Top 15 Nursing Internships In The US

Nursing tests your resilience like no other job. Long hours, tough decisions, and the responsibility of saving lives can be overwhelming, unless it’s your true calling. Nurses are at the heart of every treatment and recovery, often as the unsung heroes of medicine. But before they wear scrubs, nurses have to go through intensive hands-on training.

Finding the right nursing internships is key to building a successful nursing career, but nursing education doesn’t end with clinical practice. The coursework that comes with these programs is demanding, and even the most driven students can struggle to keep up. 

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The Best Nursing Internships To Start Your Career

The world of healthcare is far more than classroom knowledge or shadowing professionals. Without an internship for nursing students, you won't get hands-on experience in real patient care and won't get used to the high pressure you'll have to deal with every day. Here are five of the best internships in the US that can open doors to excellent job opportunities:

• Cleveland Clinic Nurse Associate Externship
• Boston Children's Hospital – Neuroscience Inpatient Unit Intern
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nurse Internship Program
• University of Maryland Medical Center Summer Nurse Extern Program
• Children's Hospital Colorado Summer Internship Program

LifeBridge Health – Student Nurse Intern

If you're a nursing student who's more than ready to swap textbooks for bedside care, the program at LifeBridge Health is the perfect place to start. This 10-week summer nursing program allows you to step into the real world of patient care. You'll be shadowing experienced nurses for 36 hours a week, learning how to handle those unpredictable "only in healthcare" moments.

• Location: Baltimore, Maryland
• Focus: Hands-on clinical experience across different hospital units
• Duration: 10 weeks (June to August)
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Enrollment in an accredited nursing program​
  2. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification
  3. American Heart Association CPR certification​
  4. Submission of a certified copy of transcripts

Penn Highlands Healthcare – 2025 Summer Nurse Intern

The 2025 Summer Nurse Internship at Penn Highlands Healthcare is one of those nursing summer internships you should be aiming for if you want to put your skills to the test and gather real-world nursing experience. This 10-week program runs from May 29 to July 25, 2025. You'll be working side by side with professional nurses from different specialties without the pressure of having to juggle exams on top of your work.

• Location: Various Penn Highlands Healthcare facilities, including DuBois, Brookville, Clearfield, Elk, State College, and Tyrone, Pennsylvania
• Focus: Direct patient care in areas like OB, NICU, ED, OR, GI Lab, Peri-Anesthesia, NeuroTrauma ICU, Inpatient Behavioral Health, and more
• Duration: 10 weeks (May 29 – July 25, 2025)
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Enrollment in an accredited ASN or BSN nursing program
  2. Completion of sophomore or junior year by May 2025
  3. Minimum GPA of 3.0 (preferred)

UChicago Medicine AdventHealth – Student Nurse Internship Summer 2025

Lectures and textbooks can only take you so far, even when you spend 12 hours a day studying. Real nursing education happens on the floor, with the professionals and the occasional beeping IV pump that refuses to cooperate. The 8-week paid Student Nurse Internship Summer 2025 at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth is an excellent stepping stone for your nursing career since it lets you work alongside experienced nurses and sharpen your skills.

• Location: UChicago Medicine AdventHealth hospitals in the Chicago, Illinois area
• Focus: Direct patient care across multiple hospital units; exposure to different specialties
• Duration: 8 weeks during the summer of 2025
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Enrollment in an accredited nursing program
  2. Completed fundamental nursing coursework
  3. Valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

Parkland Health and Hospital System – College Intern PRN Summer 2025​

Nursing practice is no small deal, but landing your first real healthcare experience is even more challenging (and career-defining!). Parkland Health's Multi-Semester Collegiate Internship Program lasts a bit longer, spanning 12 months, but is exactly the kind of opportunity a potential nurse should be aiming for.

Don't think of it as your typical gig; you have to be absolutely serious about your decision if you enroll in this year-long nursing program. You'll be rolling up your sleeves and working in different hospital departments, getting a firsthand look at what a healthcare career truly looks like.

