Mercy Southeast - Winter Nurse Externship

MHM Support Services; United States; On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision coverage

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Retirement plan matching

Job summary

Mercy Hospital Southeast is offering a Nurse Extern internship for nursing students. You will work under the supervision of registered nurses in a 36-hour week, across multiple units, during a 4-week session.

This paid externship emphasizes hands-on clinical learning, skill-building in IV therapy, Foley care, NG tube care, and head-to-toe assessments, with a focus on developing critical thinking and compassionate patient care.

Qualifications

• Must have completed at least 2 semesters of nursing school, including one round of clinicals.
• Enrolled in an approved or accredited nursing program; high school diploma or GED as a baseline.

Responsibilities

• Participate in clinical work under RN supervision to support patient care.
• Assist with direct and indirect patient care activities in various units.
• Learn and perform designated procedures such as IV therapy, Foley care, NG tube care, and basic patient assessments.

Skills

Nursing student

Clinical experience

Education

Two semesters of nursing school

Enrolled in an accredited nursing program

Tools

BLS certification

Job description

Find your calling at Mercy! As a student in an approved registered nurse or practical nurse school of nursing, the Nurse Extern student participates in clinical work under the direction of an RN. The Nurse Extern assists in the individualized care of the patient to achieve the patient’s highest level of wellness working cooperatively with others as part of the healthcare team and performs designated clinical procedures and nonclinical support tasks within the nurse extern scope.

Position Details:

Location: Mercy Hospital Southeast, Cape Girardeau, MO

Department: Center of Nursing Excellence

Status: Temporary, 4-week session, 36 hours/week

Shift: 12 Hour Days or Nights

Two sessions to choose from:

Session I: December 14th - January 8th

Session II: December 21st - January 15th

Our Mercy Nurse Externship is a unique hands‑on learning experience designed to help nursing students bridge the gap between the classroom and real‑world practice. This paid externship gives participants the opportunity to work approximately 36 hours per week, during a 4-week session while on school break. Nurse externs will rotate 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 in an acute care setting Enhance your clinical skills through dedicated preceptor time, including: IV therapy, Foley care, NG tube care, tube feeding, ostomy care, point‑of‑care testing, phlebotomy, specimen collection, simple dressing changes, trach care, and head‑to‑toe assessments. You’ll gain meaningful exposure to diverse patient populations, strengthen your critical‑thinking skills, and work closely with experienced nurses who are committed to supporting your professional growth and learning opportunities.

Qualifications:

• *Applicants must have completed at least 2 semesters of nursing school, including a minimum of one round of clinicals, prior to the start of the externship.
• *Required Education: High school diploma, G.E.D. and enrolled in an approved or accredited nursing program.
• *Please see above.
• *Applicants may be asked to provide a copy of student transcripts indicating they have completed Fundamentals of Nursing from an accredited school of nursing and provide competency skills list from their learning institution.

Certifications: Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

Other: Minimum Physical Requirements: Position requires individuals to push, pull, and/or lift 50 pounds on a regular basis. Position requires prolonged standing and walking each shift. Position requires the ability to grip, reach, bend, kneel, twist, and squat to perform duties.

Supportive teams, real hands‑on experience, and opportunities to grow in a welcoming environment are just a few of the highlights that set the Mercy Nurse Externship apart.

Limited Opportunities Available

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.

Transforming the Health of Our Communities

Our Mercy health system was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1986. But our heritage goes back more than 195 years. It began with an Irish woman named Catherine McAuley, who was determined to help women and children in Dublin experiencing poverty. Though Catherine had a modest upbringing, she received an unexpected inheritance that allowed her to fulfill that dream. In 1827, she opened the first House of Mercy in Dublin, intending to teach skills to women and educate children. Many volunteers came to help. A few years later, Catherine founded the Sisters of Mercy, one of the first religious orders whose Sisters were free to walk among the poor and visit them in their homes. In 1843, the Sisters of Mercy came to the United States. In 1856, they traveled to St. Louis. In the years to come, they would establish hospitals throughout the Midwest. Many of these would join together in 1986 as Mercy.