UMSL BJC Externship Banner

Testimonials


Erin Blaha

"The Student Nurse Externship through UMSL was the best thing I did in all four years of nursing school.  My instructors advised me to get an internship over the summer, but I only halfheartedly looked into it.  I had my heart set on becoming a neonatal nurse and I was positive that no program would offer internships in the NICU.  However, I was happily surprised when UMSL did!  I was matched with a wonderful nurse and the entire experience was great!  I learned so much and I left with confidence that I put to use in my last year in school.  Plus, the fact that we got compensated for the time we spent in the externship was a great help to a “starving college student”!  When it came time to look for a job, I wanted to venture out and go somewhere new, but I just kept thinking about the people and atmosphere in the NICU at SLCH and I felt drawn back there.  I am convinced that a major reason for my hire into the NICU was because of the experience I had as an extern.  I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to participate in UMSL’s externship and I definitely recommend it for any nursing student."

Erin Blaha


duggins

"I participated in the Externship as an Extern in Labor and Delivery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and I had an amazing experience. The experience boosted my confidence as a nurse as well as prepared me for the future with skills practice, interdisciplinary communcation and infant and maternal review to help prepare me for boards. The expereince is one I would do again and would suggest to anyone who is looking to boost their knowledge in a certain field on nursing or to discover what type of nursing they may want to do after graduation."

Rebecca Duggins


"I thought the externship was one of the best experiences I've had since being in nursing school. I felt much more confident in patient skills and assessment after returning to school. I felt so blessed to be able to have an experience like this to solidify my thoughts as to go into Labor and Delivery. It also looks very good to put on a resume!
 
I graduate in December and go to Mizzou.
Thanks for all your help this summer!"
 
Eileen Luebbe


"The externship program was a great opportunity! The hands-on experience and
being able to experience the nursing role settled my nerves before I have to be
a nurse on my own. I learned a lot and how things flow within the unit and
hospital. I can not believe how much I learned within those ten weeks!"

Emily Goebel
SIUE


"Seriously, it was the best possible experience I could have gotten in nursing school.  The skills I learned and perfected were above and beyond anything I could have ever learned in clinical, and I am grateful I was able to have that opportunity.  I also believe that it helped me figure out exactly what I want to do with my nursing degree (O.R.) when I get out of school.  Having the opportunity to pick fields you're interested in allows you to experience what a real RN does in that specialty, so it really gives you an idea if that's something you want to do or not.  Those three months were better than any clinical rotation I have ever had, bar none."

Garret Gutting
University of Missouri-St. Louis
College of Nursing


"Participating in the summer externship program is a wise choice for anyone that is currently in nursing school.  The externship allowed us to work one on one with nurses, and in our own desired location and floor.  In this way we were exposed to the "real world" nursing field in our chosen locations/specialties.

Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) in hospitals normally are limited in the variety of tasks they can perform independently.  The externiship allowed us to perform close to all of the procedures that a nurse would, thereby enhancing our clinical knowledge and practical skills more so than if we were to work as PCTs.

Being able to choose what type of setting you wanted to work in (that you might not be able to work in normally) for 10 weeks and being able to function almost completely as a nurse as an undergraduate are priceless advantages to the program.

My mentor(s) and clinical coordinator in the BJH emergency department were encouraging, helpful, and friendly.  I didn't meet anyone I didn't like."

Adam Barnett
UMSL


"Being a student extern was a wonderful experience.  It gave me hands
on experience that you just can't get in a small town hospital." 

Trish Kreikemeier
Truman State University, Kirksville, MO


"The summer externship was an amazing opportunity. The hands on experience was more valuable than my nursing clinicals the past 3 semesters. This program prepared me for my senior year and really boosted my confidence in my clincial skills and as a graduate nurse. I wish I could have done it sooner."
 
Andrea Szerzinski
UMSL


"This externship experience has open different doors of opportunities for me. This experience provided opportunities to advance my clinical skills. The program was well structured; we had clinical practice at the hospital with a preceptor and classroom discussion incorporated together.. The hospital (St. Louis Children̓s Hospital) atmosphere provides different learning experience and the staffs are always willing to teach.  Through this externship, I was able to determine my career path. It was definitely one of the best summers of my college career!!"

Opi Kemiki
Penn State


"I truly loved this externship experience. It taught me so much about myself as a person and as a nurse. I feel much more confident in my nursing skills and capable in my abilities. I am so looking forward graduating and beginning my practice. When I compare my experience with my classmates, I can certainly see that I got the best experience available for students."

Kathleen Quinlan
St. Mary’s University


"I have learned more during this externship than I have in two years of nursing school. This externship gave me the confidence I need when making clinical decisions. After this externship, I feel confident that I could function as a competent and compassionate nurse, and I still have an entire year or nursing school to complete."

Jake Shepard
UMSL


"It helped me transition from a student role to a nurses role. It was better than my senior practicum. It was very well organized and the lectures were interesting and helpful, like the one on all the types of lines or when a someone from HR came to talk to us and answer our questions. This program also helped me get ahead of the game when it came to applying for a job this semester. The unit treated my like a real nurse vs. a nursing student and asked for my thoughts and opinions about the patients I was taking care of."

Jonna R. Meyer
Maryville University


"My name is JoAnn Rabe and I participated in the externship program this past summer 2008.  I was at Barnes Jewish Hospital on 15500, the acute psychiatric floor.  I was very impressed that I was able to choose the area of where I wanted to be which further helped me decide the career path that I will take after graduation.  I learned an excessive amount from my mentor, the area I chose, and all the staff around me.  Nursing is a wonderful field to be in and this program helped me refine skills learned and also showed me that this career choice is right for me.  I recommend this program to any and all nursing students-if selected you will not be disappointed."

JoAnn Rabe
UMSL


It wasthe opportunity of a lifetime to get such good experience while being a student
nurse still.  Also, I would say something about the great pay, good hands on
experience, and how good of a relationship I made with my mentor.  You can put
any of that in your own words but those were definately the perks."

Beth Messmore
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville


"The Summer Nurse Externship is an opportunity to see what Nursing is really
like.  This program gave me the confidence I needed to be a better student
and become a better nurse.  I learned more than I ever imagined and fell in
love with Nursing as a profession. I would recommend this program for every
Nursing student!"

Katie Feldman
Saint Louis University School of Nursing