• Location: Parkland Health, Dallas, Texas
• Focus: Direct, hands-on experience in various hospital units to develop practical skills and professional insight
• Duration: 12 months, running from mid-January to December
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Dallas County resident (preferred)
  2. Currently enrolled in an undergraduate (90+ credits completed) or graduate program at an accredited university
  3. Minimum 3.0 GPA
  4. Able to commit to 12 months while remaining enrolled as a student

Care Plus Bergen, Inc. - Nurse Residency Program

The first steps of your nursing career won't feel like jumping into the deep end with a well-chosen academic program. The Nurse Residency Program at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center is one of those programs that eases new nurses into the realities of patient care. This 6-month long internship gives nursing students a structured environment where they can build confidence by working in different clinical settings. You won't just be thrown onto the floor, expected to know what to do; you'll be mentored and prepped for a successful career.

• Location: Paramus, New Jersey
• Focus: Clinical practice across multiple hospital units, including med-surg, behavioral health, post-acute care, geriatrics, critical care, emergency department, and same-day surgery
• Duration: 6 months
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Graduate of an accredited nursing program (BSN preferred, but ADN grads can apply)
  2. Minimum 3.0 GPA
  3. Active, unencumbered New Jersey RN license by program start
  4. American Heart Association BLS Certification
  5. Less than 12 months of nursing experience

Mayo Clinic - Summer III Student Nurse Internship

Few places are more attractive to medical students than Mayo Clinic. The Summer III Student Nurse Internship is one of those internships for nursing students that actually pushes them forward, so it's certainly not the opportunity anyone wants to pass up. This isn't just any hospital; it's the Mayo Clinic, the one that's consistently ranked as the #1 hospital in the States. You'll spend 10 weeks neck-deep in real patient care alongside the professionals who set the gold standard for healthcare.

• Location: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
• Focus: Hands-on clinical training across different specialties
• Duration: 10 weeks during the summer (exact dates TBD)
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Completion of junior year in an accredited BSN program by the internship start date
  2. Enrollment in a Minnesota Board of Nursing-approved summer internship course
  3. Valid BLS certification from the American Red Cross or American Heart Association

Johns Hopkins - Clinical Nurse Extern Program

Johns Hopkins is one of the most prestigious hospitals in the country. Its Clinical Nurse Extern (CNE) program is your golden ticket to real, hands-on experience in caring for patients. With this paid internship, you'll be working alongside top-tier nurses who will help you build your clinical skills and get a serious head start on your career. This program is highly competitive, though, with only limited spots available.

• Location: Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
• Focus: Direct patient care under experienced nurses
• Duration: Full-time in summer (June to August) + part-time shifts during the school year
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Completed at least one clinical practicum
  2. Maryland CNA certification (required before orientation)
  3. Availability for hospital and nursing orientation
  4. Commitment to summer full-time + weekly shifts during the semester

Yale New Haven - Nurse Residency Program

No one is fully prepared for their first nursing job, which is why you need a proper internship to learn the ABCs of nursing and build a little confidence. That's exactly what the Nurse Residency Program at Yale New Haven Health is for. This year-long program will help you get used to the high-pressure world of patient care and the kind of hands-on experience that just can't be found in textbooks.

• Location: Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut
• Focus: Clinical training, mentorship, and leadership development for new nurses
• Duration: 12 months
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Newly licensed RN with less than one year of experience
  2. Graduate of an accredited nursing program
  3. Automatically enrolled upon hire; no extra application or interview required

New York Presbyterian - Nurse Residency Program

Much like Yale, New York Presbyterian also offers newly graduated nurses a smooth transition into professional, hands-on experience in patient care. Beyond nursing education, this one-year Nurse Residency Program focuses on developing leadership and critical thinking skills. Plus, this nursing program accredited with distinction by the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center), proving it's actually one of the best.

• Location: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, NYC
• Focus: Leadership development, clinical practice, and patient safety
• Duration: 12 months
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Newly graduated RNs hired within six months of finishing an accredited nursing program
  2. First RN position

Saratoga Hospital – Summer Nurse Intern

Saratoga Hospital is one of those clinics that actually builds their programs around the interns. The 10-week Summer Nurse Internship is the perfect place to start if you still have to juggle theoretical and practical studies - the required GPA for this internship program is only 2.5+. You will be working with professional nurses and honing your patient care skills for more than two months. Plus, the best part is that you'll have a great shot at landing a Patient Care Assistant role that fits around your school schedule once you complete the internship.

