OSF HealthCare Internships: Opportunities for Students
OSF HealthCare provides a wide array of internship and educational opportunities for students pursuing careers in healthcare. These programs range from undergraduate and graduate nursing programs to innovation internships and STEAM-focused initiatives. The goal is to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to succeed in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
Nursing Education at Saint Anthony and Saint Francis Colleges of Nursing
OSF HealthCare supports nursing education through its affiliations with Saint Anthony College of Nursing in Rockford, IL, and Saint Francis College of Nursing in Peoria, IL.
Saint Anthony College of Nursing
Saint Anthony College of Nursing has been recognized for its excellence, earning the No. 2 ranking in Illinois in 2021 by RNcareers.org. With an overall ranking of 96.89%, the college places in the top tier of nursing schools nationwide, ranking 74th in the country. The college provides undergraduate nursing programs.
Saint Francis College of Nursing
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing offers a variety of flexible and affordable graduate programs. Students can pursue bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degrees, as well as post-graduate certifications in various clinical interests and specialties.
Dedicated Education Units (DEU)
To enhance the clinical learning experience, OSF HealthCare has implemented Dedicated Education Units (DEUs) at its Peoria and Rockford hospitals. These units pair nursing students with experienced staff nurses who serve as clinical instructors.
Read also: Requirements for Emory Healthcare Internships
Benefits of DEUs
Students in DEUs receive individualized instruction, mentoring, and a realistic perspective of nursing practice. Clinical instructors, who are up-to-date on medications, clinical procedures, regulations, and the intricacies of the healthcare system, provide valuable education. Furthermore, students gain networking opportunities for potential future job prospects.
Summer Student Nurse Internship Program
OSF HealthCare offers a 10-week Summer Student Nurse Internship program. This program aims to enhance nursing students' skills in a clinical setting while providing them with summer employment. The internship offers an educational opportunity to improve nursing skills.
BSN Preparation and Financial Support
Recognizing the importance of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) education, OSF HealthCare supports nurses who wish to further their education. Studies have consistently shown that nursing education at the BSN level positively impacts patient outcomes. OSF HealthCare provides financial assistance to nurses pursuing BSN degrees to achieve the recommendation that at least 80% of nurses be prepared at the BSN level.
Transition to Practice Program
OSF HealthCare provides a comprehensive Transition to Practice Program for new graduate nurses. This program, titled "The First Year as a Nurse," is designed for both in-patient and hospital outpatient settings. It helps new nurses transition into their roles.
OSF Innovation Internship
The OSF Innovation internship offers students a unique opportunity to work on real-world projects. Alexa Waltz, a project manager for OSF Innovation and former intern, emphasizes that interns lead their own projects during the 10-week program.
Read also: Internships at HCA Healthcare
Intern Experiences
Aishi Tulasaku, a junior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a community health navigator intern with the Rural Health Access and Innovation Network (RHAIN) Project, has analyzed data, job shadowed, and served in the community. Another intern, Jockish, discovered his passion at OSF Innovation after being unsure of whether to pursue engineering or medical school.
Mentorship and Collaboration
Each intern is paired with a full-time Mission Partner who serves as a mentor, offering one-on-one guidance throughout the summer. The program encourages collaboration among interns, fostering a supportive and enriching environment. Interns have the opportunity to collaborate with each other, make friends, and learn about the diverse projects being undertaken.
Impact on Interns
The internship experience often leads to increased confidence and broadened horizons, as noted by marketing intern Megan Clar. Interns transition from feeling overwhelmed to successfully completing their projects by the end of the summer. Interns' opinions are valued, regardless of their level of expertise, and they are encouraged to contribute their ideas. "They [Alexa Waltz and John Vozenilek, MD] always ask me ‘What do you want to do?’,” Tulasaku says. The interns receive a framework for their project, but it is up to them to put their spin on it.
OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois Internship
OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois offers an internship program for college seniors in child life programs, master’s degree students, and college graduates with backgrounds in child development, psychology, education, or related fields.
Internship Structure
Interns receive training and supervision during individual rotations by experienced and certified child life specialists. Rotations vary based on supervision availability. The internship provides deeper insight and understanding into the needs of children and families coping with illness, injury, and hospitalization, as well as the valuable role of child life within the healthcare team.
Read also: Opportunities in Child Life
Application Process
After submitting an application, candidates may be contacted for an interview. Documentation of current health insurance is required. The internship is offered during the winter/spring semester.
STEAM Initiatives
OSF HealthCare recognizes the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) skills in healthcare. Employees with these skills are crucial for research and development, innovation, and technologically challenging jobs.
STEAM Programs
Jump offers hands-on STEAM programming at home with many activities for families to choose from. Jump offers students interested in health care-related careers hands-on experiences in anatomy, physiology, nursing and emergency medical services, creative services, technology and engineering. STEAM Immersion Programs for Middle and High School Students provide students interested in healthcare-related careers with hands-on experiences in various fields.
Careers in Health Care Curriculum
The Careers in Health Care Curriculum provides information about a range of health careers available to students. This curriculum pairs well with the Careers in Health Care activity book and allows for learning at one's own pace.
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