Internships, Co-ops and Entry Level Jobs in Nursing - What's Right for You?
After graduating from nursing school, every student is eager to find his/her first position in this exciting field. Obtaining an internship is a great way to gain valuable experience and these positions can easily be found by checking with your college career counselor, talking with fellow students and friends, or simply calling area hospitals and physicians to ask if they are interested in having an intern.
Many physicians' offices welcome the extra help and they provide the added benefit of working regular hours with weekends off, something not always available in hospital settings. Hospitals often post internship opportunities on their websites and a quick web search may be all that is needed to find that first entry level job in the medical field. Be aware that not all internships are paid; graduating students have to balance the experience they will be receiving against their financial needs.
Some internships are also competitive and may require the applicant to submit a transcript and references. Competitive internships are usually paid, though, so it is worth the extra effort to apply for these positions. Cooperative education opportunities, also known as co-ops, are another valuable way of gaining entry level job experience. Co-op programs are usually established between schools and prospective employers who have matching needs. Hospitals frequently establish co-op programs with nursing schools. Students are given the opportunity to gain clinical experience, and both the school and the employer oversee the work experience.
Co-ops give nursing students the opportunity to take what they learned in the classroom and apply it in a real-life setting. Many employers also recruit co-op students and interns as future employees, so these can be valuable resources for students preparing to enter the job market. By taking an unpaid or underpaid position for a few months, a nursing student can greatly enhance his/her value as a prospective employee in the medical field. Nothing sells an applicant to a prospective employer like verifiable, real life experience.
Thinking of the co-op or internship experience as a continuing education program that will provide the student with an edge in the competitive job market, makes the lack of salary much more attractive.
Article by a freelance writer
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