Nursing Externship

Boone Hospital Center is excited to announce a Winter Nurse Externship Program (NEP) opportunity for qualified nursing students. Nurse externs selected for this program will work in the clinical setting with highly qualified preceptors. The program is structured to allow the nurse extern to see patients on a continuum of care throughout the hospital experience. The nurse extern is guided by a nurse mentor who oversees his/her experience in the various clinical settings from December 16, 2024 through January 11, 2025.  The nurse extern will have the flexibility to work 108 hours in an 4-week period.  Accepted nurse externs will be hired as temporary staff and receive an hourly rate of $17.09 per hour for hours spent in the nurse extern role. Position is eligible for shift differentials.

Under the guidance of Boone Hospital registered nurse mentors and preceptors, nurse externs will have the opportunity to:

1. Provide direct patient care and perform clinical nursing skills
2. Increase level of clinical competence and clinical judgment by observing care in various clinical settings
3. Refine communication skills with patients, families and other health care providers
4. Enhance skills in the areas of critical reasoning, decision-making, delegation, priority setting, organization, and teamwork through dialogue with preceptors, mentor and other members of the health care team
5. Develop professional relationships with unit staff
6. Demonstrate increased professional accountability
7. Assume responsibility to seek potential learning experiences
8. Explore, as a pre-professional, the scope of professional nursing practice

Externs will be under the supervision of experienced registered nurses and work in the hospital setting where the newest medical advances are coupled with excellent nursing care. Externs will be expected to work the schedule of the assigned preceptor which may include weekends, nights and holidays. This position is not eligible for overtime and should be scheduled 40 hours or less per week, up to 108 hours.

There will be six areas of focus that interested participants can apply for:

• Medical area of focus where the nurse extern has the potential to work with preceptors from the following settings: Medical Specialties unit, Dialysis unit, GI Lab, Diabetes Clinic, Pulmonary Function Testing lab, Pain Clinic, Intensive Care Unit
• Surgical area of focus where the nurse extern has the potential to work with preceptors from the following settings: Pre-op, Operating Room (General Surgery), Post-op acute care, Surgical Specialties unit, Orthopedic Specialties unit, Wound Clinic, Intensive Care Unit
• Neurological area of focus where the nurse extern has the potential to work with preceptors from the following settings: Neurology unit, Inpatient Rehab unit, EEG Lab, Operating Room, Post-op Acute Care, Radiology Specials, Intensive Care Unit
• Cardiovascular area of focus where the nurse extern has the potential to work with preceptors from the following settings: Cardiac Cath Lab, Cardiovascular Unit, Operating Room, Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Rehab
• Maternal Child Heath area of focus where the nurse extern has the potential to work with preceptors from the following settings: Labor and Delivery, Post-Partum, Well Baby Nursery, Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery, Childbirth classes, Lactation consultations
• Intensive Care area of focus where the nurse extern has the potential to work with preceptors from the following settings: All adult ICU, Emergency Department, Cardiac Cath Lab, Operating Room

To be eligible for consideration for the NEP, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Enrollment in an approved nursing program
2. Completion of two semesters of clinical experience prior to the start of the externship experience (December 2024)
3. Senior status in current nursing program
4. Verification of good academic standing in current nursing program
5. Attainment of a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale (verified by unofficial transcript)
6. Expected graduation from approved program by May 2025 or December 2025.

If you meet the above criteria, we invite you to complete and submit the following by October 3, 2024:

• BHC Winter 2024 Nurse Externship Program Application
• An essay of interest is also required (note specific essay guidelines in application)
• Unofficial transcript showing completion of two semesters of clinical experience, senior status in nursing program, cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale
• Resume (no more than 2 pages in length)
• Two (2) letters of recommendation (see specific form in application link) Must be submitted from person providing recommendation. Applicants are responsible for assuring recommendations are sent from person providing. Recommendation forms should be completed by a school faculty member or work supervisor if employed.

Packet Submission Process:

• Electronic submission REQUIRED using option below:
  1. Visit BHC Winter 2024 Nurse Externship Program Application and fill out online electronic application and upload required attachments
• Letters of recommendation should be sent by the person providing recommendation
• If you experience problems sending documents electronically, email tyson.cason@boone.health for further assistance

Potential Applicants will be chosen to participate in an interview either in-person or virtual on October 8^th, 9^th, and 11^th between 0800-1700. The interview will last about 30 minutes. (note interview time block referencing in application)

All decisions for selection of externs will be made by Mid-October. All applicants will be notified by email. Externs must arrange their own housing.