Professional Student Nurse Extern (PSNE) Summer Program

The purpose of this program is to interest, challenge and provide professional nursing students the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of oncology patient care at the nation’s foremost comprehensive cancer center. The program seeks to promote nursing at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center within the student nurse population and positively impact the recruitment of graduate nurses.

Eligibility Requirements

Students must:

Submit an online application for employment
Be currently enrolled in an accredited BSN school of professional nursing
Have completed their junior year of nursing by the beginning of the Summer Program
Verify and maintain good academic standing and submit a school transcript
Submit a letter of recommendation from a nursing school faculty member
Have a desire to work with the oncology patient population
Be available to attend the mandatory institutional and nursing orientations
Be able to work 40 hours per week for the duration of the ten-week program, including weekends

The program will begin in May 2010 and end in August 2010 and is limited to first-time participants only.

Clinical Experience

The program length is ten weeks. Selected applicants will complete an orientation overseen by a clinical instructor. Each student will be assigned to work under the direct supervision of registered nurse preceptors in one of our many clinical inpatient specialty areas.

Examples of specialty areas include leukemia, bone marrow transplant, lymphoma/myeloma, gynecology, pediatrics, intensive care, emergency center, neurology/rehabilitation, thoracic and cardiovascular surgery and melanoma/sarcoma.

Oncology Nursing Seminars

In addition to the clinical experience, students participate in weekly seminars taught by nursing experts and other disciplines. Topics may include, but are not limited to:

Introduction to Oncology Nursing
Pathophysiology of Cancer
Characteristics of Major Cancers
Oncologic Emergencies
Critical Thinking
Treatment Modalities
Quality of Life and Ethical Issues

Academic Credit

Schools of nursing may approve this program as a nursing elective for college credit. Students must have this approval from their schools before the start of the program. Schools of nursing may have additional requirements for academic credit. It is the responsibility of the student to complete the necessary paperwork to obtain academic credit.

Compensation

This is a temporary position. Students are paid an hourly salary and must be able to work a 40-hour workweek. This position is not eligible for benefits.

Housing

Accommodations for out-of-town students may be available in university dormitories that are a short walking distance from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. However, the responsibility for housing rests solely with each student.

Applications

Applicants should apply online.

The completed application, official transcript with grades, verification of school enrollment and letter of recommendation must be returned by the application deadline of February 12, 2010. After receipt of the completed packet, applicants will be scheduled for an on-site interview.

For more information, please contact:

Nurse Recruitment Office
Attention: Summer Professional Student Nurse Externship - Unit 068
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77030

713-792-7362