The Nurse Internship Program is designed to facilitate a successful transition of the new graduate nurse to that of practicing professional nursing. Our experienced education team will present interactive learning activities in the classroom and simulation lab. The intern program incorporates classroom, simulation lab, and clinical learning, and a unit specific nursing preceptor. Once the new graduate nurse is hired by any of the clinical directors at Catholic Medical Center, they are automatically eligible to enter all components of the program.

 

The classroom section of the program begins with all interns attending 56 hours of education in the Core Internship Program. This includes orientation to the hospital and presentations such as “Managing Multiple Patients”, and “Reality Shock”. We place emphasis on critical thinking, and putting skills and knowledge into action in the patient care setting. Upon completion of the Core Internship Program nurse interns continue in one of the following tracts: Progressive Care/Critical Care (98 hours) or Advanced Medical Surgical Concepts (24 hours). Classes are held one to two days per week, depending upon tract. We use our state-of-the-art Nursing Simulation Lab in both tracts to facilitate learning.

 

The nursing preceptor program provides the intern with an extended one-on-one unit based relationship between a CMC trained preceptor and the nurse intern. The preceptor will work with the nurse intern on the unit to facilitate the orientation process. This experience is individualized to meet the new nurses’ needs and the length of the program is determined by the needs of the nurse intern.

 

The Nurse Internship Program has evolved over the years and has proven to be highly successful in helping to develop and retain graduate nurses.

 

If you should have any questions about the Nurse Intern Program, you can contact Louise Smith Cushing, RN, BSN, MS, Senior Educator at 663.2057.