Nursing Externship

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Program Overview

The CoxHealth student program is designed with flexibility and student success at its core. Recognizing the demanding nature of nursing school and the fast-paced lives of students, the program is built to meet participants where they are—providing opportunities without adding unnecessary pressure.

Students have the freedom to engage at their own pace, with no required work commitments. Whether choosing to pick up a few or many paid extern shifts, participants can explore various departments, gain hands-on experience, and build professional connections on their terms. That’s why the program is structured to be seamless, supportive, and customizable—giving students the autonomy to participate in a way that aligns with their unique schedules, goals, and capacity.

Program description

The Nursing Extern Program is a unique, paid opportunity designed to provide nursing students, whether pursuing an associate, bachelor's, or advanced degree at an accredited institution, with valuable, real-world clinical experience.

Externs work alongside experienced registered nurses (RNs) in a variety of clinical areas, gaining hands-on exposure to patient care, interdisciplinary teamwork, and hospital operations.

With up to 180 paid hours per semester, the program offers flexible scheduling to accommodate students’ academic commitments. Nursing externs have the opportunity to build confidence, apply classroom knowledge to clinical practice, and gain insight into the role of the RN in diverse care settings.

Areas of placement may include medical-surgical units, emergency departments, critical care, maternal-child health, and more—based on availability and student interest.

Whether you're early in your nursing education or nearing graduation, the Nursing Extern Program is an excellent stepping stone toward a future nursing career and may serve as a pipeline to RN roles within the organization upon licensure.

This program is ideal for motivated nursing students seeking to enhance their clinical skills, broaden their understanding of health care settings, and make meaningful contributions to patient care while still in school.

Program highlights

  • Open to nursing students at all levels enrolled in accredited nursing programs
  • Up to 180 paid clinical hours per semester
  • Flexible scheduling tailored to students' academic needs
  • Supervised, hands-on experience with registered nurses (RNs) across multiple care areas
  • Exposure to hospital workflows, clinical procedures, and patient interactions
  • Opportunities for professional development, networking, and future employment consideration

Learning experiences

The extern will assist, alongside the nurse preceptor, with a variety of skills, such as IV insertion, physical assessments and dressing changes.

On their own, externs are allowed to assist with:

  • Ambulation
  • Activities of daily living
  • Bathing
  • Blood glucose
  • Meals

With supervision and documentation from an RN, externs are allowed to perform:

  • Dressing changes
  • Foley catheter insertions or removals
  • IV insertions or removals
  • NG insertions or removals
  • Physical assessments