Fourteen nursing students have completed Ozarks Healthcare’s pilot of a nursing externship program. Nursing students who were a part of the cohort spent ten weeks of the summer months gaining knowledge and real-life clinical skills across the health system.

“These nursing externs have learned hard and soft skills, including communication, attitude, teamwork, critical thinking, professionalism, empathy, adaptability, and initiative in strong work ethic,” Karlee Marvin, Ozarks Healthcare Education Supervisor and Nurse Residency Coordinator, said. “This was our first time to host nursing externs, and we are excited to be able to continue educating a younger generation of nurses here in our community. We are already looking forward to our next nursing externship cohort to start in January of 2023.”

Ozarks Healthcare’s Externship Program is for students who have successfully completed the first year of nursing school. Similar to the health system’s nurse residency program (Ozarks Healthcare’s Nurse Residency Program is a 12-week program for graduates of nursing school), the externship program features rotations through different departments of Ozarks Healthcare’s hospital, which exposes students to different sectors of healthcare and the organization’s culture of compassionate care.
Ozarks Healthcare’s next externship cohort will begin in January. To be eligible, applicants must have completed the first year of nursing school and be on the path of pursuing certification as a registered nurse (RN). To apply, visit https://www.ozarkshealthcare.com/careers/, view current job openings, and search for the keyword “externship” or call 417-256-1749 for more information. The application deadline will close on Oct. 31.