Loyola Medicine - Student Nurse Extern Program

Loyola Medicine - Student Nurse Extern Program


Program Details:
 The Loyola Medicine Student Nurse Externship Program (SNEP) is a truly distinctive, year-long learning experience designed to help student nurses grow into confident, skilled professionals.

The program begins with an intensive 8-week summer immersion, during which student nurse externs work directly alongside an experienced RN. Each extern is paired with a dedicated nurse preceptor and works two 12-hour shifts per week for seven weeks. This close partnership allows externs to:

•    Strengthen clinical judgment and critical thinking skills
•    Hone technical and procedural competencies
•    Build confidence in prioritizing and delivering safe, effective patient care

Externs also participate in two unit shadowing experiences, providing valuable exposure to clinical areas outside their home unit and broadening their understanding of Loyola Medicine’s care environment.

Pathway to the Nurse Residency Program
Upon successful completion of SNEP, externs may be invited to apply for the Loyola Medicine Nurse Residency Program.

The Nurse Residency Program provides 12 months of structured support to newly licensed RNs as they transition into professional practice. The goal is to help new graduates develop clinical confidence, strengthen decision-making skills, and successfully integrate into the nursing profession.

Our expectation—and our hope—is that SNEP externs will secure a position within the Nurse Residency Program prior to completing their final semester of nursing school, establishing a seamless pathway into their nursing career at Loyola Medicine.

Nurse Externship Program Requirements:
Candidates must be able to commit to the 12-month program per the following timeline & milestones:

Weeks 1-8:
  • Scheduled for two 12-hour clinical shifts
  • May be expected to work nights and weekends
  • No holidays
  • No overtime

Weeks 9-50:
  • Work a minimum of one 12-hour shift per 8-week period (total of 5 shifts in 40 weeks) as a Patient Care Tech
  • Your hours will be scheduled with your Patient Care Manager

Units participating in the 2026 SNE program are as follows:

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General Medicine

General Medicine

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Neuro

Neuro

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Oncology

Oncology

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Ortho

Ortho

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Observation Unit

Observation Unit

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Cardiology

Cardiology

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Medicine Unit

Medicine Unit

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Surgical Trauma

Surgical Trauma

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Burn Unit

Burn Unit

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Telemetry

Telemetry

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Post Surgical

Post Surgical

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Transplant/Hepatology

Hepatology

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Acute Rehab

Acute Rehab

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Intermediate Care

Intermediate Care

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Required Qualifications at time of application:

  • Completion of Junior Year of BSN program or completion of 1st of 2-year ADN program; from an accredited program
  • Completion of 1 or more fundamental of nursing courses within the above-mentioned accredited program
  • Completion of 40 or more hours of clinical experience as evidenced by a clinical faculty letter attesting to the above
  • BLS/CPR through the American Heart Association 
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