Please!!! Someone tell me how does Externships work?

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Once you become admitted into nursing school, how does an externship work? Do you apply for it or is it something that you volunteer for, or does someone ask you, please let me know just curious...?

Thank you!!

Specializes in Oncology.

Here, the externships take place during the summer before your senior year of nursing school (or last semester, if you're a winter grad). They would probably look at you funny if you applied after your first semester of nursing school.

Externships are basically working under a preceptor in a nursing role and allow you the opportunity to practice skills under the discretion of that preceptor. It would be very strange to me to have a first semester student, who may at most have had the time to master a physical assessment, take this opportunity when a senior nursing student could actively apply the skills that they've learned. I'm sure every place is different, but it is certainly a foreign concept to me.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Yep, every place is different. I do not have a preceptor.

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If you plan to go the accelerated route (like me), do you suggest maybe volunteer work or something while in nursing school so you can get your foot in door? What do you think?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

To be honest, I have yet to see anyone who got a job due to volunteering, but it can't hurt. The more contacts you have the better. With the accelerated program it is probably more important you build relationships while at clinicals and make yourself memorable for all the right reasons.

Good luck.

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