The organization and the people I got to work with were fantastic. The Physical Therapists were incredibly nice and took many efforts to incorporate me into their work either through having me partake in a therapy session with a client, have me observe the therapist as they guide a client through their therapy session, have me guide the clients through their therapy, or by showing me how a therapist would put together a therapy schedule and routine for a patient for severe different recovery courses. The clients were also fantastic to help through their therapy or to just talk to as they were doing ice therapy. I felt as if I was truly able to connect with each of the clients, which made the satisfaction I felt after helping them each day that much greater.
What I wish was different
As the internship largely involved introduction into a therapy setting and how a therapy organization functions, I wish I had been given the opportunity to see therapy from more sides than just one. I spent the summer observing and helping out the aquatic therapy center on campus, and as much as I enjoyed my time there, the observation became less and less engaging as time went on due to repeated exposure to the same routines. I would have loved to have given an opportunity to see other facilities on campus, learn about the kinds of therapy they do, and partake in the different kinds of therapy they do to get a more general observation and educational experience in many fields rather than in only one field of therapy.
Advice
The advice I would share would be to make the most of the learning experience something like this internship can provide. In regards to therapy, health, and people you get to me, take in as much as you can and learn as much as you can. It makes things like this internship exponentially more rewarding.
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CCU Nurse
March 2007 • Greenville, SC
What I liked
Small enough to not get lost, but leading advancements in some fields.
What I wish was different
Leadership has been taken over by management.
Advice
Take every opportunity given to learn a new skill.
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Nurse Extern
June - July 2019 • Richmond, VA
What I liked
Everyone was very welcoming and eager to enhance my learning throughout my externship!
What I wish was different
I wish I could have been allowed to do more with medications.
Advice
Apply for externship sand internships everywhere you will learn so much and get great resources and networking once you are done.
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Bon Secours Intern
May - August 2019 • Midlothian, VA
What I liked
It was a great feel for how a hospital operates. I was placed in multiple positions which gave me a great overview for the hospital setting
What I wish was different
Advice
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Nurse Extern
June - July 2019 • Newport News, VA
What I liked
Amazing staff and great working environment!
What I wish was different
Advice
Go in with an open mind and be willing to help whenever necessary.
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Nurse Extern
June - July 2019 • Richmond, VA
What I liked
I loved the autonomy I was given throughout my externship. My preceptor encouraged me to take charge of the care and prioritization of our patients, and I gained essential nursing critical thinking skills as a result. I was able to provide care for higher acuity patients than I had been exposed to so far in nursing school. I gained experience communicating with the interdisciplinary team involved in patient care, working with physicians, nurse practitioners, and physical therapists.
What I wish was different
The only limit to my practice will in this position was that I was unable to administer medications or blood products. I would have liked to have been able to perform these interventions, but it is somewhat common for student nurses to be restricted from this because we have not yet obtained a nursing license.
Advice
If you are applying for this position, I would recommend applying to a floor or unit in the hospital that you have not yet been exposed to. It was really valuable to me that I was able to be exposed to a different patient population than I had previously worked with.
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Revenue Cycle Intern
August 2018 • Richmond, VA
What I liked
The opportunity to engage and assist on several projects throughout the Revenue Cycle.
What I wish was different
Opportunity to assist or witness the merger the company/health system is currently undergoing.
Advice
Always reach out project managers for work and the ability to simply learn the job requirement's of their department. The main objective of any intern, regardless of industry is to remain indispensable. Become an asset to connected departments and then your superiors will acknowledge your value.
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Nurse Extern
June - August 2018 • Richmond, VA
What I liked
I liked that I was able to have hands on experience in a nursing setting, as well as one on one experience with a registered nurse on a medical surgical floor. I was able to increase my skill set this summer, and encounter patients that had complex issues. These issues were not just physical, they were psychological, financial, and emotional issues as well.
What I wish was different
Nothing, overall I loved my experience with Bon Secours, and would highly recommend it to other nursing students.
Advice
That I was able to improve my nursing skills in just one summer, I learned so much and have grown as a student nurse from this experience. I have noticed now starting school again that I do not feel as behind as I did, I truly grew because of Bon Secour's.
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Shadow
June 2018 • Suffern, NY
What I liked
This shadowing program provided me with experience within a hospital setting. I observed internists of varying specialties such as Nephrology, Neurology, Cardiology and others as they made their rounds. This program also gave me the opportunity to witness the live action within an operating room with a vascular surgeon. This internship provided with a more medical school-like experience. I was introduced to the differences between specialties, but most importantly, I feel more prepared for my future!
