Northwestern Medicine Student Nurse Internship: A Comprehensive Guide
Northwestern Medicine offers a robust Student Nurse Internship (SNI) program designed to provide invaluable experience to nursing students. This article delves into the requirements, responsibilities, and overall structure of the SNI program, offering a comprehensive overview for prospective applicants.
Introduction to the Student Nurse Internship (SNI) Program
The SNI program is an 8-week paid summer internship available at participating Northwestern Medicine Hospital locations. It offers nursing students entering their first or second semester of their final and/or senior year a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Northwestern Medicine's Interprofessional Relationship-Based Care Practice Model. This model emphasizes the integration of Northwestern Medicine's core values: Patient First, Excellence, Integrity, and Teamwork. The program aims to foster meaningful relationships between caregivers, care partners, patients, families, the community, and themselves.
Eligibility and Requirements
To be eligible for the Northwestern Medicine SNI program, students must meet specific criteria:
- Academic Standing: Applicants must be nursing students entering their first or second semester of their final and/or senior year at the start of the internship. In 2024, the program commenced on May 28.
- Accreditation: Students must be currently enrolled in an accredited professional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
- Graduation Timeline: Students must graduate no later than June of the calendar year following completion of the SNI program.
- Recommendation: A letter of recommendation from a faculty member is required, along with documentation of enrollment.
- CPR Certification: Candidates must possess Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) recognition at the healthcare provider level.
Program Structure and Key Components
The SNI program at Northwestern Medicine is designed to provide a well-rounded and immersive experience. Key components include:
- Duration: The program spans eight weeks during the summer.
- Compensation: The internship is a paid opportunity.
- Unit Placement: Participants are assigned to specific units within the hospital. Tentative units participating in the 2025 SNI program will be available for selection in the application, ranked by preference.
- Preceptorship: Student nurses partner with a nurse preceptor to develop critical thinking skills, refine technical abilities, and learn how to prioritize patient care.
- Shift Schedule: Student nurse interns typically work the day shift, with options for eight- or 12-hour shifts. They generally work every other weekend and do not work holidays.
- Evaluation and Employment: At the conclusion of the eight-week program, interns receive a formal evaluation. Qualifying interns may receive an offer for continued employment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital until they transition into a staff nurse role.
Responsibilities of a Student Nurse Intern
The Student Nurse Intern (SNI) is an unlicensed individual who, under the direction of a Registered Professional Nurse (RN), actively participates in various aspects of patient care. Their responsibilities include:
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- Direct Patient Care: Providing patient care to assigned patients under the direct supervision of the RN.
- Reporting: Participating in bedside reports under the supervision of the RN.
- Patient-Centered Care: Actively participating in delivering patient care following the Patient-Centered Care Model.
- Care Planning: Assisting in the development and revision of patient care plans under the guidance of the RN.
- Performing Procedures: Assisting in and/or performing specific patient care procedures and treatments as outlined in the job description.
Specific tasks may include:
- Admissions and Discharges: Participating in the admitting and discharging of patients.
- Vital Signs and Comfort: Performing vital signs, monitoring patient comfort levels, and assisting patients with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
- Bathing and Hygiene: Under direct supervision, providing baby and adult baths in accordance with unit protocols, as well as providing perineal/diaper care.
- Gastrointestinal Procedures: Auscultating for NG/OG placement in babies (verified by RN preceptor), assisting mothers and fathers with Kangaroo Care (NICU and Mother-Baby units), administering Fleets enemas, and applying support garments like anti-embolism stockings and compression boots.
- Equipment Utilization: Appropriately utilizing special equipment such as orthopedic traction, specialty chairs/commodes, and specialty beds/mattresses.
- Specimen Collection: Collecting various specimens, including capillary blood glucose monitoring samples, phlebotomy samples (neonates via heel stick only, no arterial or venous draws), clean voided urine samples, 24-hour urine samples, sputum samples, and stool samples (including nasal swabs for neonates).
