Extern roles are valued at St. Jude and give nursing students the opportunity to acquire valuable skills and knowledge working with experienced nursing staff in a highly specialized pediatric oncology environment. These programs enable nursing students to build valuable professional relationships, as well as help in making informed decisions regarding specialized practice based on actual experience with nurses, patients and their families, all within the unique mission-driven environment of St. Jude.
Summer Nurse Externship
Nursing students complete the Summer Nurse Externship within 12 months of their graduation from nursing school. This externship is eight to ten weeks long. Our Summer Nurse Externs complete a series of classroom sessions where didactic information is combined with innovative simulation to help increase pediatric nursing knowledge. Additionally, this group of externs participates in team building and enculturation activities to support a deeper engagement with the local Memphis community and St. Jude.
Nurse Extern Experience at St. Jude
- The extern will attend a new employee orientation and a Nursing orientation.
- An experienced nurse will provide preceptor/mentoring in assigned clinical area.
- The nurse extern will provide care to the patient including therapeutic play or sitting with the patient when needed; help order meals; baths; linen changes; provide relief for patient or guardian and take non-routine vitals when needed
St. Jude offers nurse externships in the following areas:
- Bone Marrow Transplant
- Hematology
- Infusion Center and Acute Care Clinic
- Intensive Care Unit
- Intermediate Care Unit
- Oncology
- Outpatient Clinics
- Surgical Services
Externship Deadlines/Timeline
| Summer 2025 Externship | Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Window | November 19 – December 20, 2024 |
| HireVue Interviews | November 19, 2024 – January 1, 2025 |
| Acceptance Notification | After January 1, 2025 |
| Start Date | June 2, 2025 |
| Externship Graduation | July 25, 2025 |
Requirements
You are eligible to apply if you meet all the following criteria:
- Within 12 months of graduating BSN, pediatric course completed preferred
- GPA 3.2 or higher but 3.5 preferred
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Transcript
- Letter of academic Standing from current school
Tips for Applying
- Upload the following documents in the Resume/CV section of the application before you submit your application because you will not be able to upload documents after submission.
- Resume
- Unofficial copy of college transcripts – Candidates are recommended to have a GPA of 3.2 or higher, but 3.5 is strongly preferred. Each applicant is unique, and a GPA is one aspect of a passionate, multi-dimensional, talented nurse. If your GPA is lower, show us what makes you an excellent candidate.
- Letter of Academic Standing from your current school
- Letter of interest – This is an opportunity to supplement your resume. Use it to show us how your personal mission aligns with ours!
- Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Applicants not selected for the current open externship will need to re-apply for future nurse extern openings.
Answers to Common Questions about Nurse Externship
- This is a paid externship.
- This externship does not offer benefits.
- This externship does not cover the cost of housing, but St. Jude may be able to connect externs with housing options, based on availability.
- If you are about to graduate from nursing school, explore our Nurse Residency Program.
- Due to HIPAA and patient privacy laws, St. Jude does not allow shadowing.