student nurse internships

[penny869]

I am going to be starting an internship at my schools affiliated hospital.

Its actually a paying job;)

Does anybody know what they may have me doing. I am a little nervous about it. Any student nurse interns out there

[TazziRN, RN]

One thing you won't be doing is passing meds. At my last facility our interns did the same things the techs did plus a little more. They inserted foleys and NGs under supervision. When they worked with me I would have them do things like prime my IV lines (I started the IVs) and would quiz them on meds as though they were about to give them, time permitting.

You will have very strict guidelines set by the school regarding what you can and cannot do.

[WDWpixieRN, RN]

I am currently doing an internship for the summer, and TazziRN is totally correct about the meds....although my RN has been having me draw up the meds just for practice on technique and dosage (after she removes them, then verifies what I have done)....I have also started several foleys and well over a dozen IVs -- that's been terrific to have had the opportunity to do!! I was able to attempt one NG, but it wouldn't go down right on the elderly woman pt....the RN tried it twice, then our charge nurse and it just wouldn't go in -- therefore, I am not considering myself a failure yet on NG insertion, lol!!

I also do the work of the techs when possible such as cleaning the rooms, transporting, and anything else I can try to do to help. Sometimes I feel a bit in the way, but I think that's the nature of the ER.

I read somewhere on these boards, and I will also encourage you, to look for opportunities to help w/pts or view procedures. I had read where staff gets really irritated with students who sit around complaining of being bored....there is ALWAYS something to do be done whether it means restocking equipment or feeding or cleaning a pt or transporting. Be assertive and ASK what you can do to help when there is downtime!! It will be appreciated and you will probably get more cooperation when you ask questions or ask to observe.

And enjoy!! Mine's been a LOT more relaxing than clinicals....I'm getting paid and not getting graded, and am so very grateful for this exposure and experience!!

Bless the RNs of the world who take on interns and new RNs with a smile and enthusiasm....you help make up for the RNs during clinicals who seem he!! bent on chasing us away!!

By the way, my guidelines for the internship are set by the hospital and not my school as it's not sponsored by my CC in any way.

[fleur-de-lis, BSN, RN]

Ditto what the other posters have said about meds, but you are not off the hook for knowing them - preceptors will ask! In my student nurse job description I do everything the nurse would do EXCEPT meds, but of course I am directly supervised by the preceptor and she really determines what I am ready for and walks me through things. There is also a list of skills that I am supposed to be checked off on before the internship is over. It is great experience!