Nurse Externship Programs

Here to prepare you for a fulfilling career in nursing

Put your classroom learning into action before graduation. Advocate Health’s Nurse Externship Programs offer real-world experience, flexible scheduling, and hands-on mentorship—so you can grow with confidence while staying focused on school. 

As a nurse extern, you’ll work alongside experienced RNs, build essential clinical skills, explore specialties, and gain insight into your future as a professional nurse. Most importantly, you’ll feel supported every step of the way. 

Summer Nurse Externship Programs
Year-Round Nurse Externship Programs

Tuition and Loan Support Benefits
for Teammates

We invest in your education from the start. Advocate Health offers benefits that help ease the financial burden of your schooling:

  • Tuition assistance up to $5,250 for full-time teammates
  • Tuition assistance up to $2,625 for part-time teammates
  • $1,500 annually in continuing education for all teammates, including PRN
  • Loan reimbursement for eligible clinical programs

Benefits begin on your first day of employment. A one-year work commitment begins once tuition assistance is received.

Summer Nurse Externship Program for Rising Seniors

The Advocate Health Summer Nurse Externship Program gives rising senior nursing students a paid, immersive experience before graduation. 

Through guided shadowing and one-on-one time with RN preceptors, you’ll explore clinical settings, strengthen skills, and see theory come to life. At the same time, you’ll gain confidence and clarity as you prepare to transition into professional practice. 

Georgia Summer Nurse Externship Program

Atrium Health Floyd’s Summer Nurse Externship Program is located in Rome, Georgia.

The Atrium Health Floyd Summer Nursing Externship offers nursing students a unique opportunity to gain project‑based learning experience through a 7‑week paid summer program. Designed primarily for students who live in Northwest Georgia and are interested in working at Atrium Health after graduation, the program allows participants to gain exposure at Atrium Health Floyd while home for the summer or during other school breaks. This is a shadowing‑only experience that provides visibility into a variety of clinical areas, including Critical Care, Med Surg, the Emergency Room, Floyd Behavioral Health, and Outpatient Surgery.

Program Highlights

  • Formalized structured goals to be achieved by the end of the externship
  • Weekly report of experiences and projects to be completed by the extern
  • Meetings with Atrium Health Floyd leaders across the organization to gain further understanding of the system and the many different career opportunities available
  • Weekly professional development workshops
  • Participation in a group project with a formal presentation at the end of the extern program
  • Summer Nurse Externs will have the opportunity to stay on as a year-round extern (Nurse Tech)

Program Dates

  • June 1 – July 17, 2026

  • Must be available to work the entirety of the 7-week program
  • Must be a rising or current senior nursing student
  • Must have a 3.0 GPA
  • Must have one letter of recommendation from a clinical instructor
  • The program is open to any nursing student, however priority is given to students who reside in Northwest Georgia

The application cycle opens in late spring each year.

Call 706‑509‑5131 or email Shannon Cooke at shannon.cooke@atriumhealth.org.

North Carolina – Charlotte Summer Nurse Externship Program

Atrium Health’s Summer Nurse Externship Program is located in the greater Charlotte region of North Carolina.

8‑week, one‑on‑one clinical experience with an RN preceptor, plus professional development workshops.

Scheduling & Hours

  • 24 hrs/week (Part‑time) or 36 hrs/week (Full‑time) in an Atrium Health Greater Charlotte facility
  • Works under NA scope with RN preceptor
  • Includes professional development workshops
  • Two additional 4–12 hr shadowing opportunities (varies by facility)

Program Dates

  • May 18 – July 11, 2026
  • June 1 – July 25, 2026

  • Open to nursing students graduating in Fall/Winter 2026 or Spring 2027 
  • Nurse Scholars and nursing students home for summer are eligible 
  • Nurse Aide I credentials required before March 1, 2026 
  • Nurse Aide II credentials encouraged but not required 

The summer 2026 application window is closed. The application window for the Summer 2027 Nurse Extern Program opens in the fall of 2026. 

Email StudentNurses@advocatehealth.org to contact the program. 

North Carolina – Piedmont Triad Summer Nurse Externship Program

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s Summer Nurse Externship Program is located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, including High Point, Lexington, North Wilkesboro, and Winston-Salem.

The Nurse Extern Summer Program at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist offers a nine-week paid opportunity for rising senior nursing students to gain valuable hands-on experience working alongside our experienced team in our five hospitals.

Nurse Externs discover new nursing specialties by shadowing experts in various specialty areas, attending educational sessions about clinical and professional topics, and developing clinical and leadership skills while preparing to become registered nurses.

