I enjoy working with organ transplant patients at Mayo Clinic.
What I wish was different
Better staffing ratios. Worked understaffed regularly.
Advice
This is a humbling position, I would encourage others to try something similar as it can change your perception.
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Nurse Extern
June - July 2019 • Phoenix, AZ
What I liked
I loved the experiences I gained and the relationships I created during this externship. The nursing externship gave me opportunities that my clinicals could not provide alone. I was able to strengthen my nursing skills, further practice fostering a therapeutic relationship with patients, collaborate in an interprofessional team, gain knowledge about the specialties on my floor, and experience working full-time nursing shifts. I have also made new friends and expanded my network that I will value for a lifetime. This summer job further reinforced my passion and love for nursing that I already had and I would do it again if I could.
What I wish was different
During my externship, I was one of the first externs to experience the ambulatory side of nursing. Learning about this side of nursing expanded my knowledge about the different fields that I could go into. Although I enjoyed my time, this was scheduled in the middle of my externship. What I wished to be different was that this would be moved to the beginning because I felt like I was just beginning to building a relationship with my preceptor and adjusting to being on the med-surg floor and then I had to readjust again to a different environment. Overall, I did enjoy my time in the ambulatory floor.
Advice
The one piece of advice I would share is to make the most of this externship and use it to grow. This externship is just like a two-month interview and it is an experience that is completely different from clinicals and nursing school. Take this opportunity to strengthen your skills, to step out of your comfort zone, and to soak up as much knowledge as you can.
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Data Analysis Assistant
June - August 2019 • Jacksonville, FL
What I liked
I liked getting to be surrounded by residents and doctors and immersed in the “behind the scenes” parts of being a doctor.
What I wish was different
I wish there had been more shadowing and hands on experiences involved.
Advice
Think of the data entry as training your focus and mental endurance for long tests like the MCAT.
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Alcohol and Drug Counselor
May - August 2019 • Austin, MN
What I liked
The people i worked with
What I wish was different
I wish its paid
Advice
Get out of your comfort zone. I hated the chemical dependency area but i stepped out my vomfort zone to learn and face my own biases
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Nursing eduction
May 2019 • Jacksonville, FL
What I liked
The atmosphere and the people there.
What I wish was different
More interaction with medical type material/experience
Advice
Live in the moment and enjoy it
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Researching Restenosis via Extracellular vesicles
April 2019 • Jacksonville, FL
What I liked
I love the fact that it was through Mayo Clinic's network system, the work did not have to be at Mayo Clinic lab, rather it was through our own resources such that of UNF's Library system or from libraries around Jacksonville.
What I wish was different
Advice
Allow yourself to be open minded, always crave to learn, any "wrong" door you've open or turned too will open new experiences.
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Undergraduate Researcher
May - August 2019 • Rochester, MN
What I liked
I very much enjoyed the hands on research experience and dedication of the professors and graduate school that made it possible.
What I wish was different
Nothing comes to mind.
Advice
Approach the opportunity with an open mind and confidence that you will develop as a student and as a scientist.
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Nurse Technichian
May 2019 • Rochester, MN
What I liked
I loved getting experience working in a hospital setting as more of a patient care tech, while still getting to do a few nursing skills. I also loved the support that I got from the nurses on my floor, and their willingness to show me cool things that were going on.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had the opportunity to complete more nursing skills that I was allowed to do under my job title.
Advice
Don’t be afraid to apply for this job just because it is not an internship, I honestly enjoyed it more than I would have an internship because I was allowed to do a lot more and have freedom.
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Undergraduate research fellow
May - August 2019 • Rochester, MN
What I liked
Excellent facilities. Faculty were exceptionally knowledgeable and outgoing. The additional events (weekly lectures, Grand rounds, social events) were very enriching.
What I wish was different
No recommendations
Advice
Do not be intimidated by the SURF programs around the country. And be prepared to work hard and learn a lot.
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Student Nurse Intern
June - August 2019 • La Crosse, WI
What I liked
This internship gave real world experience, knowledge and skills used in the nursing profession, above and beyond what we learn in clinical for school. You work as a nurse for the entire summer and build the confidence to do the job upon graduating.
