Developing an internship program to support nursing student transition to clinical setting

The largest statewide hospital system collaborated with local nursing schools to provide a patient care internship program for nursing students. The goal was to create a pipeline of future nurses by equipping students for work in the clinical setting and promoting nurse retention.

The purpose of this project was to determine the correlation between the student nurse internship program on the interns' NLCEX-RN pass rates, retention rates for the local hospitals, cost-savings, students' confidence, and program satisfaction.

Nursing students (n = 25) were recruited from local nursing schools for unlicensed assistant personnel positions at the system hospitals. The program included a six-week intensive to educate nursing students as non-licensed staff members of hospital units, which continues as a mentored experience during the senior year of their baccalaureate program. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed.

The program had a pass rate of 96% for NCLEX-RN on first attempt. Additionally, 82% of participants were retained at the hospitals. Hospitals saved $216,993. Students reported increased role satisfaction with the program.

Program results suggest benefits of supportive NCLEX-RN pass rates, nurse retention, and cost benefit. Findings can be used to support future program expansion and improve the experience of nursing students as they transition into professional practice.