parkland critical care and trauma internship

theidealbirth · Oct 27, 2010

I am extremely interested in the perinatal residency at Parkland, and would like to work in the L&D unit. Can someone please share the contact information for the nurse recruiter and/or the nurse manager? The application is not up yet, but I would like to contact them a little earlier. I graduate this December. I don't have tech experience, but I am a doula, and have extensive experience with young pregnant teens. I know most hospitals will increase their L&D staff, because of the new AWHONN guidlines. I would much appreciate it.

MsStephh_RN · Nov 1, 2011

Awww. When I finish school I will have my ADN. I wish Parkland would take me for their Critical Care/Trauma Internship. I've even contemplated ways to get my BSN in order to get into this program :'-(

hockeynpolo · Nov 3, 2011

You can still be a critical care nurse at Parkland with an ADN. Instead of doing the internship, where you rotate through all the different ICUs, you can do their Residency. The residency is different in that you interview for one of the ICUs (burn, medical, cardiac, or surgical) and you spend 4 months orienting to just that unit. For people with ADNs and who know that they want to do surgical ICU or medical over the others, the residency is a great way to get your ICU teaching. I did the internship last year but all the other nurses I work with did the residency. Let me know if you want more info about the program.

txiap · Mar 5, 2012

I also applied to the program and am getting ready to interview within the next few weeks. Since you have been through the program, do you have any advice as far as the interview process goes? Thanks!

hockeynpolo · Mar 5, 2012

Laura and Barbara have been doing this for more than 20 years. They already have an idea of the type of nurses they want in the internship. This probably sounds cliche, but be yourself. They aren't looking for the person who has a 4.0 GPA and is going to invent the cure to cancer. Going into the interview, I had no ICU experience and only 4 weeks of nursing school rotation worth of ER experience in a small 16 bed ER (Parkland's ER is 70 beds). They are looking for someone who will be eager to learn, as Parkland is a huge teaching hospital, willing to help others, and most of all, will fit into the Parkland Family. You can be a hotshot in the ICU, but if you don't work well with others, you're no good to Parkland's staff of doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, or any other personnel at Parkland. The internship is a great experience. You'll definitely work hard, as the test are quite long and extensive, but the knowledge and experience you get is great.

txiap · Mar 6, 2012

Thanks for the information! I'm very excited about the opportunity but know they don't take very many students each year. How many were selected for your year?

butterfly journey · Mar 8, 2012

@hockeynpolo - I am currently a graduating BSN student as well as a PCA at Parkland and have applied for the internship. Are you still at Parkland? Also does it help to mention in the interview that you are NOT interested in leaving Parkland to go to CRNA school? I know a bunch of people do that and that's one reason for the 3 year commitment contract, but that's not something that I am interested in doing. Is it worth it to mention that?

Also how HARD is the program? Is it just like nursing school (better/worse)? Do people get kicked out of it?

Just trying to get a feel for what to expect if given the opportunity. I showed up last week to Parkland's GN Open House along with 300+ other new nurses. It was a madhouse, so I'm looking to find a way to make myself stand out.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

HelloRose · Mar 8, 2012

Can you really only apply for one of the internship/residency positions? I'm interested in both OR and ICU but don't want to get myself on the naughty list for applying to both.

Also the online application is very spartan. I can't even attach a cover letter.:uhoh21:

hockeynpolo · Apr 18, 2012

@ butterfly journey - I'm still at Parkland. It wouldn't hurt to mention you plan on staying at Parkland for the long run; especially when the new hospital opens. You are right in that many of the ICU interns and residents leave after their contract to go to CRNA school. In fact, 2 of my charge nurses are leaving this summer to go to school. I can't say that it will put you above others, but mentioning that you plan on staying at Parkland past your contract may help.

Like I said earlier, the internship is hard but you get out of it what you put into it. Barbara and Laura are not out to get you. They have been educators for years and years and love to see their graduate nurses succeed and do well. If you are having trouble in a subject, they will stay late after class and go over it with you. If you feel uncomfortable in the clinical setting at the bedside, there are 3 other nurse internship instructors helping you through your 7 months rotation. It's not a sink or swim environment, but working in the ICU at Parkland is challenging and you do need to study up and know your pathophysiology and pharmacology.