Nursing students can take their classroom learning and apply it to real-world experiences—all while getting paid! The nurse externship program at Meadville Medical Center provides a setting in which nursing students can care for patients alongside other healthcare professionals, build relationships with colleagues, gain confidence in their work, and experience a true work culture and environment—all before graduating their program! Requirements for the nurse externship include:
“Be ready to learn. Be ready to become the nurse that you wanted to be when you started freshman year of nursing school.”
Kirsten Devore, BSN/RN went through the extern program at Meadville Medical Center before taking a full-time position in the ICU. In this video, she discusses what sets MMC’s extern program apart in the fact that externs can switch areas to ensure they are getting the most out of their learning opportunities and pursing their strengths.
If you are unsure of the specialty in which you want to work, Meadville Medical Center is willing to rotate you through clinical units allowing time to find your fit before graduation! Externs work 1-on-1 with an RN, assisting with all aspects of patient care. Day, evening and night shifts are available, and externs may choose to work 4, 8, or 12-hour shifts. You choose your schedule!
Clinical units for the externship are available in the following areas:
Most nurse externs in the program at Meadville Medical Center are going into full-time employment after graduation. In fact, 18 of the 19 externs from MMC’s Spring 2024 program accepted employment, and all hires landed positions within their preferred specialty!
Meadville Medical Center will accept an RN application from an extern and if offered, will hold the position for 1 year prior to extern’s graduation. As of August 2024, many of our nursing positions also come with a guaranteed sign-on bonus.
Before gaining any kind of clinical experience, Kayla Freund worked in various positions in which she had to interact with people, whether it was bartending, billing, or customer service. She decided to return to school at Edinboro University (now PennWest) for nursing and utilize opportunities offered at Meadville Medical Center, such as the extern program, for real-world nursing experience.
The extern program at MMC also offered Kayla flexibility to work on her nursing education while still working to support herself financially. Whereas some students enjoy the ability to work a couple days each week, Kayla needed to work full time while attending school as an adult student, and pick up shifts when she could as an extern. Not only was Kayla able to work alongside RNs and gain valuable patient care experience, her externship allowed her to focus on really understanding important subjects, like medication management, and seemingly basic but essential skills, such as time management. A self-admitted “people person who has to stay busy”, Kayla began her externship in medical surgical before moving on to wound care and then intensive care unit. Eventually, she was also able to shift her professional focus and schedule exclusively to the extern program, choosing to work 40-hour weeks while pursing her bachelor’s degree.
“Essentially, the nurse extern program at MMC helps you build confidence and sets you up for success. As an extern, you will learn how to make clinical decisions and build a rapport with people. You’re here to work, but especially to learn, and this will help you find your niche in the field of nursing.”
Chloe Leech has had a more direct path to her nursing career, and one that shows that getting a foot in the door can lead to bigger opportunities!
She began her career at Meadville Medical Center as a patient care technician after her freshman year of college at Edinboro University (now PennWest). She transitioned to the role of nurse extern following her sophomore year. Chloe has already been offered a full-time nursing position at MMC, and will be working exclusively in the ICU starting May 2025 after graduation.
“The extern program has been beyond valuable in helping me gain experience and confidence as I prepare to be a nurse. It provides hands on experience and gives a clinical picture of concepts learned about in school. Meadville Medical Center has been very accommodating with my schedule, allowing me to work while receiving my education. The guidance I have received from experienced nurses has provided me with knowledge that cannot be obtained in any classroom setting, and I would encourage every nursing student to take advantage of this opportunity.”
