Student Nurse Extern....

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I have a question regarding regarding student externships in Indianapolis.

Are there any hospitals that offer externships with tuition reimbursement AND health insurance? I'm mainly looking for insurance with orthodontic coverage as two of my kids and myself are currently getting orthodontic treatment and it is bleeding me dry.

By the time I finish paying for it, my 6 year old will start treatment and I will be paying down a $25,000 bill. :banghead:

I am very interesting in working for Methodist after I graduate because of the magnet status, etc.....but I didn't see on the website that they offer insurance to student externs.

:crying2:

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This is probably a stupid question, but are they in a different category than regular employees? I guess I just assumed that since regular PT and FT workers get tuition reimbursement there that externs would be the same way, but I could totally be wrong. Sorry no help!

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This is what the website says on the benefits page... "Clarian offers health-related benefits - medical, dental and vision coverage - to all full-time and part-time employees and their eligible dependents.

But then on the SNE information, it says

All Student Nurse Externs receive the following benefits, regardless of level:

  • Shift/holiday pay premiums
  • Participation in the employee referral program
  • Free attendance at any Clarian educational program
  • NCLEX review class reimbusement

So, does that mean that student nurses aren't really considered employees that qualify for medical/dental, etc?

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Your correct, Clarian does not offer any benefits to SNE's, just tuition assistance for a certain numbers of hours worked per week and then a commitment of time after graduation.

I called Clarian and spoke with a nurse recruiter a few weeks ago about the externships. There is a longgggggggg wait list for it. You need to have one full semester of clinicals done before they will accept you and then they interview you for the position because it will be just like a job. Since I am in a transitional position, by the time I have my semester done for clinicals it would be Jan'09 and I graduate in May'09. Having been an LPN for 18 years makes no difference.

Even though you are " theroretically" employed by Clarian during your externship, you do not get any benefits until you change over from a SNE to a GN.

Perhaps you can try Hoosier Healthwise for the kids? Good luck.

-Brenda

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Thanks for your response, Brenda. My kids have Hoosier Healthwise now, but they don't cover any type of Orthodontic treatment. They say it is considered cosmetic. For my oldest son, it was interfering with his speech and communication abilities so I never got how that was cosmetic. Oh well. I've been fortunate to build a good relationship with the staff at our Orthodontic office and we have a no interest payment plan right now of $111/month for his treatment. They are going to let me piggy-back the payments but it's still a pretty huge amount at the end of the day. I was hoping I could find an extern position where I could get health benefits too so I can get off the Hoosier Healthwise and not have to depend on the tax-payer's dime. Lord knows my ex husband isn't paying a dime!

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Aren't ex's lovely?

Take the guy to court and sue his butt off :) But if he's like most of them, you can't get blood out of a stone.

Hoosierhealth is a blessing at times.........like when we are in school trying to better ourselves. Tons of people abuse it.........but then there are the ones who truly need it :)

Can you appeal HH considering it is a health related issue?

Good luck!!!

-Brenda

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Nah....there's no point in appealing. I've tried that already. LOL

The ex....I'm getting ready to take him back to court. He is supposed to be paying 79%. I've been paying on this bill since March 06 and he's never given me a penny. That's ok though cause I'm about to slap a big fat garnishment on his wages. The only two words to describe what I am right now.... "Fed Up!"

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

Most of the FW hospitals offer health and dental for only working 20 hours a week. Students are considered staff. You are a "student nurse" aka CNA

But each insured family member only gets 800.00 lifetime benefit for orthodontics. That was the down payment. Our ortho gives us a 10% discount for paying in full up front, then another 10% off for each family member. Not a huge break, but still a break.

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I could have sworn on St. Francis' website they said their part time SNs receive benefits. That was another bonus in me wanting to work there during and after school.

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Thanks....I'll check that out as well.

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Here you go:

Weekend Option Program for Nursing Students

Work part-time and receive full-time benefits! Nursing students who work the weekend option (two 12-hour shifts on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays) receive the same benefits as our full-time employees. Apply for a position with "WEO" to be considered for this program.

Benefits for New Nursing Hires

In addition to other benefits for employees, new nurses at St. Francis receive these benefits:

  • Tuition assistance: Upon signing on with St. Francis for two years (4,160 hours), nurses may receive $5,000 in tuition assistance (RNs) or $7,500 for BSNs. Contact Nancy Waggoner, our nurse recruiter, during your last year in nursing school to begin the application process.
  • Child care discounted at several area providers.
  • NCLEX board review

http://www.stfrancishospitals.org/Careers/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=50

HTH

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