What can I do over the summer, if I don't get an externship?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Hi,

I am new to All Nurses and I think this is an amazing informational website! I am currently in an accelerated BSN program and will be graduating in Dec 2011. I have applied for summer externships, but due to cutbacks, many hospitals have limited the number of accepted applicants. If I am not accepted into an externship, I would still like to use these months productively. Does anybody have suggestions? Are there licenses or classes that I can take over the summer that would make me more marketable when I graduate in Dec? I would like to continue school after I graduate with BSN for a master's in Nurse practitioner.....if this helps with any suggestions :idea:

Thanks!

Student nurse assistant position?

Try volunteering. It's a great way of getting into a hospital/clinical system. Although you wont be using your clinical skills, you can certainly gain reputation within the volunteer department and that could open up the door to a wealth of opportunities, maybe even gaining a externship.

Specializes in Skilled Nursing/Rehab.

Could you/would you work as a CNA in a hospital or long term care facility? That would be experience in your field AND you would get paid. I live in Iowa and there are always CNA openings posted.

Work as a CNA. The two places I interviewed preferred you had CNA experience. If I had known that was important, I would've done it during my summers.

Thanks everyone so far for the ideas! I applied for a CNA position and am waiting to hear back (fingers crossed) :) but do you know of any classes / certifications that I could get as a student nurse or should get to increase my chances for employment when I graduate?

Thanks Again :)

Thanks everyone so far for the ideas! I applied for a CNA position and am waiting to hear back (fingers crossed) :) but do you know of any classes / certifications that I could get as a student nurse or should get to increase my chances for employment when I graduate?

Thanks Again :)

I would like to know this also?

There's a lot of certificate programs out there. Medical assistant, PCT, CNA, Anaesthesia tech., hemodialysis tech., EKG tech. Etc.. Anything that shows you have had some direct patient care would def. make you stand out.

Specializes in ER, progressive care.
There's a lot of certificate programs out there. Medical assistant, PCT, CNA, Anaesthesia tech., hemodialysis tech., EKG tech. Etc.. Anything that shows you have had some direct patient care would def. make you stand out.

but a lot of places have designated people for those positions...at least in my area! the RN is separate, then we have the NA/NT, have an EKG tech come up if there is a stat EKG needed, we have RN's who are trained in hemodialysis that administer it if needed (but the nurses on my floor are trained to do peritoneal dialysis and will cycle to other units if there is another patient that needs it)...so really I don't think that will make you more "marketable."

what will is keeping your BLS current and maybe taking an ACLS course upon graduation...but most institutions will offer an ACLS course to you upon employment, but it also depends on the area you are working in. there is also PALS if you want to work in the ER, but usually that is offered by the institution, too (ACLS/PALS classes are expensive!!) maybe taking CEU courses that are specific to an area you want to work in (such as an EKG course if you want to work in telemetry/ER or a hemodynamic monitoring course if you want to work in critical care)

+ Add a Comment