Programs with new grad internships?

littleneoRN · Jan 8, 2008

Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt has a new graduate residency program that allows some shadow opportunities in ER, PICU, NICU, etc. and then a residency/internship in one of those areas that leads to a position on that unit.

iHeartNICU · Jan 10, 2008

Methodist Children's Hospital -San Antonio, TX

There's some other hospitals around here that take new grads but I'm not sure if it's an official internship. Those hospitals are:

University Hospital

Santa Rosa Hospital

eymilin, MSN · Jan 15, 2008

All Children's Hospital - St Petersburg, FL

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 15, 2008

You would be unwise to limit your prospects to only those hospitals that use the word "internships" in their marketing campaigns. A lot of fine hospitals have terrific programs to help new grads transition NICU staff nurse roles but don't use the word "internship" as part of their marketing strategy.

For example: Some hospitals have "residencies" that provide the same type of education and support. Other hospitals have "extensive, individualized orientation programs" and "mentor programs" that provide the same things as an internship. The only difference is that they offer that education and support to any nurse who needs it, not just the new grads -- which might indicate an environment that invests more in the support of its staff in general than a place that provides those services only to new grads.

I have worked for many years in many different hospitals -- often in roles that involved running NICU orientation progrms. One lesson I have learned is that you need to look at the specifics of each program and NOT be duped by slick marketing practices and "catchy" phrases.

You need to get past the marketing slogans, pretty pictures, sales pitches, slick presentations, etc. and look at the "real life" of working in that hospital.

To choose an employer, identify the geographic areas in which you wish to live (or a few places that interest you most) ... and then the hospitals that have NICU's in those areas. Don't be too swayed by the marketing at that point. Then, visit their websites, make a few phone calls to narrow your choice down a bit. Then, actually talk to the people at that hospital (recruiter, manager, educator) to learn the details about their units and their orientation programs.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Jan 15, 2008

Ditto that, llg!

New grad "internships" can be just smoke and mirrors. Pick where you want to live, research NICUs in that area with a decent (read: 12 weeks minimum) orientation that includes class as well as floor time. Buy a good NICU book like Merenstein & Gardner or Core Curriculum for Neonatal Nursing and look over it as you get patients with different diagnoses and treatments (eg, HFOV, jet ventilation, etc.)

babyNP., APRN · Jan 21, 2008

Thank you for the info--I just used the word "internship" for lack of a better word and have seen other words like "residency" and the like in my research.

The program that I'm currently looking (and hoping) is about 6 months of an internship/residency and I've already talked to the nurse manager and she's invited me to take a look at the unit and everything.

What I'm wondering is this: Is it appropriate to ask her if I have a reasonable chance of getting the job before I get there, post-resume sending? Just because I'll be flying from the West coast to the East coast and that's pretty expensive...or is that not kosher?

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Jan 21, 2008

I would ask if there are any other preliminaries you can take care of (short of hire) that you can get out of the way before you travel cross-country. That way you both can have a better idea of what's involved.