During summer ‘23, a total of 517 nursing students were employed in our hospitals, participating in the annual externship program. This successful program has been in operation for many years, allowing future healthcare professionals to gain bedside experience and provide care to patients under the supervision of a veteran nurse. The program guidelines and skills checklist are scrutinized to ensure guidelines are met. Many of these externs return to the same hospital for full-time employment after graduation.
A total of 38 hospitals partnered with 20 schools of nursing, making this year’s program the largest group of participants to date.
The program begins with the election and meeting of an Externship Committee that leads to the application approval process. This is followed by hospital recruiting, school of nursing course configuration and enrollment, job queries and interviews, orientations both at MHA and at hospitals, and qualified preceptors who mentor these students through health procedures and practices. The SON instructors are in communication with the hospital representatives to ensure their students are achieving success on the floor. The Externship Committee is available throughout the summer for questions and/or direction. The extern works a total of 320 hours in order to receive 3 hours course credit.
Three of the state’s Planning and Development Districts support this important program with funding. Those PDDs are:
Central Mississippi Planning and Development District: Provided salary reimbursement and tuition fee for the student (115 externs)
South Delta Planning and Development District: Provided salary reimbursement (20 students)
South Mississippi Planning and Development District: Provided salary reimbursement (21 students)
Questions on how to participate in ‘24? Contact Robin Powell or 601-368-3321.