Clinical Opportunities:

  • General: NICU, Pediatrics, Operating Room, PACU, Women’s Health, Emergency Department
  • Specialized Critical Care: Burns, Cardiovascular, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Intermediate Care, Medical, Trauma
  • Acute Care: Behavioral Health, Burns and Plastic Surgery, General Medicine, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Transplant, Renal, Cardiology, General Surgery, Oncology, Orthopedics, Trauma, Family Medicine

Participating Facilities

  • Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
  • Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center
  • Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Lexington Medical Center
  • Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Davie Medical Center
  • Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkesboro Medical Center

Program Benefits

  • Enhanced clinical competence while gaining self-confidence in a large academic medical center
  • Weekly four-hour educational sessions (simulation and didactic)
  • Shadowing opportunities in clinical areas of interest
  • Paid employment for up to 40 hours per week
  • Opportunity to continue employment as NA II at the end of the program
  • Opportunity to meet and engage with nursing leadership

Program Dates

  • June 1-August 1, 2026

  • Scheduled to complete Med/Surg clinical by Spring 2026 
  • Must be listed as an NA I with the North Carolina Nurse Aide Registry by April 17, 2026 
  • Must have NA II licensure posted on the North Carolina Board of Nursing by May 15, 2026 

The summer 2026 application window is closed. The application window for the Summer 2027 Nurse Extern Program opens in the fall of 2026.  

Additional application documentation will be requested, including: 

  • Professional Student Nurse Extern Faculty/Instructor Recommendation Form 
  • Internal Teammate Recommendation Form 
  • Statement of Interest essay 

We host live virtual information sessions related to our student nursing programs in North Carolina on the second Tuesday of every month at 5:00 p.m. Join our sessions here, or email us at studentnurses@advocatehealth.org with questions.

Year-Round Nurse Externship Programs

Advocate Health also offers a year-long IGNITE Nurse Externship Program in Georgia, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

IGNITE—Inspiring Growth in Nursing through Individualized Training and Experience—supports clinical, cognitive, and professional development while students complete nursing school.

Georgia Year-Round Nurse Externship Program

Atrium Health Navicent’s Year-Round Nurse Externship Program is located in Macon, Georgia.

IGNITE—Inspiring Growth in Nursing through Individualized Training and Experience—supports clinical, cognitive, and professional development while students complete nursing school.

Program Dates

  • Start dates: May 4, 2026 and May 18, 2026.
  • Must be available to attend orientation classes for the entire week.

  • Open to any student who has completed their first semester that includes Basic Fundamentals of Nursing at an accredited School of Nursing 
  • In good standing; minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale 
  • Satisfactory Reference Form 
  • Able to work a minimum of (1) 12‑hour shift per month in an Atrium Health Navicent facility 

  • Apply by searching “Nurse Extern” on the career site. Applications accepted beginning February 20, 2026.
  • Internal teammates should apply through their Worker Account in Workday.

Email Jacob Frigo at Jacob.Frigo@AdvocateHealth.org.

Illinois & Wisconsin Year-Round Nurse Externship Program Information Sessions

Please join us as we connect with nursing students to review the benefits of joining Advocate Health, which includes externships, a new grad residency program, shared governance, professional development opportunities, and education assistance. The meeting will consist of a 15-minute presentation followed by a Q&A session with Aurora Health Care teammates.

Tuesday, August 18, 2026 from 4:30PM-5:00PM CT

Register

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026 from 4:30PM-5:00PM CT

Register

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 from 4:30PM-5:00PM CT

Register

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026 from 4:30PM-5:00PM CT

Register

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026 from 4:30PM-5:00PM CT

Register

We’re empowering the next generation of nurses

3.8K+

nurses at Advocate Health receive educational assistance

1,376

New Graduate Nurse Residents across Advocate Health

10K+

student nurses gaining hands-on experience within our organization

42K

nurses employed at Advocate Health

Progressing as a Student Nurse

Nurse Extern I

Students who have completed their first Med-Surg rotation assist with daily care, vital signs, glucose monitoring, assessments, and patient education.

Nurse Extern II

Final-year students expand responsibilities. They collaborate with RN preceptors, help plan care, evaluate patient responses, and administer medications.

New Graduate Nurse

After graduation and NCLEX completion, nurses begin structured onboarding, including orientation, residency, and preceptor support.

Nurse Resident

The one-year New Graduate Nurse Residency Program supports your transition into practice through cohort learning, mentorship, and blended education.

New Grad Nurse Residency Program Information

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