• Location: Saratoga Hospital, Saratoga Springs, New York
• Focus: Direct patient care, clinical skill-building, and mentorship from RNs
• Duration: 10 weeks
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Junior status by the upcoming fall semester
  2. Expected graduation within two years
  3. 2.5+ GPA

Mount Sinai Health System – 2025 Summer Student Nurse Internship

If you want to actually prepare for real-world nursing, Mount Sinai Health System's 2025 Summer Student Nurse Internship is exactly where you need to be. This 10-week internship program runs from June 2 to August 25, 2025, and allows you to be right in the middle of patient care alongside some of the top healthcare professionals in New York City.

• Location: Mount Sinai Health System hospitals, New York City
• Focus: Supervised patient care, skill-building, and exposure to different hospital units
• Duration: June 2, 2025 – August 9, 2025
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Completed your first clinical year in an accredited BSN program
  2. Minimum 3.5 GPA
  3. Strong faculty recommendations

Children's Hospital Colorado Summer Internship Program

If you're passionate about the future of child healthcare and want to spend your summer doing more than just scrolling through pediatric textbooks, the Child Healthcare Research Internship at Children's Hospital Colorado is one of the best academic programs that open doors into this kind of medical research.

This summer program spans over nine weeks between June 2 and August 1, 2025, and is actually one of the few programs that provides a stipend for the interns. If you get accepted, you'll receive $4,400 to cover travel and housing expenses. You will be working alongside a professional faculty and will have a chance to contribute to groundbreaking studies into pediatrics.

• Location: Children's Hospital Colorado & University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
• Focus: Hands-on research projects, faculty mentorship, and a chance to present your findings
• Duration: June 2, 2025 – August 1, 2025
• Eligibility:
  
  1. High school seniors (18+), undergrads, grad students, or first-year medical students
  2. High school applicants must be Colorado residents

Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nurse Internship Program

If you want to be a part of the controlled chaos of the operating room, the Perioperative Nurse Internship Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is your front-row ticket. It doesn't matter whether you're a newbie or an experienced nurse; this 13-week program will turn you into a confident OR professional.

VUMC also offers a 12-month structured Nurse Residency Program that supports newly graduated nurses with a smooth transition. You'll work with some of the best surgical teams in the country that will help you hit the ground running.

• Location: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
• Focus: Perioperative nursing, including the circulating role and an introduction to scrub skills
• Duration: 13 weeks
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Open to new graduate nurses and experienced RNs transitioning into the OR
  2. For the Accelerated OR Internship (10 weeks): Minimum two years of nursing experience (preferably ICU or Med-Surg)

Cleveland Clinic Nurse Associate Externship

If you're gearing up for the final year of your nursing studies, you already have to trade your textbooks for actual experience. There's no better place to do that than Cleveland Clinic. The Nurse Associate Externship is a 10-week summer program that gives you hands-on clinical experience in one of the most respected institutions in the world. Experienced RNs will help you sharpen your critical thinking skills and gather real experience in specialized nursing fields.

• Location: Cleveland Clinic main campus and regional hospitals in Ohio and Florida
• Focus: Direct patient care under RN mentorship, classroom learning, and clinical rotations in areas like med-surg, critical care, NICU, obstetrics, PACU, behavioral health, and the OR
• Duration: 10 weeks
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Nursing student (ASN, BSN, or BSN/MN) entering final year/semester
  2. BLS certification through the American Heart Association

University of Maryland Medical Center Summer Nurse Extern Program

The student Nurse Program at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center (UM SJMC) is the perfect place for those ready to move beyond the classroom. With this program, you will actually be part of the care team instead of an observer, and you'll sharpen your skills as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

The good thing about this program is that it's integrated with UMMS's Academy of Clinical Essentials (ACE), which is a nurse-led initiative that allows students to participate in 12-hour shifts with experienced nurses.

• Location: University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, Towson, Maryland
• Focus: Direct patient care, clinical skill-building, and learning the ropes of hospital life
• Duration: Depends on individual arrangements
• Eligibility:
  
  1. Completed Fundamentals of Nursing course
  2. Currently enrolled in an accredited nursing program

Nursing programs often have specific requirements you have to meet if you want to enroll. Check out how long are nursing prerequisites good for to make sure you check all the boxes.

