Nurse Extern - UofL Health

UofL Health is offering nursing students three-level nurse externships in which externs will be immersed in the role of a professional nurse. At UofL Health our nursing students have the opportunity to work in a variety of clinical specialties with the diverse patient population we serve.

The three-level nurse externship will provide the opportunity to work side-by-side with professional nursing staff providing hands-on patient care and help externs develop clinical reasoning skills necessary for quality patient care delivery.

Jumpstart your nursing career and apply to the 2025 UofL Health Nurse Extern Program today!

Admission Criteria

• Rolling admission once the candidate meets qualifications.
• Actively enrolled in an accredited nursing program
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA
• Completed Nursing Fundamentals
• Two letters of recommendation from nursing faculty
• Resume
• Exemplar on goals participation/cover letter
• Successful interview
• AHA BLS for Healthcare Provider
• Unofficial transcript

Nurse Extern 1

• PRN position
• Scheduled observations for specialty areas (ED, OR, PACU, etc.)
• Applications and start dates open October 1 and run through April 19th
• Duties as per the job description of a PCA

Summer Extern Intensive
Program Dates: May 12-July 18, 2024

• Eight-week program
• Anticipated graduation date from September 2025-September 2026
• Directly precepted by an RN in the clinical area of interest

Work Toward Validated Competency to
Meet Extern 2 Criteria
Eight-Week Intensive - Matched to a Unit

• Directly precepted by RN
• 24 hours per week (One week vacation allowed)
• Complete nurse extern 2 skills checkoffs
• Immersed in the role of the RN, refining skills:
  • Physical assessment
  • Medication administration
  • Documentation
  • Clinical reasoning
• Performs all RN skills under the direct supervision of RN preceptor
• Performs nurse extern 2 skills independently, following each skill check off
• Performs PCA skills independently

Nurse Extern 2

Upon successful completion of the summer intensive:

• Must continue to meet all nurse extern 1 criteria
• Successfully completes all nurse extern 2 competencies
• Successful interview with the unit manager for nurse extern 2 selection
• PRN position