides my clinical experience, I do not have any volunteer experience or CNA/unit clerk jobs (I've tried but no one has gotten back to me) I have a 3.5 GPA.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Extern programs vary greatly from hospital to hospital. You'll need to contact the hospitals that have programs of interest to you in order to learn about those particular programs. For example, some hospitals hire nursing students as "externs" throughout the entire year. They function in ways similar to a nursing assistant -- just with a few little differences in their role. Other hospitals have short-term programs only for a few weeks in the summer. Many of those programs are already filled for this coming summer and their application deadlines have long passed.

You need to do some homework real quick to find out if the programs in your area are already filled -- and if not, how to apply. People here are likely to tell you about the particular programs that they are familiar with -- and those programs may be very different from the ones in your area.

Good luck to you. I hope you find one that fits your needs.

[amb218, BSN, RN]

Just start searching for jobs on the hospital websites in your area! I am also applying to externships for this summer.