No matter what major you pursue in college, internships and externships help bridge the gap between the work you do in the classroom and the real-world situations you’ll encounter in the workplace. What’s the different between the two? During an externship, students typically work and shadow alongside professionals, while at an internship, they take on certain responsibilities and specific tasks. At NYU Rory Meyers School of Nursing, students have access to immersive learning opportunities in world-class facilities throughout New York City. Nursing students Brandon Inahuazo and Chloe Teter both completed externships this summer. Moreover, they say putting theory into practice alongside registered nurses helped increase their confidence working directly with patients.
“During my externship, I was the only nursing student in the room,” explains Chloe. “So, I got to help the nurses do a lot of things beyond taking vitals. This gave me a lot more hands-on experience and really boosted my confidence. Every day I thought to myself, ‘Wow! I can’t believe I’m able to do this and help patients in this way.’”
Chloe spent the summer working with patients suffering from strokes, traumatic brain injuries, and other conditions on the acute rehabilitation floor of NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital. There, she practiced her clinical nursing skills–which she started cultivating in the NYU Meyers Clinical Simulation Learning Center–and discovered the world of rehabilitation.
“I got to work closely with the Rusk Rehabilitation team at NYU Langone,” says Chloe. “They offered physical therapy, occupational therapy, art therapy, and music therapy to patients who needed help relearning certain skills. I had no experience with rehabilitation work before my externship. So it was cool to see how much impact rehab can have on a patient’s overall recovery.”
One-on-One Guidance from Registered Nurses
Nursing student Brandon worked in the Pediatric Oncology/Hematology Unit of NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley’s Children Hospital. Like Chloe, he learned directly from registered nurses and witnessed the dedication they have for their patients. “It’s the nurses who are with the patients around the clock and truly understand their needs,” says Brandon. “They advocate on behalf of their patients and families to make sure they receive the best possible care.”
At NewYork-Presbyterian, Brandon was responsible for assisting with patient tasks. What’s more, he ran labs, took vitals, prepared sterile equipment, and primed IV bags. He also prepared rooms for new admission and observed how nurses gave hand-off reports. When possible, he observed procedures performed by one of the oncology-hematology attending physicians.
“That was a huge perk,” exclaims Brandon. “Overall, I really appreciated the nurses who took me under their wing to show me as much as possible. This was my first time working with children in a healthcare setting. So I was most excited about learning how to have natural and meaningful conversations with pediatric patients, their families, and visitors.”
Real-World Patient Care
Working with real patients in a real hospital setting while receiving mentorship from registered nurses is critical for success when it comes to the nursing profession. However, students who complete internships and externships at NYU Meyers get to practice new skills in a supportive environment and gain extensive experience working directly with patients. Without doubt, developing a positive bedside manner—knowing how to connect with patients and make them feel comfortable—is one of the most important skills you can have as a nurse, says Chloe. And the best way to strengthen this skill is by observing and working alongside registered nurses.
“We all remember the doctors and nurses that made us feel seen and heard versus the ones that were cold and standoffish,” says Chloe. “The nurses at NYU Langone were so amazing with the patients. They were kind, compassionate, and gentle. It made me realize that your bedside manner as a nurse can really impact a patient’s healing process. Putting a patient first and really being there for them? That’s the biggest lesson I learned from my externship.”
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