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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 MD 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 through Human Resources
  • Be currently enrolled in an accredited B.S.N. 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 10-week program, including some weekends

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

Clinical Experience

The program length is 10 weeks. Selected applicants will complete an orientation overseen by Workforce Development. Each student will be assigned to work under the direct supervision of registered nurse preceptors in one of our many clinical inpatient specialty areas.

MD Anderson areas include: Leukemia, Emergency Center, Intensive Care, Lymphoma, Pediatrics, Neuro/Rehab, Medical Oncology, Medical Telemetry, Melanoma/Sarcoma, Urology & Orthopedics, GI, Surgical Oncology, Telemetry & Thoracic Surgery, Head & Neck, Gynecology, Stem Cell Transplantation. 

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 work week. 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 MD Anderson Cancer Center. However, the responsibility for housing rests solely with each student.

Applications

Apply Online - Keyword for position is "PSNE." Deadline for online application is March 5, 2013.

Application Packet:

After receipt of the online application and completed packet, applicants will be scheduled for an on-site interview.

Please email the required materials (as listed above) to the following address by March 15, 2013:

PSNE@mdanderson.org.

 

For more information about program, please contact:
Nursing Workforce Planning and Development - Student Programs
workforcedevelopment@mdanderson.org or 713-792-7924 


© 2013 The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center