Mercy Jefferson - Winter Externship 2026

Mercy; Crystal City (MO); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercy Jefferson Winter Externship in Festus, MO offers nursing students a paid hands-on learning experience bridging classroom and real-world care. You'll work approximately 36 hours per week, rotating through a variety of units under Mercy nurses.

Externs gain exposure to diverse patient populations, strengthen clinical skills, and learn directly at the elbow of experienced preceptors. Applicants must have completed at least two nursing semesters with a clinical rotation by start date.

Qualifications

• Completed at least 2 semesters of nursing school, including one clinical rotation.
• Paid externship with ~36 hours per week at Mercy facilities.
• Willing to rotate through multiple units under supervision.

Responsibilities

• Assist with direct and indirect patient care under preceptor guidance.
• Learn and perform tasks such as IV therapy, Foley, and phlebotomy as directed.
• Document care activities and communicate patient needs to the team.

Skills

IV Therapy

Foley Care

NG Tube Care

Phlebotomy

Trach Care

Education

Two Semesters of Nursing School

Job description

Find your calling at Mercy!

Position Details:

Festus, MO 63028

December 21, 2026 - January 15, 2027

Mercy Jefferson Winter Externship

Our Mercy Nursing Externship is a unique handson learning experience designed to help nursing students bridge the gap between the classroom and realworld practice. This paid externship gives you the opportunity to work approximately 36 hours per week, rotating through a variety of units while learning directly at the elbow of a Mercy nurse.

Participating in a Mercy Externship will help you:

• Deepen your understanding of the nursing role within an acute care setting
• Build confidence in delivering both direct and indirect patient care
• Enhance your clinical skills through dedicated preceptor time, including: IV therapy Foley care NG tube care and tube feeding Ostomy care Point-of-care testing, phlebotomy, and specimen collection Simple dressing changes Headtotoe assessments Trach care

You'll gain meaningful exposure to diverse patient populations, strengthen your criticalthinking skills, and work closely with experienced nurses who are committed to supporting your learning and growth.

Externship Requirement: Applicants must have completed at least 2 semesters of nursing school, including a minimum of one round of clinicals, by the start of the externship

What Past Mercy Externs Are Saying

• "I feel that all of the nurses were very willing and happy to have students and created a very comfortable space to learn and ask questions."
• "I liked getting to see a variety of places in the hospital. It helped me get a better idea of the right nursing job for me."
• "I think it was great to see all that the hospital has to offer and what a typical day looks like on each floor. I think it was entirely more helpful than the clinical experiences I have had at school."
• "Going to different units throughout the externship helped me learn about different protocols, medications, acuity levels of patients, and more. It allowed me to experience so many different clinical areas in a short time."

These reflections highlight what sets the Mercy Nursing Externship apart: supportive teams, real handson experience, and opportunities to grow in a welcoming environment.

Why Mercy?

From day one, Mercy offers outstanding benefits - including medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, tuition support, and matched retirement plans for team members working 32+ hours per pay period.

Join a caring, collaborative team where your voice matters. At Mercy, you'll help shape the future of healthcare through innovation, technology, and compassion. As we grow, you'll grow with us.