If you are interested in working as a nurse or doctor in the future, it would be ideal to consider a hospital internship for college students. These allow you to always get a new experience, and you will get to know the world of medicine so that you learn how it works.
Depending on the part of the medical system you want to work in, the hospital internship will vary. Keep in mind that the tasks for someone who wants to be a surgeon are different than those for someone who wants to be a nurse, so you should choose your internship based on the branch of medicine to which you want to apply.
Is it possible to obtain an internship in a hospital without experience?
If you do not have previous experience in the medical field, you should know that you could still apply for a hospital internship. The key will be to play to your own strengths and demonstrate that you are willing to learn.
However, each of these internships may have specific requirements, so it is advisable to look at them to know which one will fit your profile. You always have to submit your resume and a cover letter where all your skills will be highlighted, in case you have taken a nursing course or have had experience in a volunteer project you should put it.
Featured medical internship programs
There are many medical internship programs that you can take advantage of, among which we will find:
1. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)
This is a five-week program in which low-income and underrepresented students living in Northern California receive intensive courses in medicine and health sciences. This is an online opportunity, which offers professional development workshops as well as professional networking opportunities.
Students will complete a college-level research program and gain insight into a career in medicine. This is a completely free program.
2. UCSF Summer Student Research Program
It is a nine-week program. Students are placed in local clinics and science laboratories to participate in biomedical research projects. Participants will receive one-on-one mentoring from healthcare providers and researchers.
In addition, they will have access to unique workshops, seminars, training, simulations, and networking events. It is a program for high school juniors, seniors, and college students.
3. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
It is a five-day camp that takes place in Atlanta, Georgia. Here students can learn about public health, chronic diseases, injury prevention, data analysis, school wellness programs, disease surveillance, and epidemiology.
The activities are very diverse and include recreated outbreaks, as well as mock press conferences, and environmental and global health activities. In addition, information on public health laws and lectures by CDC scientists will be provided. Attendance is completely free and open to all. If you are interested in public health internships you can find out more on the CDC website.
4. Indiana University Simon Cancer Center Summer Research Program
This is an eight-week program, in which they will work 40 hours per week. Projects include laboratory, database, or clinical research.
They will also participate in weekly workshops on topics related to admission to graduate and professional programs of study. This internship is exclusively for students who have completed high school or are undergraduate college students who have not yet earned more than 80 credits. This is a paid internship.
5. High School Senior Summer Internship Program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
This internship will involve working with a mentor in one of several pediatric specialties. The program is a total of eight weeks for graduating seniors residing in Cincinnati. Group activities will be carried out, including an afternoon hands-on training session with computerized simulated pediatric patients.
In addition, the UC medical school offers rabbits to prepare for the medical exam. The program culminates with a graduation party with presentations by the students about their experiences. Work during this internship is 20 hours per week, and they are paid a rate of $13 per hour.
6. Medical Immersion Summer Academy (MISA)
It is a program in which you will learn about health care for five days. You will be trained in the electrocardiogram, suturing, CPR, splinting, and taking vital signs. There will also be mentoring and clinical immersion, so you will have a pretty good experience.
You will also participate in lunches with health professionals, and observe patients and medical procedures. In addition, you will participate in skills workshops and patient cases, and discussions with physicians. This program is open to all high school students in grades 9 through 12 and costs $1,400.
7. NIH High School Summer Internship Program
This is an internship that offers the opportunity to work with biomedical research scientists. It lasts eight weeks, during which you will participate in research including lectures by NIH researchers.
There will also be professional development workshops and activities focused on college preparation. The internship is open to youth and adults over the age of 17, and a stipend is paid, which varies from year to year, depending on the level of education completed prior to the start of the internship.
8. Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine: Achieve in Medicine
This is a five-day program that offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the medical field. In this program, students will have hands-on medical experiences, and explore the role of technology in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions alongside medical students and staff.
The program will have three sessions and is designed for high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in a health career. There is a $1,500 fee to enroll in this program.
How much do interns earn in a hospital?
Internships in the hospital field vary, and some offer paid internships while others require tuition. To find out how much you will earn during your internship, it is important to check directly with the hospital where you will be interning.
Some programs offer only class credit, while others compensate students. But, you should inquire about each program to find out if you will receive a financial reward.
Where do interns work in a hospital?
Hospital interns can work in different medical functions such as:
- Physicians or surgeons
- Nurse practitioners
- Nursing assistants
- Psychotherapists
Everything will depend on the line of medical knowledge which you want to develop in the near future. In all cases, it is necessary for candidates to demonstrate certain capabilities such as:
- Strong attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Knowledge of medical terms and processes
There are many hospital internships available, so you can pursue many different opportunities in the medical field. The ones we have mentioned are just a few that will be available, but there are many more that you can take advantage of to start your adventure in the world of medicine.
REFERENCES
- Handshakejulie (2021). How Do I Get A Hospital Internship? Handshake. https://joinhandshake.com/blog/students/how-do-i-get-a-hospital-internship/
- 20 medical internships + programs for high schoolers in 2023. (2023, January 1). CollegeVine Blog. https://blog.collegevine.com/medical-internships-for-high-schoolstudents
- Undergraduate Students Short-Term Internships for students | Fellowships and Training Opportunities | CDC. (n.d.). https://www.cdc.gov/fellowships/shortterm/undergraduate.html