The summer before my senior year of nursing school, I did an paid externship at my school's medical center in the Peds ER and loved it! The requirements for when you can apply are different based on the time of nursing program. Some of the programs do require you to be enrolled in a BSN program or some may accept a BS. There are different specialty areas and it might be set up where participating units might take one or two students.
This is where I worked:
I could apply before my senior year with a 4yr BSN program.They had the option of an internship where you are paid, but you pay for college credit and could do anything within the RN scope of practice. The externship option limited what you could do, such as you could not administer medications, but you get to see and learn a lot. New graduates did a nurse residency. You basically follow the schedule of a preceptor. We did have some students that were in an accelerated BSN program taking classes at the same time. Many of the students stayed on as techs after the summer ended and some worked as nurses there after graduation. So, it can really get you in the door.
During the externship we had computer training and orientation. I believe we met certain scheduled days to discuss and learn. The rest of the time we were with our preceptors.
You do get paid but some also offer a stipend or even help you find a place to stay if you are from somewhere outside of the area. Each hospital uses different names so make sure to keep checking their employment opportunities or call HR when spring rolls around.
Some terms:
Internship: May be during school for college credit. Or may be for new graduates.
Externship: May be during school or in the summer. Usually nursing students before their last semester or year.
Nurse Residency: I see this as a program used for new graduates and sometimes experienced nurses that are going to be starting out in a new clinical area.
Other examples: The Mayo Clinic calls it "Summer III" and other places have their own titles.
The process:
I applied to three different internships. First there was the application; all of mine were online. Then the interview. And lastly, the offer or rejection. (I am doing this from memory; it's been 5 years.) ALWAYS CARRY YOUR RESUME!!!
Then I was selected to interview at all three hospitals...fun. Hospitals are very into behavioral interviewing, so please check out the links below and look it up!!! They basically give you a scenario and want you to respond with what o would do in that situation.
At all three you had brief interview with different areas I was interested in. 1.) One place had it set up where you speak with HR then interview with 2 or 3 nurse managers and wait to hear back. 2.) Another place (CHOP: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) had you come in (they had people from all over) and spend time in the auditorium learning about the hospital, taking a tour, and sign-up for a few areas where you would like to interview. 3.) Finally, where I worked (my school's medical center) we went and and listened to HR. We made a list of a certain number of areas we wanted to meet with. Then they had nurse managers in various rooms and went to the ones on our list when we could. We had brief interviews and hoped for the best.
Links:
- The Complete Guide to Successful Interviewing for Nursing Student and Alumni by Johns Hopkins University: http://www.son.jhmi.edu/resources/career/center/documents/interview_guide.pdf
- Mastering Behavioral Interviews in Nursing: http://nursinglink.monster.chttp://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3066623067249726963&postID=8421437792852801753om/benefits/articles/3406-mastering-behavioral-interviews-in-nursing
- Nursing Interviews Questions & Answers: http://www.best-job-interview.com/nursing-interview-questions.html
- What is a behavioral interview?: http://careerplanning.about.com/od/jobinterviews/a/beh_int_lng.htm
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