What I wish was different
Advice
Make sure you participate in a summer job. I think it is the single most important thing to do throughout nursing school. I would feel so far behind if i hadn't. It also makes the final year of school easier as you have already had experience as a professional nurse.
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Nurse Technician
May 2019 • Rochester, MN
What I liked
The hospital experience of learning how nurses function on a day to day basis!
What I wish was different
Nothing!
Advice
This is a perfect position for student's in their third year of the nursing program. You will learn many things and gain valuable hospital experience!
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Summer research student
May - August 2019 • Rochester, MN
What I liked
Working in a formal lab setting, where I had an independent project to work on, and wonderful and knowledgeable people who I got to work with.
What I wish was different
I ended up coding more than I would have liked to.
Advice
Don’t be afraid to ask researchers or physicians about connections they might have to people in your field of interest. That is one of the best ways to find a research setting that fits you.
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Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow
June - August 2019 • Rochester, MN
What I liked
I greatly appreciated the opportunity to dive into intensive neuroscience research, learn new techniques, and experience the community of Mayo Clinic.
What I wish was different
I wasn't able to participate in some of the social events for other SURF interns because I started a few weeks later. That said, I would have liked to get to know the other interns better over the summer.
Advice
Ask questions! This internship is a fantastic way to discern future career goals and learn if a research career is right for you!
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Undergradute Research
May - August 2019 • Rochester, MN
What I liked
It was in the field that I hope to go into, so it was amazing to get some hands-on experience to see if I am going in the right direction. My job also involved a lot of data collection and statistical analysis which I enjoyed greatly. Overall I had an amazing experience and learned a lot about research and business in general.
What I wish was different
There was not a lot of variety in the skills I was learning, they were mostly computer skills and I was hoping to learn some more lab skills and do some bench work.
Advice
If you are interested in applying for this position, start early. Be emailing prospective labs by December for sure. In my experience, it took a long time to get things set up. It also really helps if you know someone at Mayo that can perhaps help.
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Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow
May - August 2019 • Rochester, MN
What I liked
I loved it there, working with stem cells was a blast!
What I wish was different
Wish I could have spent more than 10 weeks there.
Advice
Try to make friends quickly and go to every event they let you, that's how I made friends and connections.
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Nurse Extern
May - July 2019 • Phoenix, AZ
What I liked
I loved that I was assigned one preceptor to work with throughout the 8-week program. The staff was extremely welcoming and very helpful. As a nurse extern assigned to the orthopedic, urology, and acute rehabilitation unit, I had the opportunity to practice nursing skills including foley insertion, IV insertion, bladder scans, assessments, and charting. I also had the opportunity to shadow a nurse in the outpatient orthopedic clinic for 2 weeks, which allowed me to view 6 orthopedic surgeries (including a forequarter amputation, knee replacements, and hip replacements).
What I wish was different
I wish that we had the chance to administer medications to our patients but unfortunately we were unable to under our preceptor's license.
Advice
The application is only open for a couple of days so make sure to prepare your application materials early!
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Health and Wellness Specialist
May - August 2019 • Rochester, MN
What I liked
The environment was extremely welcoming and was an incredible learning experience. The individuals that I worked with were invested in my understanding of the tasks I had to perform.
What I wish was different
The shift times are unconventional and therefore was difficult to adjust. However, this promoted opportunities for growth and becoming comfortable adjusting.
Advice
Integrate yourself. This was such an incredible learning experience and in order to enhance experiential growth it is important to become familiar with your coworkers and learn from their successes and failures.
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Data Analyst Intern
June 2019 • Rochester, MN
What I liked
I loved the people that I worked with, and the values that Mayo Clinic employees have and keep to.
What I wish was different
I worked in an office with little interaction with people every day, so I wish that was different.
Advice
Networking is KEY!
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Nurse Tech
May 2019 • Rochester, MN
What I liked
The experience
What I wish was different
I wish could have done more. I basically did only CNA stuff with the occasion of more tasks.
