Texas Nurse Extern- Academic Credit?

[grit&grace]

Does anyone know of any nursing schools in Texas that accept credit for nurse extern programs at hospitals? I'm trying to see if I can get UT Tyler to approve a Nurse Externship (that is paid) for academic credit. The nurse externship program I'm looking at (Christus Trinity Mother Frances) has a month of training including four 8 hr training days weekly for 1 month, and then one 12 hour shift weekly for 1-2 semesters. You work alongside a nurse preceptor and help them care for their patients that day. It is separate from unit tech/CNA, and you don't replace those positions when you are working. It is paid an hourly rate.

If I can show that there are other schools that accept nurse extern working hours for school clinical hours, academic credit, or any other combo benefiting students I think it will definitely help my case!

Would appreciate any feedback from anyone that knows of a school that does this!

Thanks!

[kakamegamama]

I think a nursing extern isn't usually an actual internship or externship as normally thought of. It isn't necessarily a college course. Nursing programs usually utilize a preceptorship where you work 1 on 1 with an RN. The externs are usually glorified nursing assistants. I really kind of doubt the you work with the RN as an extern. The nurse externs had more duties such as they could enter medications in or straight cath.

Actually, one of the hospitals at which I was employed did have nurse externs work side by side with RNs. I think this was a summer program. Also, when I was a student, I did the same. I worked with RNs, had my 5-6 patient load, and passed meds/hung IVs. The RNs were mentors and passed me off on those things. However, that was a long time ago......

[klone, MSN, RN]

The program that you describe is the same type of program I'm applying to in Tyler, TX. You work 1:1 with your nurse preceptor during the shifts. The catch-22 is that you have to agree to sign on with them for 2 years after you are finished with your nurse externship (if they want you).

Yes, there was another hospital in AZ that required that - for every month you worked as an extern, you were contracted to work that number of months as an RN after graduation. I ended up turning that one down because it was 80 minutes away from where I lived at the time. Instead I gambled on the hope that I would get an externship at my local hospital, which I did.

It wouldn't be a bad option if the hospital is a good one and convenient to where you live, and you don't anticipating relocating any time soon after graduation.