Empowering the Next Generation of Nurses
Our 9-week Nurse Externship Program offers nursing students a unique opportunity to observe clinical practices, deepen their understanding of patient care, and learn from experienced nursing professionals in a dynamic healthcare environment. This summer program bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice, helping students grow in confidence, clinical awareness, and professional insight.
Goals for the Nurse Externship Program
Externs will observe clinical procedures such as medication administration, IV insertion, and catheter placement under the guidance of experienced nurses. Through instruction, observation, and policy review, they will build a foundational understanding of essential nursing skills and safety practices.
Externs will observe patient assessments, documentation, care planning, and intervention implementation. They will gain insight into prioritizing care, addressing patient needs, and understanding the coordination of care for patients with complex needs, including those on suicide precautions, restraints, and medicated drips.
Externs will observe interdisciplinary communication and team-based care planning, gaining awareness of effective collaboration with physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals in a clinical setting.
Through case discussions and real-time clinical scenarios, externs will strengthen their analytical skills, applying evidence-based reasoning to assess situations, anticipate outcomes, and support informed clinical decisions.
Externs will learn how NDNQI data informs nursing practice, patient outcomes, and staffing effectiveness. They will explore how quality improvement initiatives and performance metrics enhance care delivery and patient satisfaction.
Externs will develop awareness of cultural, age-related, and individual differences in patient care. Exposure to diverse populations and participation in programs like NICHE rounds will reinforce the importance of culturally competent and personalized care.
Externs will observe leadership in action, gaining exposure to decision-making, team dynamics, and professional accountability. This experience will support the development of confidence, ethical practice, and readiness for future nursing roles.
Provide opportunities to observe real-time nursing care, workflows, and clinical decision-making across various hospital units.
Promote understanding of professional behaviors, effective communication, and teamwork within the healthcare environment through observation.
Inspire critical thinking and self-assessment by reflecting on observed patient interactions and clinical procedures.
Prepare students for future hands-on experiences by building a strong observational foundation in nursing roles and responsibilities.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the program, nurse externs will be able to:
- Describe the workflow, responsibilities, and priorities of registered nurses in different clinical units.
- Identify common nursing interventions and how they contribute to patient outcomes through observation.
- Observe and reflect on professional communication and collaboration among healthcare team members.
- Recognize safe patient care practices and how nurses uphold ethical and legal standards in the clinical setting.
- Articulate the connection between nursing theory and real-world practice based on observed experiences.
- Demonstrate an increased understanding of hospital systems, policies, and interprofessional roles through guided observation.