Parkland Internships--I need advice!!

mcleanl · Apr 7, 2006

I really hope you get into Parkland. I did an internship there (in the ER) more than ten years ago. It was absolutely amazing, tough but amazing. I moved to Dallas shortly after graduating in January 95. I took a position on a cardiac unit at St. Paul Medical Center. I worked there full time for a year until I applied for the ER internship. For some reason I think that my internship started in April, but I could be wrong. I stayed on at St.Paul per diem because of the pay at Parkland (at that time it was not very good). Also, the pace at St. Paul seemed like heaven after a few shifts at Parkland.

Like I say it was an amazing experience. Unfortunately my now-husband/then-fiancé was accepted to graduate school and we relocated that August so I was there briefly, only about 4 months.

When I applied you needed to have a year of acute care experience, have they lifted that requirement? It seems odd to me that the internships would start in August if they didn't require one year of experience because lots of new grads would be in your situation.

I would definitely take a full job in the Dallas area then you'll be covered in case you don't get in the first time you apply (but I am sure you will). Lots of luck!

P.S...as I recall the nurse recruiters at Parkland are wonderful, it might be worth calling them and seeing if they have any advice.

RN34TX · Apr 7, 2006

Call the recruiter and let them know your situation.

As a new RN, I wanted an ICU internship that my employer didn't offer until June when many students graduate.

I told them that I couldn't wait that long and needed to work, so they put me with a preceptor a few months earlier and I basically got my own internship without having to wait for all of the other students to graduate.

I still took all of the critical care classes once June rolled around with the next internship class, but I already had some great experience with a preceptor in ICU and was able to stay working full time.

It doesn't hurt to call them and ask.

NurseWeek magazine only a couple of months ago wrote an article specifically about Parkland and how severe their shortage is, as well as people jumping ship once they got experience at Parkland for better paying Dallas hospitals. (Parkland pay is still low.)

If they need nurses so badly, then they need to be flexible to your needs.

Finallyat40 · Apr 7, 2006

and have been there since I first graduated. The internship that you're applying for is a very specialized one that lasts much longer than the others (even the ICU and ER ones) so that's why they only offer one per year. I'm sure that if you spoke to the nurse recruiter that they would accomodate you in some way.....maybe putting you on a med-surg floor for a few months with a preceptor, or even and ICU? It doesn't hurt to ask!

As for Parkland itself....one year of experience at Parkland is worth about five at the other hospitals in the area. At least for new grads, their pay scale is very competitive....they actually paid more than Presby and Baylor when I started. I never thought I'd say this, but I love working there...I'm afraid that if I ever decide to move on that I'll be bored! The people are wonderful too....which is a huge fringe benefit for me!

Jamie

mcleanl · Apr 7, 2006

Finally,

I am with you, even though I was there briefly I consider it the "best" nursing experience I ever had. I have never encountered anything like it and I have been all over the US and parts of Canada. When I was there the hospital gave out t-shirts with a picture of a person diving into water and the shirt read something like "Parkland, there is no shallow end." That whole attitude of wanting to produce the strongest and best nurses really seemed to permeate the hospital and I loved it. (sorry can't spell check on this computer).

CuidadoCritico · Apr 13, 2006

Hi Rob, if you are like me and did/do the majority of your clinical hours in an ICU/ER at one facility- have you considered talking to them about working as a GN/RN during your Parkland application process? You may miss out on a sign on bonus or tuition reimbursment- but at least you'll get paid while gaining additional critical care experience.

good luck!

labcat01, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2006

What is that kind of internship like (in terms of hours)? Is it still done in 12 hr shifts or what?

Thanks!

foxyhill21 · Apr 15, 2006

When i went to website this it what it said:

The Critical Care and Trauma Nurse Internship at Parkland Health & Hospital System is a twenty-eight (28) month course of study which involves both formal classroom presentations and supervised clinical experience. This program has been approved by an American Association of Critical Care Nurses provider under established guidelines.

-Designed for the recent baccalaureate graduate and conducted annually, beginning in August.

-Nurse interns have the option of enrolling in the graduate program at the -University of Texas at Arlington School of Nursing.

-Six hours of graduate credit are obtained upon successful completion of the program. Lecture content includes pathophysiology, diagnostic work-up, medical management, and nursing care.

-The clinical experiences assist the nurse intern in applying the information to the care of the patient with multi-system disease or injury.

-Clinical rotations during the internship include the Medical respiratory ICU, Coronary Care Unit, Surgical Trauma ICU, Neurosurgical ICU, Burn ICU, and Emergency Department.

-Shift rotations and weekend duty assignments are included throughout the program.

To find out more about the Parkland Critical Care & Trauma Nurse Internships, please call (214) 590-8535.