Kettering Health

Nurse Extern

May - June 2022 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

I was on Nightshift in the ICU and I liked how I was able to work as if I was a nurse. Taking over medications, charting, monitoring the IVs. Most of the nurses were willing to answer any questions I had. Even though I didn't get the unit I requested, I learned enough to help out my next semester of school.

What I wish was different

It wasn't organized in some areas. Like the pay schedules. Sometimes it took a while for the people running the externship to respond (more than 48 hours). I also wish that I hadn't externed with a charge nurse because she didn't get many patients. So I felt like I learned less than I could've from a nurse with patients.

Advice

Take initiative. Most nurses like to take control over their tasks and forget that you need experience. So if your nurse is doing something that you can learn or can do, make sure you ask to learn or do it. Go ahead and ask the other nurses (even if they're mean, at least you tried) for experiences as well. IVs, foley insertions, NG insertion, putting up IVs, etc.

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Nurse Extern

May - July 2021 • Centerville, OH

What I liked

I liked the independence of learning the role of the nurse and growing in my clinical experience.

What I wish was different

Communication within the organization.

Advice

Step outside your comfort zone to grow yourself as well as meet new people. It always helps to be more well rounded socially!

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RN

January 2019 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

Interacting with the patients and families

What I wish was different

Commute

Advice

Great place to work

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Volunteer

May - August 2019 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

Seek out experience in your chosen career field any time you can! This experience helped me learn so much.

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Summer Nursing Extern

May - August 2019 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

Great beginning nursing experience, treated like a Kettering employee, not just a student.

What I wish was different

Possibly been on a different unit with slightly more skills practice.

Advice

Everyone should seek an experience like this at some point in their nursing schooling since it gives an edge with regards to job opportunities and experience before graduation.

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Student Nurse Extern

May - July 2019 • Kettering, OH

What I liked

I loved the hands on experience I was able to receive working alongside nurses on the floor.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have had the opportunity to work on other floors or units to see how they differed from the type of unit I worked on.

Advice

I would suggest trying to get into some type of internship like this where you can get hands on experience in the field. It was a wonderful opportunity to apply what I have learned in school and gain more confidence before graduating and working on my own.

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