Types of Nursing Internships

Nursing internship programs are different, and each one tests different skill sets. Some throw you right in the middle of a busy hospital; others put you in research labs or specialty clinics. It all really depends on what you're looking for because all nursing internships for college students give you different perspectives on patient care.

Hospital-Based Internships

These internships give you a real taste of the job. After all, hospitals are exactly where most nursing students start their careers. If you're enrolled in a hospital-based internship, you'll assist registered nurses with patient care and get a closer look at how each department operates. One day, you might have to learn the extreme precision it takes to work in an operating room. Another, you might be in the ICU, where even a single look at a monitor can save a life.

Community Health Internships

Hospitals treat patients. Community health focuses on keeping people well. Community health internships take you where healthcare and people meet each other: neighborhoods, schools, and even outreach programs. You'll be spending your time providing vaccines and educating families on how to manage chronic illnesses. These types of programs focus more on building connections and understanding the challenges people face before they step into a hospital.

Specialized Nursing Internships

You might need a sharper focus if you're interested in a specific field of medicine. For example, if you know for sure that you'll be working as a cardiologist, running around the ICU might not be as productive. A specialized nursing internship pulls you deep into one area of medicine instead of moving you through different departments. You'll settle into a single field and learn all there is to know about it.

Research-Based Nursing Internships

Nursing doesn't necessarily mean you have to work at the bedside. With a research-based nursing internship, you will be able to make discoveries about different treatments before they ever reach a patient. These programs are the best fit for those who prefer less physically demanding work.

Regardless of which type of internship is your cup of tea, you'll probably still have to balance it with your education. If you find it hard to juggle assignments and application deadlines, you can always buy online nursing papers from EssayPro.

How to Find Nursing Internships?

You'll need more to land a great nursing internship than just typing “nursing internships near me” into Google and hoping for the best. The best spots go to students who actively hunt them down. Here’s where to start:

• Check with Your Nursing School – Your professors and advisors have connections. Use that.
• Stalk Hospital Career Pages – Almost all hospitals will post their internships online. You can even set up job alerts so you don't miss an opening or a deadline.
• Network – Let's be honest, your career kind of depends on it. Your clinical instructors, professors, and even nurses you meet on rotation may know about internships that aren’t publicly listed.
• Join Nursing Organizations – National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA) and American Nurses Association (ANA) often post exclusive internship listings.
• Reach Out – You can always email the nursing department or HR, even if a hospital doesn't list an internship. What's the worst that could happen?

Check out the required skills for nursing student resume while you're at it; you wouldn't want to lose a spot just because you missed listing something important.

5 Must-Know Tips for Succeeding in a Nursing Internship

It's one thing to get an internship. Making the most of it and actually enjoying the process is another. Here's what to do if you really want to learn how to become an NP:

• Ask Questions, Lots of Them: You’re not expected to know everything, but you are expected to want to learn. If you're still a little lost after someone explains something to you, ask again.
• Offer to Help, Even with the Small Stuff: Sometimes it’s helping a patient adjust their bed, running labs to the right department, or making sure a call light gets answered. Every little task matters. It's not always dramatic lifesaving moments.
• Keep Your Cool: You’re going to see (and smell) some things that might make you want to quit for a few minutes. Patients and nurses will both notice that. No matter what happens, keep it together.
• Make Friends with the Entire Team: Treat everyone with the same level of respect; nursing is a team sport. Doctors, nurses, and the janitorial staff all keep the hospital running.

The Last Stitch

The right internship is where everything starts coming together and helps you decide if a nursing career is truly the right path for you. Finding the perfect program takes time and effort, though, with so many great options out there. You’ll likely be checking hospital career pages and reaching out to mentors for a while, but it’ll all pay off once you land that opportunity.

On top of that, school doesn’t slow down just because you need real-world experience. Coursework and assignments keep piling up, and time management can get tricky. That’s where EssayPro steps in; just say, 'Do my nursing assignment', and our expert writers will help you stay on track without burning out!

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