I am interested in hearing from other students about their summer externship experiences.. I've been researching the different hospitals' websites for info about their programs... but I really want to hear from students themselves what they thought of the program and how much stuff / what kind of things they got to do. This could be a great tool for other students looking to apply for an externship. Please remember to include which hospital you're talking about if you reply!
Thanks!!!
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June 4th, 2009 at 7:46 am
It wasn’t quiet a summer internship, but UTMB in Galveston (was) hiring nursing students with one semester clinical experience to work as a Professional Student Nurse (aka… nurses aid). We got paid very well vs. other jobs around town (14-16 and hour). We took vital signs, helped with baths and changing beds, and any other patient care needed. But since we were student nurses, we could also start catheters, draw blood, start IV’s, take blood sugar, start NG tubes, and D/C anything other than a central/PICC line. We floated around the hospital to whichever floor we were needed most. I really enjoyed it because I got to see the neuro, oncology, cardiac, ICU, burn unit, the prison hospital, renal, etc… floors. I got to see all aspects of the hospital and learned that, well I didn’t like any of it. Finally I went straight to where I wanted to go, NICU/Newborn, and asked if they could use my help there. I got in, and did everything the RN’s were doing except giving med’s and the days first assessment. It was awesome. I’ve learned so much and I feel like I’m a few steps ahead of my classmates that didn’t do the PSN job.
I suggest doing an internship in whatever area you are interested in b/c it will make you feel so much more confident in your skills and when you go to interview for your jobs in the future.
July 11th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I did a summer internship after my third semester in nursing school. I worked in the ER at a local hosptial in Bowling Green, KY. It was a great experience for me. It counted as an elective course in my schooling and I got paid 13$ an hour. I was able to do everything the nurse could do except give medicine/take verbal orders. It was for 5 weeks. I would highly recommed it because it gave me a lot of good experience with skills like IVs as well as built up my confidence with talking with patients/assessments/histories. Plus I was thinking I would eventually end up in the ER and I wanted to see what it was really like. Some of my friends worked on med-surg floors and didn’t have as good as an experience.. But I would recommend it if it is an actual internship and not just a CNA job (which is a good experience as well) Hope that helps!