To become a nurse, you will have to spend a lot of your time studying and gaining hands-on experience at the same time.
Student nurses and doctors are very common in this field, and if you’ve spent enough time in a hospital or doctor’s surgery, you’ve probably come across some for yourself.
A nurse extern is a bit similar to a student nurse, but there’s a little more to it than that.
We’ll be going over everything you need to know about a nurse extern (see also ‘What Is A Nurse Clinician?‘), from what they are, to what they do, and what sort of skills are required to become a successful one. So let’s get started.
What Is A Nurse Extern?
Nurse externs are medical workers who are still in nursing school (see also ‘Can You Become A Nurse With A GED?‘). They aren’t fully qualified nurses yet, but they are well on their way to that goal.
In order to become a fully qualified nurse, you will have to gain lots of hands-on, practical experience in doctors’ offices, hospitals, and other medical facilities.
To do this, you will usually have to take part in a nurse externship and this is what a nurse extern is.
Because nurse externs are studying professionals, they do get paid for their work, but traditionally, it’s nowhere near the amount a fully qualified nurse would get. In a lot of ways, you can think of a nurse extern as a sort of apprenticeship nurse position.
Nurse externs typically work with actual patients and they provide medical care when appropriate.
Nurse externs usually have a better chance of gaining employment once their studies are completed and they have gained the right qualifications and certifications.
Lots of nurse externs actually get hired by the facility in which they did their externship, though this isn’t always the case.
What Does A Nurse Extern Do?
Nurse externs are expected to provide assistance and medical care to patients, and even though they are still in training, they are expected to work at a high standard.
They always report to their head nurse and doctors, so there will always be fully qualified staff around to help nurse externs when they need it.
Some nurse externs will take on some of the roles that fully qualified nurses already do, so you can expect to do a range of different jobs. Some of these jobs include:
- Documenting health information on the computer, from medical records to billing information.
- Drawing blood.
- Transcribing notes.
- Explaining procedures to patients and making sure they understand any medical jargon or terms that are used.
- Recording and monitoring vitals.
- Monitoring the diet and food intake of patients.
- Giving intravenous therapy (IV)
- Operating dialysis equipment
- Working with and collaborating with head nurses, doctors, and other medical staff.
- Caring for wounds and related things.
- Helping patients with physical therapy.
There are lots of other responsibilities and jobs that nurse externs are expected to do, and they will of course vary depending on which medical facility you are assigned to.
The whole point of this role is to give you more hands-on experience as a nurse, so when you do get your qualifications, you will be able to transition without any complications or problems.
Skills Needed To Become A Nurse Extern
In order to be a successful nurse extern, there are a few skills that will be beneficial to have. Being a nurse extern is quite a demanding job, but it is incredibly rewarding when you settle into the role.
Communication and interpersonal skills are especially important in this role. You will be communicating with other nurses and doctors, but you will also need to communicate with patients too.
Some of the patients you will have to talk to will have to hear bad or hard news on occasion, so being able to communicate in a direct and empathetic manner will make this aspect of the job a lot easier to deal with.
Speaking of empathy, this is another skill you will need as a nurse extern. Patients like to feel heard and understood, and if they can sense your genuine empathy, they are more likely to stay calm and collected.
The more empathetic you are, the more trust you can build with your patients, which will mean there will be a certain level of respect and understanding between you both.
A big part of working in a medical setting is of course teamwork, and you’ll need to be a team player in order to be successful in this role. Collaboration is a hugely important part of the medical profession and you will need to do it every single day.
This job can be very stressful, but when you work in a close-knit, and organized team, this can drastically reduce the amount of stress you are experiencing.
All nurses regardless of experience or skill level will need to develop critical thinking and good observation skills.
Observing your patients is a huge part of your job and being able to quickly notice any issues can sometimes be the difference between life and death.
As you will be on your feet for most of your shift, it is important to work on your physical stamina and make sure it is at a good level. Shifts for nurses, doctors, and medical professionals of all kinds are typically very long.
You will get tired from time to time, but this is completely normal. What you need to make sure of is that you are able to maintain your performance during your shifts.
Even if you don’t have all of these skills yet, working as a nurse extern will help you practice and develop them, so when you are fully qualified, you won’t have to worry about lacking any of them.
Conclusion
Nurse externs are quite similar to regular nurses, but the role is designed to help you gain hands-on experience before you are fully qualified. Having this experience will make the transition from an extern to a fully qualified nurse a lot easier and more fluid (see also ‘What Is A Nursing Preceptorship?‘).
It is quite a demanding job, but it can also be incredibly rewarding too!