Common Nursing Internship Dos and Don’ts

From the beginning, set goals and expectations for what you want to get out of the internship. For example, if you were hoping to improve your intravenous (IV) skills ahead of graduation, share that goal with your supervising nurse. You could say something like, “I’d like to improve my IV skills during this internship since I haven’t inserted any in clinicals. If you’re comfortable, please keep me in mind when a patient needs an IV placed.”

Remember that you’ll be working under another nurse’s license, so patient-care opportunities will need to be approved first. By openly communicating your goals from the beginning, the nursing staff will be more likely to help you achieve a meaningful experience.

While you’re getting all those exciting experiences, remember to keep notes of the types of patients you care for. You never know when you’ll see those interesting diagnoses and treatments again! When the internship is over, you can connect the experiences with future lessons.

Most important, you’ll be able to reflect on all the skills you gained throughout the internship.

Every day of a nurse internship can present a new learning opportunity, so remember to be open to new experiences and willing to jump into different situations. It’s OK to stray from your preceptor for a day — ask to observe bedside procedures for other patients or even visit another unit to see their workflow.

Joining a nursing unit outside of your school environment may be a little intimidating at first, so remember to:

• Ask for support when you need it.
• Seek and accept feedback from the nurses, managers, and patient-care assistants.
• Practice self-care to address your own needs throughout the internship (for example, don’t sign up for an extra shift if you need to study for an exam).

A nursing internship is also a great way to begin professional networking in nursing as you consider your career options after graduation. Treat every day as if you’re on an RN job interview: Ask lots of questions, get to know the staff, and determine if this type of unit would be a good fit for you.

Even if you don’t decide to work there after graduation, you may connect with a nurse who can be a future career nurse mentor. Always remember to show interest and gratitude toward the nurses who are helping you learn.

As an intern, you are not expected to know everything, so be honest about the skills you aren’t comfortable performing. It can be easy to become flustered with a heavy task list, so always be upfront about your needs.

By advocating for yourself, you’ll avoid taking on too much of a commitment and losing track of your responsibilities, which could impact patient care.

There may be times that you make a mistake. Always be honest with your supervising nurse about an error and use it as a learning opportunity.

When you receive constructive feedback from nursing staff, take the time to self-reflect instead of becoming defensive.

As a nursing student, it can feel like you have so much to learn in a short amount of time. Remember that skills and clinical judgment will come with experience, so be patient with yourself until then. In the meantime, consider applying for a nursing internship to gain confidence-building experiences.