- Postmortem and Bereavement Care: Assisting in the performance of postmortem care and bereavement care under direct RN supervision.
- Infection Control: Practicing isolation and infection control techniques.
- Hot and Cold Applications: Applying hot and cold applications, such as thermal K-pads, warm moist packs, portable sitz baths, ice bags, and hypo/hyperthermia blankets.
- Pre- and Post-Operative Care: Performing pre- and post-operative care as delegated by the RN.
- Nutritional Care for Neonates: Under direct observation of the RN, providing for infant’s nutritional needs via assisting mothers with breastfeeding and pumping, providing bottle feedings, and providing feedings via OG/NG to gravity. Providing developmentally appropriate care during infant feedings.
- Developmental Care for Neonates: Under the direction of the RN, utilizing positioning aids and devices to provide developmentally appropriate care, promoting a healthy environment for neonates by controlling sound and lighting and avoiding noxious environmental stimuli.
- Communication: Communicating all pertinent patient care information to appropriate staff members and participating in patient care conferences and multidisciplinary rounds.
- Policy Adherence: Following guidelines established in hospital and nursing policies and procedures.
- Equipment Operation: Demonstrating proper operation of equipment and explaining the rationale for its use. Recognizing malfunctioning equipment and reporting it to appropriate personnel.
- Collaboration: Cooperating with all departments to facilitate optimum patient care and positive public relations.
- Professional Development: Demonstrating responsibility for enhancing their own knowledge by attending staff meetings, unit in-services, and educational programs, as well as pursuing their own educational goals.
- Documentation: Documenting on flow sheets and in the electronic medical record, based upon the discretion of the manager and the RN. All documentation of patient assessments and patient teaching is co-signed by an RN.
- Program Participation: Participating in unit-based journal clubs (as applicable), performance improvement projects, and attending educational opportunities provided for all participants in the SNI program.
Example: Student Nurse Intern - Delnor Neurology Med/Surg
To illustrate the specific application of the SNI program, consider the Student Nurse Intern position at Delnor Neurology Med/Surg in Geneva, Illinois. This is a full-time, day-shift position. The schedule consists of three 12-hour shifts (7:00 AM to 7:30 PM) with every third weekend required.
In this role, the Student Nurse Intern contributes to a positive workplace by prioritizing patient interactions. They work under the direction of an RN to provide patient care, adhering to Northwestern Memorial's mission, vision, and values, as well as the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program.
Benefits of Participating in the SNI Program
Participating in the Northwestern Medicine SNI program offers numerous benefits for nursing students:
- Practical Experience: The program provides hands-on experience in a real-world clinical setting.
- Skill Development: Interns develop critical thinking skills, hone technical abilities, and learn how to prioritize patient care.
- Mentorship: Working closely with a nurse preceptor provides valuable mentorship and guidance.
- Networking: The program offers opportunities to network with healthcare professionals and build relationships within the Northwestern Medicine system.
- Career Advancement: Successful completion of the program can lead to continued employment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and a smooth transition into a staff nurse role.
- Competitive Benefits: Northwestern Medicine offers competitive benefits, including tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, 401(k) matching, and lifecycle benefits.
Clinical Rotations and Clinical Role Transition (CRT) Experiences
In addition to the SNI program, Northwestern Medicine provides opportunities for nursing students through clinical rotations and Clinical Role Transition (CRT) experiences.
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- Clinical Rotations: These are offered to nursing students attending one of Northwestern Memorial Hospital's affiliated schools of nursing.
- Clinical Role Transition (CRT): The CRT experience is a six- to eight-week program provided to senior nursing students attending affiliated schools. During this experience, students work one-on-one with a nursing preceptor to develop critical thinking skills, refine technical abilities, and learn how to prioritize care.
Application Process
Student nurse applications are generally available at the start of the calendar year. Interested students should monitor the Northwestern Medicine careers website for specific application deadlines and instructions.
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