Uncertainty in navigating your healthcare career is something a lot of new graduates face. While healthcare courses can help prepare you through coursework inspired by real-life scenarios, it can still be difficult to adapt to the real-world demands of your role — whether that involves mastering new technology, managing rotating shift hours, or balancing personal and professional responsibilities.
Given these challenges, how can healthcare schools address the needs of today’s students?
Understanding the Industry Need for Healthcare Externships
Textbooks, lab assignments, and practical projects offer valuable exposure, but they also have limitations. Research from MDedge, a news source for health professionals, highlights that while nursing education provides a strong foundation, it often falls short of fully preparing students for the complexities of real-world practice in a healthcare setting. This gap in preparation contributes to an alarming turnover rate among nurses — ranging from 35% to 69% in their first year. High turnover rates can lead to decreased efficiency, lower patient outcomes, and increased administrative costs.
Fortunately, externships can serve as one of the most effective ways to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Since hands-on experience is a critical factor in hiring decisions at healthcare organizations, many healthcare programs now incorporate externships to better prepare students for the workforce. These opportunities are excellent for building confidence, gaining invaluable practical experience, and developing the essential skills needed to thrive in a healthcare setting.
What is an externship?
An externship is a short training program (typically lasting several days to several weeks) designed to provide students with hands-on experience in their field of study. These programs give students insight into a specific career or industry by “shadowing,” or working alongside experienced professionals in real-world environments.
In contrast to internships, externships are shorter in duration and focus on observation in addition to active participation. All healthcare programs differ, so it’s important to review the externship requirements listed on each college’s website.
Why Are Externships Important For Your Healthcare Career?
Externships provide invaluable hands-on practice in taking care of real patients under the supervision of seasoned professionals. When you enroll in a healthcare program that includes an externship, you get the chance to work directly with patients. Depending on your program, that can look like administering care by checking vital signs, drawing blood, setting up equipment, and/or providing patients with emotional and physical support.
These scenarios allow you to better navigate challenging situations with guidance from someone currently in the field. Every moment you spend in an externship is an opportunity to observe, explore, and participate in approaches to delivering exceptional patient care.
Real-World Healthcare Experience
Externships offer essential hands-on experience in clinical settings, giving healthcare students the chance to immerse themselves in diverse environments — from small clinics to large hospitals. By participating in externships, students can engage with qualified professionals in their field, leveraging their unique insights to integrate into their own approach to care.
Workplace Readiness
While academic coursework provides foundational groundwork, real-world experience and strong interpersonal skills are indispensable to a successful healthcare career. Qualities such as punctuality, following through on responsibilities, and mutual respect for both colleagues and patients are highly sought after in any role. When you enter an externship, you have the opportunity to practice these skills in a genuine healthcare setting, allowing you to hone them quickly while also building a valuable professional network.
Skill Development
An externship lets you apply your technical skills in real-world scenarios while receiving guidance from experienced professionals. This allows you to inquire about their career journeys, the challenges they've faced, and their strategies for overcoming obstacles.
A mentorship through an externship not only provides you with valuable advice for launching your own career but also offers constructive feedback to help you improve your clinical practice. Many students even forge lasting professional relationships with mentors who continue to guide and support them throughout their professional journey!
Networking Opportunities
Building strong professional relationships is one of the most significant investments you canmake in your career, and externships provide the perfect platform for this. You have the chance to learn from experts in the field, starting with your initial experience and continuing as youprogress. Take the time to remember your colleagues’ names, exchange contact information, and maintain those connections for future opportunities.
Career Insight
Students who participate in externships often gain a competitive edge in the job market as they bring valuable firsthand knowledge of real-world healthcare settings and medical equipment. The reasoning is clear: gaining exposure to a dynamic environment with medical equipment and actual patient interactions helps you better handle day-to-day healthcare duties and challenges. Therefore, you feel confident being more independent when performing certain tasks — an asset that employers value.
Additionally, many medical institutions use externships as a key recruitment tool. In some cases, the facility may hire you at the end of your externship if you’ve displayed exceptional performance. Even if an immediate offer isn’t extended, maintaining connections and networking can lead to opportunities down the line, provided you made a lasting impression
How Do You Prepare For an Externship?
Starting an externship can evoke feelings of nervousness, and that's completely normal. Remember, this experience is designed to enhance your learning, help you forge valuable connections, and equip you with practical skills that set you apart from your peers. To make the most of your externship, consider the following preparation tips:
- Take Detailed Physical Notes: You may be bombarded with new information, which can leave you overwhelmed. To manage this, always carry a notebook and pen to jot down important points and observations. While it may be challenging to remember every bit of information you learn, your personal notes will serve as a valuable reference for future questions or reflections when you complete your externship.
- Embrace Opportunities for Growth: Externships are not the time to remain confined to only your role. If the opportunity arises, take on additional responsibilities or learn about different departments. This proactive approach will help you obtain a well-rounded set of skills and enhance your understanding of the healthcare field.
- Practice Active Listening: Listening is a critical skill, and it’s especially helpful to utilize it during your externship. Pay attention to your surroundings, the dynamics of the workplace, and how others respond to situations. By doing so, you’ll quickly gain insights into different facets of the profession to better navigate the complexities of healthcare environments.
Find an Externship Through American Career College
Enrolling in the right educational institution can be a turning point in your professional journey.ACC recognizes the pivotal role that externships and clinical rotations play in shaping a student’s success in the healthcare field.
American Career College can help make choosing the right healthcare externship seamless byoffering personalized guidance to help you identify opportunities that align with your interests and strengths. No matter which healthcare program you choose, ACC is here to provide the support you need to propel your healthcare career.
