General Summary of Position
Are you a nursing student slated to graduate in May/August/December 2026? Are you ready to take the next step in your nursing journey?
Whether you're just getting started or looking to level up your experience, the Student Nurse Extern opportunity will provide a pathway to build a relationship on the unit where you may have an interest in starting your career as a new to practice nurse! Early applications for our 2025 Winter Student Nurse Extern Cohort are now being accepted.
This day-shift position will be based on the 36-bed Intermediate Care Unit at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital. This unit provides care to an adult patient population who require more intensive or specializing nursing care on a continuous basis than what can be provided on a medical/surgical unit. As an extern, you will work with the nursing staff while learning the needs of cardiac and respiratory conditions requiring tele monitoring, electrolyte imbalances, hypertension urgency, sepsis, CVA, GIB, acute and chronic kidney disease; and post-surgical patients requiring closer monitoring. Experience gained in this unit can help prepare you for a career in critical care or specialized units.
Job Summary:
As a Nurse Extern, you will work alongside an RN mentor and care team, providing holistic and quality care to our patients. You will be paired with your RN mentor for at least 50% of your clinical time - receiving coaching, hands-on learning, and assimilation into the practice environment. Your assigned RN mentor will help you develop critical thinking skills needed to increase your confidence as a nursing professional. In addition, a nursing professional development specialist will support you to ensure your learning needs are met as you gain the best clinical experience possible.
Program Start Date: December 15th, 2025
Winter Cohort Commitment: The winter cohort will be a 5-week long session. During the cohort, student nurse externs will follow their preceptor’s schedule, including rotating weekend shifts. Externs will work 12-hour shifts for a total of 36 to 40 hours per week.
Before applying for this cohort, please be sure that you understand the following:
- The student nurse extern role requires a full-time commitment of three 12-hour shifts each week during the 5-week winter cohort.
- During the 5-week winter cohort, there will be no “self-scheduling”. Externs should expect to follow their assigned preceptor’s schedule.
- Specific dates off may be requested. However, time off during the first week of the cohort, or on any scheduled educational session, will not be approved.
Once classes resume for the spring semester, externs may be invited to remain* in a flexible per diem schedule of just 16 hours bi-weekly, with a maximum of 12 hours each week. *Externs must be in good standing to remain employed past the winter cohort.
Pay: $20.12 per hour
Education/Training: Active enrollment in an accredited RN program; Must be graduating in May/August/December of 2026. Official transcripts will be required at time of hire and at the end of each semester to validate active enrollment.
Experience: No clinical experience outside of nursing school is required.
License/Certification: CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certification by the Maryland Board of Nursing is required; BLS (CPR for Healthcare Providers) certification.
Learn from the best. Become the best.
MedStar Health has an unwavering commitment to advance the practice of nursing and develop our future nursing professionals. As a nursing student considering where to begin your career, MedStar has it all – opportunities to jump start your career while in school, plus a New-to-Practice Residency program to start your nursing career off strong.
This position has a hiring range of $20.12 - $20.12
