Internships and Externships

What are Internships and Externships?

As you prepare to embark on your professional journey, you may encounter opportunities to participate in “internships” or “externships.” These terms may be used interchangeably or have slightly different/overlapping meanings between facilities offering these opportunities. In general, internship opportunities are longer immersions that require the student “employee” to perform entry-level tasks for a company and work alongside company members. In contrast, externships are usually only a few weeks long, and externs don’t usually perform independent work. Externs are usually assigned to an employee “preceptor,” who they will shadow at work, providing an in-depth look at the role the extern is pursuing. In the New Jersey region, relative to the professional goals of FDU School of Nursing & Allied Health students, “externships” are most commonly pursued. 

Immersive Experiences for Allied Health and Health Studies Students

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies or Allied Health are encouraged to seek out and participate in internships, externships, and other immersive experiences to complement their university education. These invaluable opportunities for learning and networking enable students to:

• Practice and build on classroom learning in a real-world setting.
• Examine a setting and professional roles “up close” to consider its appeal.
• Develop one’s professional network and identify professional mentors.

Students who take MEDT 4307 (Health Studies Practicum) as part of their program plan are often able to apply their time in an immersive experience toward the required practicum hours in this course. For example, students who complete an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training program while enrolled at FDU can use these hours toward meeting the practicum hour requirements for MEDT 4307. 

Externships for Nursing Students

Nurse externships are highly encouraged for BSN students during the summer between junior and senior years, when students have the prerequisites to apply for an externship opportunity. Nurse externships are usually hospital-based, 8- to 10-week structured programs that take place between May and August, and are designed to enhance student skills and confidence. During the program, externs work closely with RN preceptors to assess patient needs, plan, and deliver interdisciplinary care, and perform basic clinical skills safely and competently. These programs not only benefit student nurses to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world experiences, but also help to create a pipeline of well-trained nursing professionals for the hospital, as nurse externs often continue on to employment in the setting.

Externships generally involve a competitive application process that usually begins in the fall semester.  Applications generally open in November and close in early December, so that interviews can begin in January. Students must be in good academic standing, have completed a substantive number of clinical courses, and accept responsibility for adhering to an orientation and work schedule. It is highly advisable that students have considered the need to obtain letters of recommendation well in advance of the application deadline, as these may be challenging to obtain from faculty on short notice. When requesting a letter of recommendation, students should provide the recommender information about (1) yourself, including related awards, skills, and interests; (2) your academic program/academic achievement; and (3) why you want to pursue the externship/why you would be an excellent fit for the opportunity.  It is best to send the recommender a copy of any essay/question responses that you are submitting with the application so that the letter of recommendation aligns with your answers. 

Students who complete an approved externship will be able to apply their experience toward assignments in NURS 4600 during the senior year.  (To learn more about this waiver, contact Professor Kelly: l.kelly@fdu.edu).

To facilitate externship participation, SNAH maintains the following list of regional externship opportunities for BSN students to use as starting points for identifying an externship that meets their needs and interests. Students are encouraged to check here frequently for new opportunities and changes to existing programs, as well as to pass along information about other opportunities (email snah-hs@fdu.edu) so that our list continues to grow.