The Best Student Nurse Internships And How To Get Them

Just like with other jobs, there are student nurse internships too. These internships can help you land your first job quicker and teach you important skills.

If you have ever been curious about getting an internship, then read on. I’ll explain everything you ever wondered and answer all your questions.

Student Nurse Internships

The first place you should always go with any questions about internships in your area is your local nursing college. Tons of internships and externships are set up through the school.

You might think you got plenty of experience in your clinicals, but you will gain deeper and more varieties of experiences through an internship.

Let’s look at everything you need to know about internships – are they required, how much they pay, and how to get one.

Are Nursing Internships Paid?

This is a very difficult question to answer since every internship is different. Due to the amount of work you will do as a nurse, it’s best to look for one that pays.

Lots of things affect how much you will earn as an intern. It depends on the average wage of your area, and how much the employer wants to pay interns.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly wages for student nurse internships is about $14 per hour. Some interns reported earning as low as minimum wage and others reported being as high as $25 per hour.

Are Student Nurse Internships Required?

The requirements are different from school to school. In general, most nursing colleges do not require you to complete an internship to earn your BSN.

If they aren’t required, why do most nurses want to do an internship?

An internship can help you build relationships with your potential employer. It can also teach you things that you didn’t learn in your clinicals about the depth and day-to-day responsibilities of nursing.

Even if they aren’t required for your degree, it might be a really good idea. Just make sure you choose a paid one if you can.

What Do You Do As A Nurse Intern

Your responsibilities as an intern also depend on your specific internship. You can expect to work directly with an RN mentor anywhere from 24-40 hours per week. You could work rotating shifts, so it’s not a good idea to be an intern while you have classes to attend.

If you want a really good example of what to expect from a nursing internship, check out this page from St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Hartford. You’ll see that the responsibilities include working directly with a nurse mentor to assist patients with things that CNA’s typically do as well (feeding, cleaning, elimination, hygiene) and fetching documents for the nurses.

How To Get Student Nurse Internships

Now that you know a little bit about it, how do you go about landing an internship?

Be prepared for some competition. Paid internships are very competitive, so look and apply early. How early should you look? Try to search and apply about one semester ahead of time.

Networking will also help you stand out. Make friends with staff at the hospital and gain some positive references. Talk to your professors and ask them for help standing out from the other applicants.

Then, after you find the one you want, apply for it. Most internships are posted on job boards and you can apply directly on their website.

Student Nurse Internships Abroad

Another internship option is to work abroad. Work the World allows nurse interns to pay for experiences in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. You’ll gain unforgettable skills and experiences with people in other cultures while getting the chance to see the world at the same time.

The downside is that you have to pay for yourself. The cost includes everything though – private accommodation, all your food, free wi-fi and a supervised hospital placement in one of our partner hospitals. You will have to pay for your flights separately. It’s basically like an all-inclusive vacation that also gives you amazing job skills at the same time.

No matter what you choose – internship or no internship – you can’t downplay how important networking or even finding a mentor is. Talk to your professors and make friends with people at potential jobs, and you’ll go far as a nurse.