I'm just trying to get another perspective. I'm a first year nursing student (in a two year program) and I'm thinking about taking a nurse extern position (or intern, I can't really tell the difference), but the problem is the job is out of my state, I would have to take my kids and live somewhere else for the summer while maintaining my permenant residence. I'm just trying to figure out if it would be worth the effort and expense. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Amy
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March 15th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
I had the choice between doing an externship or moving to Texas for the summer to work at a fun, completely non-nursing related job. I decided to move to Texas, my rationale being that Im going to be working in a hospital the rest of my life. I’ve since gotten my first nursing job (the first job I interviewed for-despite no externship experience), I feel that I am essentially on the same level as my classmates who did externships. I think you would learn a lot at an externship, but maybe not worth it considering how much work would go into it for you. Just enjoy your summer off! You will still get a job and you were learn everything you would have at the externship in the first couple weeks of orientation. Best of luck with your decision, its a win win choice=)
March 27th, 2009 at 12:30 am
Just to clarify an Intern position is for new grad nurses going into a new facility to work after they have graduated from their nursing school. They are considered Graduate Nurse Intern’s. And an Extern is when you have completed atleast one year at an accredited nursing school and have one year until graduation. That would be a nurse extern. But anyway…I am also in a two year nursing school like you. I am in my last semester right now. I applied for an externship after my second semester with a company I wanted to work for once I graduated. I ended up not getting the externship, so I opted to just get a regular summer job at the drive In I worked at prior to nursing school. They ended up calling me back and offered my a extern position at their hospice facility but I just declined it since I already had my job at the drive-In. I had heard it was nice to do the externship program during summer becasue it will keep all that you have learned with you during summer…not to mention all the new stuff you will see and learn. I also hoped to “get my foot in the door” with this company in hopes of working for them after graduation. Well I applied for the graduate nurse internship program with the company last month and got hired the next day. So that goes to show you can get a job without necessarily having had done an externship. Just as Courtney explaind. Dont get me wrong though I know several ladies at my school who did externships and loved it! You do have other options though that you could look into. There are positions out there available called SNA’s. or Student Nurse Assistants. Basically you have the duties of a CNA but you are considered a student nurse. You get paid like a CNA, and you still get the learning experience by seeing the RN’s and getting to work with them. You would even be able to do this while you were still in school. I have several friends at school who are SNA’s and already have jobs lined up on their units to be New Grad RN’s. I hope I was able to help. Good luck!
March 27th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
I am a senior nursing nursing student about to graduate this summer, and I have had a job as a nurse extern in a hospital since January. The job has been a great opportunity to gain experience and build confidence, and has given me tremendous insight and appreciation for how hard cnas/techs work! I work in a float pool that allows me to experience many different areas of nursing throughout the hospital, and as a result, I have been offered a future position by several different nursing supervisors once I graduate. I definately recommend the experience, but I am not sure I would go as far as moving out of state…unless the job opportunities for new nurse graduates are scarce. A nurse extern position will definately get your foot in the door, but so will your precepting. I wish you the best of luck!
March 28th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Hi,
Thanks for the replys, I think I’m not going to take the position and hope for the best after I graduate.
Amy