To assist with recruiting nurses, VUMC Nursing Education and Professional Development has relaunched the Vanderbilt Nurse Externship (NEXT), an eight-week paid summer externship targeted for prelicensure nursing students who have completed two clinical rotations.
NEXT, which has been revitalized and enhanced at Vanderbilt University Hospital and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, is designed for externs to gain hands-on clinical experience, working with adult or pediatric patients in a care area or track that interests them. Externs will acquire valuable skills, gain self-confidence, and increase clinical competency under the supervision of experienced nurse preceptors.
About 70 students, known as NEXTerns, are participating in the program this summer.
“The NEXT curriculum gives nurses a unique perspective on patient care and what it looks like to be a nurse,” said Kathryn Collier, MSN, RN, NEXT Lead and Nursing Education Specialist. “NEXTerns consistently say the immersive learning experience has been very valuable in learning how to interact and care for patients.”
Sacajawea Alsobrook, a nursing student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee, said, “I gained enough confidence that I was able to start vitals without my preceptor (and) help other nurses and care partners if needed.”
The program’s purpose is to increase pathways to Vanderbilt’s Nurse Residency Program, a 12-month program that supports newly licensed RNs after graduation as they transition to professional nurses.
“We wanted to create an opportunity for nursing students to enhance their preparation for transitioning to practice,” said Crystal Jackson, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, senior director of Nursing Education and Professional Development.
Participants will have the opportunity to attend training in nursing specialties such as cardiac, neuro, medicine, surgery and trauma and engage in interprofessional shadowing opportunities within their track. These opportunities enhance participant understanding of complementary roles that impact patient experiences within their specialty.
NEXT also provides a gateway to further career opportunities at VUMC. As employees, NEXT participants are eligible to transition to a care partner role at VUMC based on their availability and schedule.
The program is open to VUMC and non-VUMC staff currently enrolled in an associate, bachelor’s or prelicensure master’s nursing program who are within 12 months of graduating and have completed two clinical rotations.
“I feel more confident after this experience and know I have grown a lot during my time throughout this externship program,” said Addison McGinnis, a nursing student at Middle Tennessee State University. “I know I can continue to grow in each of these areas and have a lot I can continue to learn. (I am) thankful for a preceptor and staff that pushed me to be my best.”
