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Really dumb externship question etc..

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I know, this is dumb, but what exactly is an externship?
I hope that once i graduate from my R.N program (1.5 years) I could start in ped. oncology, NICU, or PICU. Could an externship help me get a future position?
Also, what could I do now to increase my chances and help me stand out from other applicants.
Thanks!
Well, I can only speak from my own experience. I completed an externship last summer, having been selected from a pool of applicants who were all eligible just prior to their (our) last year of nursing school. Mine was a paid externship, in which I shadowed an RN preceptor for six weeks. For all intents and purposes, I was a "glorified CNA," but I was also able to observe and participate in certain procedures under the RN's guidance. The hands-on experience with the patients, though -- especially for me, someone with no patient care experience prior to nursing school -- was priceless.To answer your questions:1. It depends. My externship essentially gave me 240 clinical hours more than my classmates and weighed heavily in my being offered a job at the same hospital before my May 2010 graduation. Because being selected in itself was an accomplishment, it looked good on my resume.2. In my case, it was good grades, great recommendations from clinical instructors and being well-spoken and prepared in the interview...essentially the same things that will go far in helping you in any job search.Good luck!

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I worked as a nurse extern during my last year of nursing school. It was paid (I think around $12/hour), and I started in June and worked through the summer, throughout the last year of school, and then became an extern II after graduation (but before NCLEX). Being an extern in that department is absolutely why I was hired as a new grad (I was the only one).

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Quote from Ham it upI know, this is dumb, but what exactly is an externship?I hope that once i graduate from my R.N program (1.5 years) I could start in ped. oncology, NICU, or PICU. Could an externship help me get a future position?Also, what could I do now to increase my chances and help me stand out from other applicants.Thanks!

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Thanks everyone for your help!!!!

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It is hugely valuable. It can be the difference between getting a job and not.

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Quote from kloneI worked as a nurse extern during my last year of nursing school. It was paid (I think around $12/hour), and I started in June and worked through the summer, throughout the last year of school, and then became an extern II after graduation (but before NCLEX). Being an extern in that department is absolutely why I was hired as a new grad (I was the only one).

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I worked as an extern before my last year of school. The program I worked at was great - it was 12 weeks long. For 9 of the weeks you followed your RN for 2 days and on the 3rd day you got to go to a specialty area (OR, ICU, Cardiology, ER, Gamma Knife, Invasive Imaging, OB, etc) to give you chance to see different areas. My preceptor was GREAT, I learned so much that summer. I started IVs, put down NGs, etc. It did help me get a job when I graduated, I was still an employee of the hospital and the manager had me fill an empty position. I didn't even have to interview for it.Emily
Author: jone  3-06-2015, 16:32   Views: 1098   
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