Nurse Extern Program
The Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital Nurse Externship Program (NEXT) is an eight-week, paid summer externship that was designed to foster accelerated learning in the field of nursing in a variety of clinical settings. The extern will work side-by-side with a registered nurse, providing hands-on patient care, and developing clinical reasoning skills necessary for delivering quality patient care.
There are externship opportunities in a variety of clinical specialties and with the diverse patient populations served at LCRH. These include critical care, progressive care / step down, emergency, obstetrics, behavioral health, surgical services, and more. Additional clinical education and professional development opportunities will be provided. There is also the possibility of continued work opportunities at LCRH.
THE NURSE EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM ASSISTS STUDENTS IN DEVELOPING A GREATER LEVEL OF SELF-CONFIDENCE AND GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, CRITICAL THINKING, TIME-MANAGEMENT SKILLS, AND CLINICAL COMPETENCE.
Program Objectives
The NEXT summer externship program was designed to:
- Foster accelerated learning in the field of nursing in a variety of clinical settings
- Provide students in nursing with an opportunity to enhance previously learned skills under the supervision of experienced registered nurses in the healthcare setting
- Assist students of nursing with experience in a work situation appropriate to their potential as a future registered nurse
- Prepare students of nursing to assume responsibilities of full-time employees with respect to performance, requirements, policies, and procedures of a health care agency
- Encourage retention of nursing graduates through provision of supplemental practice experience within the workplace
Program Overview
The NEXT program includes:
- 8 week program - 1 week orientation, 7 weeks on the floor
- Ability to remain onboard throughout the remaining school year in a PRN capacity
- (3) 12-hour shifts per week following the preceptor's work schedule.
- Generally this includes working every other weekend
- No overtime will be scheduled
- Each extern will receive a minimum of 2 observation experiences
- Weekly check-in meetings conducted by HR and Staff Education to help strengthen the externship experienced
- Graduation celebration held during the last week of the program
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be activiely enrolled an accredited nursing program (ADN or BSN)
- Be entering into the final year of the nursing program with expected graduation by spring semester
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater (out of a 4.0 scale)
- Must have a valid CPR card
- Must have completed at least one acute care clinical rotation
Application Requirements
Successful applicants will submit:
- Resume
- Official cumulative transcript at the end of the semester preceding SNEP program
- One letter of reference from a clinical faculty member
- Applicants must download and have instructors complete and sign off on the Extern Skill List
Selection Process
Applicants for the Nurse EXTern Summer Transition Program will be evaluated based on review of their work history, academic performance, references, application packet, and interviews with facility leadership.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, please contact the LCRH HR Department at 606.451.3745.