[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing internships and practicums provide nursing students with real-world experience that can help their future careers. Internships and practicums take place at hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities near students’ schools or, particularly for online learners, their homes.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Nursing Internships versus Clinical Practicums[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Both internships and practicums offer clinical training and a hands-on preview of direct patient care. Interns work under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN), learning entry-level [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//soft-skills-for-successful-nurses/”]nursing skills[/hen-ui-link] in a safe environment. Students may intern in the summer, typically during 10-week blocks, or during the school year.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]However, internships are usually independent of school requirements and not supervised by faculty. Internship hours do not often count toward clinical requirements for [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/”]bachelor of science in nursing[/hen-ui-link] students which can total 800-1,000 hours. Rather, interns are typically paid and considered an employee of the healthcare practice.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A practicum is a required part of [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/common-courses-you-will-take-for-your-rn-degree/”]nursing schools[/hen-ui-link] and usually paired with a seminar or theory component.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Practicums also involve supervision by [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/”]an RN[/hen-ui-link] but are often supervised by a faculty member too. Tasks tend to be more academically oriented. Practicum hours vary but the time commitments are less than in clinical internships. Practicums are not paid, but the hours will count toward required clinical hours.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What to Expect From Your Nursing Internship or Practicum[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing internships and practicums offer different types of experiences within the [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/”]nursing career[/hen-ui-link]. Interns may provide more patient care under supervision. Practicum learners might observe more while assisting healthcare professionals.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Internship and Practicum Experience[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Clinical interns take care of real patients in real medical facilities under an assigned preceptor. Their daily duties can include evaluating patients’ conditions, administering medication, and assisting patients with bathing, dressing, and eating. Patients may be wary of a student nurse, so students must set them at ease.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Practicums often focus on support tasks, such as updating patients’ charts, along with watching nurses’ interactions with their patients. Students [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//internships-and-volunteer-opportunities/”]shadow a nurse[/hen-ui-link] or other healthcare mentor and also receive guidance from their professors.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Practicum components may include lab work, classroom learning, and clinical observation. The goal of practicums is to apply theory to the workplace. Students sometimes struggle to complete their practicum hours while juggling other courses and clinical hours.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Work Settings[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing student internships and practicums take place in a healthcare setting, where students can gain the experience they need to succeed in their future careers. Potential [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//internships-and-volunteer-opportunities/”]internship[/hen-ui-link] settings include hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and doctors’ offices. Nursing schools help place students in an internship or practicum environment that suits their academic needs and career goals. [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/online-nursing-programs-overview/”]Online nursing schools[/hen-ui-link] can help students find approved internships or practicums located close enough for a practical commute.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Featured Online MSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Benefits of a Nursing Internship or Practicum[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing internships and practicums offer an inside look at the life of a nurse with the chance to assist and observe. They can also lead to connections and recommendations for jobs after [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//finding-nursing-jobs/”]nurse graduation[/hen-ui-link]. Finally, these experiences provide the hands-on training that nurses will need to succeed on the job.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Where to Find Nursing Internships[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]There are several ways of finding nursing internships, including summer nursing internships. Below are a few starting points:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]Your School’s Career Center[/hen-ui-heading]College career centers maintain nursing internship listings to help students fulfill their required credits. They can also assist students with interviewing and job application skills.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]Job Fairs[/hen-ui-heading]Employers send recruiters to job fairs to meet students who are looking for jobs or internships. Some job fairs and [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//working-with-nursing-recruiters/”]nurse recruiters[/hen-ui-link] focus on just the healthcare industry.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]Recruiting Events[/hen-ui-heading]When an employer is seeking new employees or has internship openings, they may hold recruiting events to reach out to interested students.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]Alumni Network[/hen-ui-heading]Nursing school alumni networks give students a way to meet other nurses who graduated from the same school and want to help fellow alumni. They may share information about internships or provide personal recommendations.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]Job Boards and Internship Databases[/hen-ui-heading]Many professional organizations have job boards and internship databases to keep members updated on available opportunities. Most of these resources are available online.[/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Nursing Internship Opportunities[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Pages[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”34437,33958,33926,37095″][/hen-ui-article-row]