Hospitals that help train the next generation of nurses make a valuable contribution to the students as well as the communities they serve. The 2005 nurse extern program of Adventist Hinsdale Hospital and Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital helped transition 22 students into their future roles and further prepare them for their chosen profession.

“The externs gain from working one-on-one with a preceptor, but they also benefit from sharing the experiences of other nurse externs,” says Donna Kanak, clinical nurse educator. “Being able to provide care and comfort to other people makes me feel I am in the right profession. Through my extern experience, I gained a great amount of confidence while doing procedures on a patient, interacting with patients and family members, and better knowledge of procedures and tests done to patients,” says Azucena Cornejo, one of six students from Andrews University in the program. Another Andrews University student, Clara Bernstein, who wants to pursue a career in labor and delivery, says she gained a desire to emulate “her preceptor’s energy, professionalism, and caring.”

Externs attended weekly lectures and had shadowing opportunities in various departments. The seven-week training focused on whole-person care, and the externs wrote about what they learned each week to aid in the physical, emotional, and spiritual comfort of patients. They also discussed challenges they faced with ethical matters, diagnosis, or the unknown, and they reflected on how they made a difference.

Gretchen Azcarraga of Andrews University had such an experience. She said hearing a patient say "Thank you for taking care of me” gave meaning to her desire to become a nurse. For Shuree Torgerson, her time as an extern peaked her interest in family practice or emergency room care. The Andrews University student says, “My preceptor has been diligent in ensuring the variety of my learning experiences and has encouraged my independence and confidence in my abilities.”

“Watching physicians and nurses work together to make healthcare decisions and provide care for their patients energized my desire to become a nurse,” says Faith Kimburi of Andrews University. “I gained confidence in my nursing care skills while experiencing autonomy in caring for patients.”

The extern program has benefits for the hospital as well. “We recognize the opportunity for nurse externs to learn about the hospital. We provide a real life opportunity to see the innerworkings of the emergency department, a Level III nursery, pediatrics, and more,” says Jann Marks, vice president and chief nursing officer of Adventist Hinsdale Hospital. “The students are exposed to a wide selection of specialties with hands-on experience in areas that they may not see in school. If they like you and you like them, you have an easier transition (in hiring). Since they know the hospital, you have taken away the anxiety.”

“The key to success is giving the externs a great experience that builds loyalty. The program has a far-reaching impact on the students in their senior year, our hospital, and the future of nursing,” notes Sheila Horner, chief nursing officer, Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital.

Lynn Larson, Adventist Midwest Health writer/media liaison